California Earthquakes

[MyAzi]

I find in talking to people that so many are terrified of earthquakes. Mostly those who have never experienced one.

I have been through more earthquakes than I can count. I have also experienced Tornados and Hurricanes and floods. I can share with you in my opinion that earthquakes are the least frightening. I get the...but you have no warning with them. Maybe that is why they aren't so scary. They just happen... most of the time, you look up and try to determine if a truck rolled by or earthquake. And then go back about your business. Some of the stronger ones... you get that adrenaline rush... your move to a doorway, wait for it to pass, Then go back to what you were doing. A few of the stronger ones... we got on the phones to see if our loved ones fared well...

Granted there have been a few horrible ones. But those are few and far between. I see far more tornados and hurricanes do much more damage. So how come no one seems to fear those?

[jabm67]

I've been in a couple of earthquakes, none of them major. I was at work, at the 14th floor of Westlake Center in Seattle, when the 2001 Nisqually earthquake happened. That was interesting, but I wouldn't say I was scared; anxious, because I didn't remember what proper earthquake drill was. (From then on, at my workplace, I get a copy of the "what to do in case of earthquake" instructions and tape it to the underside of the desk I'm going to cower under so I can see it without getting out.)

Being a West Coast person, I've seen one tornado in my life (that was while I was in Texas), and I'm generally clueless about them. Around here, tornadoes are not something that ever happen.

[MyAzi]

Originally Posted by jabm67

I've been in a couple of earthquakes, none of them major. I was at work, at the 14th floor of Westlake Center in Seattle, when the 2001 Nisqually earthquake happened. That was interesting, but I wouldn't say I was scared; anxious, because I didn't remember what proper earthquake drill was. (From then on, at my workplace, I get a copy of the "what to do in case of earthquake" instructions and tape it to the underside of the desk I'm going to cower under so I can see it without getting out.)

Being a West Coast person, I've seen one tornado in my life (that was while I was in Texas), and I'm generally clueless about them. Around here, tornadoes are not something that ever happen.

That is what we said in CA and actually had one... but the odds are in our favor!!!

[cleozmom]

Been in e-quakes with growing up in CA and also a tornado in KS (took our semi and put us on our side and slid us about 50 yards) along with a few blizzards, yes I'll take the earthquake and truth be told and I think Azi might be able to confirm this, there is often an errie-ness to the weather just prior to an earthquake, it's unexplainable or at least I can't explain it

[MyAzi]

Originally Posted by cleozmom

Been in e-quakes with growing up in CA and also a tornado in KS (took our semi and put us on our side and slid us about 50 yards) along with a few blizzards, yes I'll take the earthquake and truth be told and I think Azi might be able to confirm this, there is often an errie-ness to the weather just prior to an earthquake, it's unexplainable or at least I can't explain it

Funny you should say that... Azi... (his majesty).. does act a bit weird before one and seconds before it hits the baby fine hair on my arms stands on end.. and you feel a slight rush through your body. And yes the weather does seem "off" when we had one.

Here in WA I don't think about it too much anymore until that big truck goes by and rumbles and I still find myself looking up and wondering.

[PDXnative]

Originally Posted by MyAzi

I find in talking to people that so many are terrified of earthquakes. Mostly those who have never experienced one.

I have been through more earthquakes than I can count. I have also experienced Tornados and Hurricanes and floods. I can share with you in my opinion that earthquakes are the least frightening. I get the...but you have no warning with them. Maybe that is why they aren't so scary. They just happen... most of the time, you look up and try to determine if a truck rolled by or earthquake. And then go back about your business. Some of the stronger ones... you get that adrenaline rush... your move to a doorway, wait for it to pass, Then go back to what you were doing. A few of the stronger ones... we got on the phones to see if our loved ones fared well...

Granted there have been a few horrible ones. But those are few and far between. I see far more tornados and hurricanes do much more damage. So how come no one seems to fear those?

Eathquakes are fun!!! Of course, we have minor ones up here compared to Cali. But they say we are overdue for a 9+ earthquake!!! It will level the area.

[MyAzi]

Originally Posted by PDXnative

Eathquakes are fun!!! Of course, we have minor ones up here compared to Cali. But they say we are overdue for a 9+ earthquake!!! It will level the area.

to be honest I am not sure where I would rather be for one of those. They say the coastal area of So Ca will be in where central Ca is now and the bay area will be almost an island.. pushed out to sea. However in the Coachella Valley... they are about as well prepared as they could be. Up here in the PNW... I don't think they really give it that much thought. And the buildings are not built for that kind of thing like they are down there. An earthquake of that scale would be beyond disasterous to the structures up here.

The worst I have been in was the 7.1 and the only things that happens were one of the panes of a double paned slider spidered and a crack in the driveway. Nothing fell... We were fairly close to the epicenter. It was one of those rolling ones. The jolting ones cause a bit more damage. The 6.5 we had was jolting and we had bottled water fall from a shelf... that was it.

I have to say I think the worst part of being in one of the bigger ones is the wondering if that will be followed with smaller after shocks or the "big one."

[isabel]

Been in California most of my 52 years. Earthquakes are an accepted fact here. But I haven't felt a big one for years. The last really big one I was in...was when the oakland freeway fell and killed all those people. The swimming pool in the house behind us lost about 1/4 of it's water from the sideways motion back and forth. The ceiling lamps swung back and forth...that was about it...but I did worry about my hubby who had to cross to bridges in the bay area to get home.

But it all lasted about a minute...an then was over. Up to now the earthquakes since then have been pretty minor. Still I think we get quakes a lot less then other parts of the country get their severe weather.

Izzy