OT: Earthquake

[sportdan30]

Here in Missouri, most of us were all awaken to a 5.4 earthquake. It only lasted 6 seconds or so, but it scared the crap out of me! I grabbed the kids and we ran downstairs and outside. What are you supposed to do during an earthquake?

That was freakin' scary as hell. Something we're not used to even though we're on a huge fault.

[F308GTB]

I been through several in my travels to Japan. I've heard earthquakes in Japan feel different than Califorinia ones. Not sure how the earthquakes in the midwest compare. Given the different composition of the earth there, I imagine they are different.

On my wife's first trip to Japan, we were on the 20th story or so of a hotel. We were asleep and then I heard some banging outside accompanied by a little vibration. Wife wakes up and says "What's that?" I respond, "Probably just an earthquake. It'll stop. Go back to sleep." She was freaked out.

I went through a larger (5-6 magnitude) one that lasted 30-45 seconds (and centered about 20-30 miles away), and my curiousity was aroused more than anything. Having a background in structural dynamics I was more interested in how the earth and building was moving than anything else. There were about 50 people in a room, half Japanese, half American. Most of the Americans were going WTF, and the Japanese just stayed calm and kept talking. Afterwards, someone asked when you would leave the building. One of our Japanese colleagues said "You know when an earthquake is bad when we leave the building."

So what are you supposed to do? Get yourself a Japanese person, and when he leaves, you follow. If he stays, you stay!

[sportdan30]

This is only my second experience. The first was about 15-20 years ago and it only lasted about 10 seconds. I just remember all the neighbors going outside because it happened around dinner time. Both times, it just felt like a vibration more than a movement.

Well, they say this earthquake was 127 miles south east of St. Louis. It was centered somewhere down in southern Illinois, but was felt in Indiana, Missouri, and Illinois. I only remember the shaking lasting about 7 seconds, but this woman at work said it lasted a minute. I suppose it's possible, as it happened at 4:37 in the morning. I was pretty out of it at the time. My wife thought I was having some nervous twitch. LOL.

[RobVarak]

Apparently it was felt up here in the Chicago area as well. I was asleep, however, and as long as the house is standing I'm unlikely to notice something like that LOL

Apparently the epicenter was in Evansville, IN with the worst of it felt in the Louisville area.

[lexbur]

Yeah, same thing here. The local news this morning had people who felt it, but I slept right through it.

They were taking calls from people who felt it, I kept waiting to hear some idiot go, "Yeah, my whole house shook, I looked at the clock and it said BAH-BAH-BOOEY TO YOU!"

[dbdynsty25]

Pussies. LOL.

Waking up to a 30+ second 6.4 quake in '92 centered about 5 miles from my house is legit sh*t. That was the first quake I ever woke up to...the rest I sleep through.

I feel for you guys who just felt their first quake...they are pretty freaky.

You're not supposed to run outside...hit the nearest doorway, closet, strong table or bathtub. If you get hit with a good one, you won't have time to go outside, and you probably won't be able to run anyway. You'll get more injured trying to move through the house...cuz you know, the EARTH is F*CKING MOVING!

[brendanrfoley]

Honestly, I think running outside amy have been fine. I also think you can stand inside a doorway (so nothing can bonk you on the head).

[10spro]

I experience a couple of earthquake while in Japan and Taiwan several years back. In Taipei it wasn't the earthquake itself but the strong aftershocks. I remember I was at the gym of this hotel on a treadmill and all of the sudden the room was literally moving left to right and viceversa. Things were falling apart and there I was still running in disbelief.

Here in Vancouver, the question is not if the big one arrives, what should one do to protect himself but a question of when.

Tips: If indoors
DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON on until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.

Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.
Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.

Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity to you and if you know it is a strongly supported, loadbearing doorway.

Stay inside until shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.

DO NOT use the elevators if you're in a condo or hotel.

If outdoors

Stay there.

Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.

Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits, and alongside exterior walls. Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury.
Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.

[sportdan30]

There was just an aftershock that registered at 4.5 around 10:15. Crazy day.

[forensicd]

I have never been through one, so this was new for me. It hit near here in southern indiana, so it lasted about 20 seconds or so, and my whole house was shaking abck and forth. I got up, grabbed my son, and got back into bed, and by that time it was over. The worst thing about it was not knowing what it was. I thought it was like a plane crash, tornado, or something supernatural.

[wco81]

I think the National Geological Survey or whatever the agency is said last week that within 30 years, there will be a major one out here in CA registering at least 7.0.

People are blase until a major one hits and then there are stories for a couple of weeks about preparedness and so forth.

The '89 Loma Prieta (one which took place during the World Series between Giants and A's) did a total of $10.5 billion in damage.

Less remembered is one in '94 in Socal which also caused about that much in damage -- astounding when you consider the Bay Bridge deck was knocked out.

People in other parts of the country say we're crazy living under the threat of the big earthquake. That's while they mop up after tornadoes and hurricanes every year.

There was an old footage of WMAQ anchors in Chicago, who went through a mild one while on air. The male anchor dove under the desk while the female one stayed in her chair looking bewildered.

[MizzouRah]

Didn't feel a thing in Troy.

[greggsand]

Here in Missouri, most of us were all awaken to a 5.4 earthquake. It only lasted 6 seconds or so, but it scared the crap out of me! I grabbed the kids and we ran downstairs and outside. What are you supposed to do during an earthquake?

That was freakin' scary as hell. Something we're not used to even though we're on a huge fault.

Hey, welcome to the club! Yeah, just go outside if you're close to the exit. It'll (likely) be over before you get there.

Wow, pretty soon you'll have horrible traffic, smog, and your house will triple in value - L.A. style...

I remember one NFL Kick-off Sunday, we had an earthquake in the middle of the morning games. We debated getting off the couch, but by the time we decided to go outside, it was over. Good times.

[sportdan30]

Better it be an earthquake than a tornado IMO.

[Inuyasha]

Better it be an earthquake than a tornado IMO.

No. At least you can try to dodge a tornado. You can't escape an earthquake.

[dbdynsty25]

Hard to dodge tornadoes with all the widabeasts running around getting in your way.

I'll take earthquakes and 8s and 9s over tornadoes and 3s and 4s.

[greggsand]

Better it be an earthquake than a tornado IMO.

No. At least you can try to dodge a tornado. You can't escape an earthquake.

You can dodge a tornado? Like 'shake & bake it' Barry Sanders style? If a tornado is headed towards your house, you're pretty much f'd.

An earthquake can be over in 5 seconds & you move on with your day....

[Inuyasha]

Better it be an earthquake than a tornado IMO.

No. At least you can try to dodge a tornado. You can't escape an earthquake.

You can dodge a tornado? Like 'shake & bake it' Barry Sanders style? If a tornado is headed towards your house, you're pretty much f'd.

An earthquake can be over in 5 seconds & you move on with your day....

I said Try to

IN a Earthquake, say it lasts 30 secs, where you going to run when everything is falling on you and the ground is opening up? Maybe if you can fly or something that can help. Your basically at nature's mercy. At least in a tornado you can go underground.

[Leadfoot5]

Waking up to a 30+ second 6.4 quake in '92 centered about 5 miles from my house is legit sh*t. That was the first quake I ever woke up to...the rest I sleep through.

That earthquake was AWESOME!!! I had only been in SoCal for 2 years, and to look outside and see the pavement undulating like waves in the ocean was truly an incredible sight.

[Inuyasha]

Waking up to a 30+ second 6.4 quake in '92 centered about 5 miles from my house is legit sh*t. That was the first quake I ever woke up to...the rest I sleep through.

That earthquake was AWESOME!!! I had only been in SoCal for 2 years, and to look outside and see the pavement undulating like waves in the ocean was truly an incredible sight.

Wasn't awesome for all those people who died.

[dbdynsty25]

Luckily, the death toll was ONLY 57. That's actually pretty good for an earthquake of that magnitude. And I mistyped, it was in '94. I just remember waking up at 4:32am and wondering what was going on as my bed was shaking like crazy. I basically just froze...and rode it out. Absolutely nuts. TVs and dressers falling over, sh*t breaking all around you.

Earthquakes in the 4 and 5 range are peanuts compared to waking up to that 6.4. I can't imagine what a 7.0 is gonna feel like. If it gets 10% of the So Cal population to move out then I'm all for it. People need to get the F off my roads.

[wco81]

Tornadoes and hurricanes are every year right?

Big earthquakes are once in a generation.

Although, earthquake insurance is very hard to get.

I understand that's the case with flood insurance in many areas but don't know about tornadoes and hurricanes.

There must be odds out there showing which event you're more likely to be touched by.

[bkrich83]

Luckily, the death toll was ONLY 57. That's actually pretty good for an earthquake of that magnitude. And I mistyped, it was in '94. I just remember waking up at 4:32am and wondering what was going on as my bed was shaking like crazy. I basically just froze...and rode it out. Absolutely nuts. TVs and dressers falling over, sh*t breaking all around you.

Earthquakes in the 4 and 5 range are peanuts compared to waking up to that 6.4. I can't imagine what a 7.0 is gonna feel like. If it gets 10% of the So Cal population to move out then I'm all for it. People need to get the F off my roads.

I was in Loma Prieta earthquake in the bay area in '89. I think initial reports were it was a 7.1, but in time it was downgraded to a 6.8 or 6.9 I think. It truly sucked, as several houses on my street slipped off their foundations and one of the gas lines ignited. Also our pool emptied out from all the shaking. It was the scariest thing I have ever been through. Now power, no water, no phones, and a gas line on fire. I Was 18 years old and had no idea what to do next.

5.4 earthquake? DB, what do you think, we get ones that size about once every couple of months? Childs play. Agreed on getting people to move out of So. Cal and get off our roads.

[bkrich83]

I think the National Geological Survey or whatever the agency is said last week that within 30 years, there will be a major one out here in CA registering at least 7.0.

They sure went out on a limb with that prediction.

[dbdynsty25]

5.4 earthquake? DB, what do you think, we get ones that size about once every couple of months? Childs play. Agreed on getting people to move out of So. Cal and get off our roads.

Probably not every couple months, but at least once or twice a year. Those are basically just fun...hell, I remember after the '94 quake we had aftershocks bigger than that.

And yes...big prediction saying we'll get a 7.0 sometime. They've been saying that since I moved here in '88. Guess it'll happen this year since it's year 20.