This post will have no pics. I just wanted to share that I just went through an earthquake. Part of me thinks the news is making more out of it than necessary like they usually do but then the other part of me realizes earthquakes really terrify some people and they need to hear the news to give them a sense of peace that all is well. Still, I've been watching the news for 2 hrs now and there's nothing really to report. There is one building, a really old building where some bricks fell covering the alley. There is one broken water main and a couple of stores where things fell off the shelves. They've been showing that for 2 hrs. now. Me thinks sometimes the news makes way too much of things and sometimes they just need to turn off and do little updates during the day.
I've lived in and around the Los Angeles area my whole life. I used to be terrified of them and remember as kids running into my parents' room and diving into their bed if an earthquake hit. I remember when the 6.5 hit in 1971, the Sylmar quake. The aftershocks were many and not that small. I swear I felt every one. I was in jr. high and I was terrified. I'm not that scared any more. Most times when we get the little ones my eyes get a little big and I sit and wait to see if it's just a small one or if it will turn into a big one.
This one shook hard a couple of times and then did some serious rolling that to me, was worse than the initial shakes. I think that was the worst rolling earthquake I've felt. I think this was the first time I literally saw the inside of my house moving. So, though I'm not afraid of earthquakes and I'm terrified like I used to be as a kid, I DON'T want to experience this on a bigger scale like the "big one" they're talking about and I DON'T want to be in downtown L.A. if/when the big one hits. All I picture is being stuck downtown because the streets are full of glass from the tall buildings. I want to be home.
Still, I think I'd rather deal with the occasional earthquakes and maybe even "the big one" than to deal with tornados every year that cause major damage, every year.
Okay, that's my earthquake news and my way to vent about what I've experienced today. If you've read this, thanks for reading. :-) And despite all you may hear about how many aftershocks we've experienced, it's much ado about nothing because not one of them has even made my candle holders hanging from the ceiling even sway. No one has felt the aftershocks and the news, once again, making more of it than I think is necessary, scaring folks already freaked out by what happened today.
Y'all be safe no matter where you are and what you're doing.
10 comments:
Glad it wasn't the "big" one and you're ok!
Cheers, Klaus
I'm glad too! :-) Thanks Klaus!
I've been hearing about the quake here. I'm so glad you're okay. I have family in California, so I was concerned about them, too.
This post doesn't have pictures, but I've been looking at your previous posts and they're all beautiful.
Thanks Lin! I've hearing all is well so I pray all is well with your family here too.
Glad you are OK and it's not as bad as the media is making it out to be, which is more often the case than not. Be safe!
Thank you Jayne! :-)
This must be a terrifying experience even if you have grown up with it. I like the ground under my feet to be solid thank you!!
SAPhotographs - The ground is solid, it just moves a little.
:-D
First, very glad to know you are okay, and that this one didn't upset you too badly, either.
Next, let me say that of all the different kinds of natural disasters/hazards there are -- and I've been through several kinds -- I personally find big earthquakes the most frightening. First, they come out of nowhere -- no warning, no clue, so no chance to prepare or to escape. Then, even as they are happening, you have no way to know in those first few seconds if this is it, or if it will get worse, or if this is a fore-shock to something nastier. Then, the aftershocks go on and on and on for weeks, until you think you will lose your mind.
The two largest I've been through were a 6.6 and a 6.8. In the latter, the epicenter was only a few miles from my home, and the entire contents of my house was trashed. Everything that could fall over did fall over, and everything in cupboards, closets, cabinets and shelves ended up in heaps, with a lot of breakage. The house had no structural damage except plaster cracks and broken light fixtures,etc. and we were not physically hurt, so we were thankful for that (although our cat got injured). But you better believe we were traumatized by the experience.
Fingers crossed that your recent quake is the end of the shaking there for a long, long time. Stay safe.
Bobbie
Thanks Bobbie. Yep, all is well. I went through a 6.8 and I don't remember anything falling over but it was so long ago. I just remember how scared I was way back then. I do know the house wasn't trashed. I'm sure I would have remember that. But I definitely remember the many aftershocks.
I know the really big ones are scary but still, at least to me I'd rather deal with something 10-30 years apart than every year on schedule. But maybe we all get a little used to what we have to deal with on the regular?
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