Town at Epicenter of Quake Exhales as Irene Passes

MINERAL, Va. — The people of Mineral had been starting to whether Mother Nature had it in for them.

The old mining town northwest of Richmond was the epicenter of last week's East Coast earthquake. And for a while it looked as if Hurricane Irene might hit the community with powerful wind.

It turns out the storm stayed well east and simply gave the town some gusts and a good soaking.

Residents are joking that a comet might be the next natural disaster to strike. But they're also glad the storm spared them and they say it's proof that their community isn't cursed.