What is it like to experience an earthquake?

[JOES66FURY]

Re: What is it like to experience an earthquake?

I was in Anchorage for a while. They have a few earthquakes a year there...it is an unusuall experience...its eerie, and just plain weird...none of the ones I went thru were major but shook the fudge out of me...

[BBR]

Re: What is it like to experience an earthquake?

We (yes here in the flat Texas Panhandle) had 3 little ones in 2000. 3.0-3.3 on the scale. Went out side right after and people on my street were all outside looking around wondering what the heck just happened.

[sedandelivery55]

Re: What is it like to experience an earthquake?

I've been watching the reports on Haiti and can't get the thought of those people out of my head. This is devastating to the poorest of the poor. My thoughts and best wishes to them. Red Cross will be getting a little from my family.

I've been in a couple small ones when I lived in California in the '60s but don't remember much other than I didn't like it. Believe it or not, we get quite a few here in OK but most to small to feel, 2.0-3.5. I went through the biggest tornado ever May 3, '99 and my family lost everything to it, but that only happens once in a lifetime, quakes happen all the time. You can keep all the big ones in CA and we'll keep the tornadoes here. ;D

[Scott Liggett]

Re: What is it like to experience an earthquake?

The worst earthquake in North America was in Alaska in '64. My Mom was pregnant with my older sister. They left to visit my grand parents and it hit a couple days later. There was major damage all the way across the state from Anchorage to Fairbanks. The JC Penney's literally sunk into the ground an entire floor of the building.

Alaska is half the size of the lower 48. That's like major damage from Dallas to Chicago, over to Philly and down to Atlanta.


These poorer countries don't have building codes at all really. They take a beating even with the smallest quake. This is common worldwide. If an earthquake hit Afghanistan, the same result. The homes are nothing more than mud brick. Gravity is what holds them together.

[Brad54]

Re: What is it like to experience an earthquake?

Or, it could just be gas...

You may feel, then hear, a low rumbling that might seem like it's coming from a distance and getting closer. Things on tables and shelves start rattling around. About this point you go from wondering "wtf", to heightened awareness. Then with a louder rumbling or possibly a sudden thud, you fart.

The stench around you as every loose thing jumps around and falls off shelves is amazing, confusing, panic-inducing. People tend to run for the door at that point. If you're driving it's as though your steering is coming apart, or you have a flat tire.

When it's over, the lamps are swinging from the ceiling. Dogs are barking everywhere, the birds are at the bottom of their cages squawking and struggling to get on their perches again. If your on the road you'll see a few people pulled over, dust rises from buildings and hillsides. Strangers are looking at each other with big eyes, and everyone will be telling stories for the rest of the day. Aftershocks will come every now-and-then, they will be softer and shorter, until they settle down to the silent but deadly variety.

[HEMI]

Re: What is it like to experience an earthquake?

What is it like to have sex?everyone is going to tell it diferently.Lived in California all my life,you have to experiance a
quake or 3 .

[trukluvr]

Re: What is it like to experience an earthquake?

I was in Cali in 89-near Monterey. We had just wrapped up our last formation of the day and several of us from the Midwest were outside talking when we heard the rumble then watched as our barracks started rocking like a ship on the ocean. Made me glad I had my walking papers in hand already.

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: What is it like to experience an earthquake?

Alaska is half the size of the lower 48. That's like major damage from Dallas to Chicago, over to Philly and down to Atlanta.

Optical illusion based on a flat projection of a curved surface. Alaska is roughly 20% the size of the lower 48, less than a quarter the area. (Sorry, splitting hairs..)

[Schtauffer]

Re: What is it like to experience an earthquake?

My cousin (the nurse in Haiti) is taking an 8-9 hour ride today in the back of a dump truck with a bunch of other nurses to set up a makeshift clinic in Port-au-Prince. They are prepared to be overwhelmed.