VIDEO: Sen. Coons: Thank God it was only an earthquake

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) initially thought Washington might be under attack when he felt Tuesday's 5.8-magnitude earthquake on his way to the Capitol.

"I was initially concerned it might be something far more serious than an earthquake," Coons said in comments broadcast on CNN.

He told reporters that he was on the phone preparing for an interview regarding Libya when the interviewer told him there were reports of an earthquake in Washington.

"Thank God if it was only an earthquake," responded Coons, who was on his way from Union Station toward the Capitol building when the earthquake struck.

Coons said he was relieved when he was able to contact his staff in Washington and Delaware. His staff in both Dover and Wilmington, Del., felt the ground shake, according to Coons.

It was decided by mutual consent by the Senate majority and minority leaders that Tuesday's Senate pro forma session would be held off-site due to structural concerns in the Capitol.

Watch Coons recount his experience below.