LA Earthquake

[Cali]

There was just an earthquake in LA and I felt the aftershocks at my house. The house moved back and forth for a minute or so.

I just heard the earthquake was either 5.6 or 5.8. Not bad.

[southernbelle]

Wow. I hope everyone is okay and no one was hurt. Living in the south, I can't wrap my mind around an earthquake, but I think I'd take the earthquake over a hurricane any day of the week. We are still recovering from Katrina and still being able to see the high water marks that was half way up the side of the house on most of the homes in certain neighborhoods after a recent trip to New Orleans East was a sobering reminder that we shouldn't fool with Mother Nature.

[Cali]

I have lived through earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and a volcano.

My daughter went up to LA yesterday(she is fine) and my son was swimming at the beach(he is fine too).

You don't get prep time for an earthquake.

Wow. I hope everyone is okay and no one was hurt. Living in the south, I can't wrap my mind around an earthquake, but I think I'd take the earthquake over a hurricane any day of the week. We are still recovering from Katrina and still being able to see the high water marks that was half way up the side of the house on most of the homes in certain neighborhoods after a recent trip to New Orleans East was a sobering reminder that we shouldn't fool with Mother Nature.

[Bandit]

I can't wrap my mind around an earthquake, but I think I'd take the earthquake over a hurricane any day of the week.e.

no way. Though the hurricane is way more stressful because it lasts so long & travels causing more damage, at least you can escape & evacuate if needed. You wont be getting any prep time or notice to run from a big quake, especially if the land is rolling & liquefied.

[southernbelle]

I think you're right Bandit, but even with a week's worth of warnings, many many people still didn't evacuate. I think they held the belief that the pump stations would kick in and drain off the water like usual, but no one expected it to be that bad.

[FLBK7]

Wow. I hope everyone is okay and no one was hurt. Living in the south, I can't wrap my mind around an earthquake, but I think I'd take the earthquake over a hurricane any day of the week. We are still recovering from Katrina and still being able to see the high water marks that was half way up the side of the house on most of the homes in certain neighborhoods after a recent trip to New Orleans East was a sobering reminder that we shouldn't fool with Mother Nature.

Hurricanes are far worse because you are given plenty of notice and time to prepare, or evacuate if necessary.

Earthquakes don't give you that luxury.

I've never experienced an earthquake and my sympathy goes to whoever was affected in Los Angeles this time. I've been through 3 major hurricanes, including Andrew in 1992, and it is NOT a good memory at all.

[epiphany]

5.4. Yeah, that was fun. I was at work in a large building surrounded by tons of hardware on shelving. It was weird cause it seemed like it was going to stop after 15 seconds and then just went into this long roll. Scary.

ep

[Cali]

The joys of SoCal.
I talked to my friends in LA and they said it felt more like a 6. Don't miss living in LA.

5.4. Yeah, that was fun. I was at work in a large building surrounded by tons of hardware on shelving. It was weird cause it seemed like it was going to stop after 15 seconds and then just went into this long roll. Scary.

ep

[epiphany]

The joys of SoCal.
I talked to my friends in LA and they said it felt more like a 6. Don't miss living in LA.

It was first diagnosed as a 5.8 and then downgraded to 5.4. I am not sure how you equate the .4 difference when you are standing there trying to decide what to do and contemplating whether or not the floor is going to cave in and send you spiraling down to the lower level of the building or whether or not the ceiling is going to come down around you and stuff is going to start flying off the shelves and smack you in the head.

It felt like a frickin' 10!

Which brings me to another question. There was great debate after the fact about what the right thing to do in that situation is. I am going to refrain from telling you what I did until later so as not to influence opinions but I can tell you that some people fled and some people remained in the building. Some went under desks, others did nothing, and some stood in doorways.

What is the correct *&^$*)^$$^ thing to do in that situation?? Seems like what we were taught growing up is all wrong according to some.

I truly am interested in all opinions.

ep

[justplaintired]

Cali, Just glad you're ok and the kids to. We had an earthquake here in the spring, first one I ever remember feeling. It was weird, woke me up, house shook. Again glad you're ok!

[BigJohn]

I was overseas when the Big Earthquake happened, what was it, December 26, 2004? The earthquake was followed by the tsunami.

[magyar123]

I just barely made it across the part of the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge that partially collapsed on October 17, 1989.

[DisneyGirl]

We sure felt it here. About 30 miles from the epicenter. The kids didn't know what to make of it. No damage or anything. Just some stuff shifted here and there, mostly in the garage. We had an electrician on his way to the house when it started. He said all the garage doors were shaking back and forth, it was a sight!

This is the biggest earthquake we've had since moving to Southern California two years ago. But not the biggest one we've been in. That would still be the 6.8 in Seattle in 2001. That was alarming to me since I had no idea they had earthquakes in WA (I'm not from there originally, I'm from the east coast). That one scared me. This one, not so much.

[Cali]

I was on my rooftop deck when the house started moving. It was pretty cool.

Everyone thinks it is time for the big one to hit here, hopefully they are wrong.

The biggest earthquake to ever hit CA was a 7.9.

[Cali]

If you're indoors, stay there. Get under and hold onto a desk or table, or stand against an interior wall. Stay clear of exterior walls, glass, heavy furniture, fireplaces and appliances. The kitchen is a particularly dangerous spot. If you're in an office building, stay away from windows and outside walls and do not use the elevator.

If you're outside, get into the open. Stay clear of buildings, power lines or anything else that could fall on you.

If you're driving, move the car out of traffic and stop. Avoid parking under or on bridges or overpasses. Try to get clear of trees, light posts, signs and power lines.

If you're in a mountainous area, beware of the potential for landslides. Likewise, if you're near the ocean, be aware that tsunamis are associated with large earthquakes. Get to high ground.

If you're in a crowded public place, avoid panicking and do not rush for the exit. Stay low and cover your head and neck with your hands and arms.