Saturday, May 23, 2015

Earthquake....

 Well, yesterday at 12:47 pm we felt an earthquake of 5.4 magnitude not far from us in Caliente, Nevada-where I was born. Sitting at my makeup table curling my hair, I felt the house move to the right a little and then back.This happened twice. At first I thought I was hallucinating, then I thought I bet that was a small earthquake which was confirmed quickly afterward on the Internet and in today's papers.

I remember my first earthquake in 1952 after we moved to California from Utah in 1950. It was centered in Techachapi by Bakersfield out in the desert 100 miles north of Los Angeles with a magnitude of 7.7. It was strong. My mom and I were sleeping in our small apartment in Lawndale when everything started shaking. I didn't know what was happening. We both jumped out of bed and huddled together in the frame of the doorway until the shaking stopped. Not sure how long it lasted and then there were about 50 aftershocks of a magnitude of 5 or more. Seven lives were lost and 50 million dollars of destruction near the epicenter.



After living in Utah for many years, this earthquake was the first one I've felt though I know we have faults running all across Utah. We even have earthquake insurance. The best place to hide I've read is under something strong like a table or by the side of your bed. Watch out for shattered glass and any downed electrical lines outside. There's a whole website telling you how to prepare. Duck, cover and hold! 

5 comments:

  1. Did you also hear a loud boom when the earthquake happened? We had one here in Maine, with the epicenter about a mile from my home, a few years ago, and the loud boom was impressive!

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  2. That was a good sized one..I am glad you had no damage.. We live near a fault line here but no big ones yet.. Michelle

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  3. I didn't know you could buy earth quake insurance!

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  4. My most recent earthquake experience was in the classroom where I was teaching. It always takes a second to realize what's going on while the kids and I look at each other wide eyed. Then I shout "Earthquake" and all of those 4th and 5th graders were immediately under their desks and holding on to the legs.
    I was under my table too and we held on and rode out the rocking and rolling.
    Fortunately there was no serious damage to the school, although there was damage in parts of the city. Fortunately, we had frequent earthquake drills, nobody panicked and everything was calm and quiet. Unfortunately some the the parents did not know how to behave and came flooding into the school hysterically. The kids just thought they we nuts. No big deal.

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  5. Yikes! That was scary. I still remember the one we had. I didn't know what it was at first. I'm glad you didn't have any damage.

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