Los Angeles experienced what could be described as a moderate, i.e. "wussy" earthquake this morning at 11:42 p.m.
It was reported that the tremors could be felt as far away as Las Vegas. Initially determined to be a 5.8 on the Richter scale, it was soon downgraded to a 5.4.
I didn't feel a thing . . . granted I was still in bed at the time, but I am uber sensitive to earthquakes, and if it could be felt, I would have felt it.
You see, I grew up in California -- a fearful child. My biggest terror was a toss up between the Zodiac killer (he murdered a couple a few miles from my school, and threatened groups of children next, resulting in a few missed recesses.) and the Atomic bomb (a family I knew actually had a bomb shelter). Earthquakes probably came in third, followed by lightning, car crashes, child abductions, the threat of drowning, being left alone, and vampire bats.
Well, that's the short list anyway. I experienced a few earthquakes growing up, one in church -- and if that won't put the fear of God in you, nothing will.
In October of 1989, I was smack dab in the middle of the mayhem that was the Loma Prieta quake. In fact, I had been on the Bay Bridge a few hours before it struck. That was a 7.1 (though I think it was downgraded to a 7.0) and it felt it.
Things began to shake slowly and built to a sharp rocking, giving us time to panic and move -- I ran for a doorway and braced myself. In 15 seconds it was over, but the aftershocks were strong and plentiful. They woke me up in the middle of the night for months.
I've since moved on and out of California, experiencing new terrors like Tornados. While living in Tennessee I even experienced and earthquake there. It woke me up in the middle of the night, and I thought I was back in California. Tennessee has the dreaded New Madrid fault line running close to the Mississippi river, and when that sucker blows, it will be pure bedlam.
It was reported that the tremors could be felt as far away as Las Vegas. Initially determined to be a 5.8 on the Richter scale, it was soon downgraded to a 5.4.
I didn't feel a thing . . . granted I was still in bed at the time, but I am uber sensitive to earthquakes, and if it could be felt, I would have felt it.
You see, I grew up in California -- a fearful child. My biggest terror was a toss up between the Zodiac killer (he murdered a couple a few miles from my school, and threatened groups of children next, resulting in a few missed recesses.) and the Atomic bomb (a family I knew actually had a bomb shelter). Earthquakes probably came in third, followed by lightning, car crashes, child abductions, the threat of drowning, being left alone, and vampire bats.
Well, that's the short list anyway. I experienced a few earthquakes growing up, one in church -- and if that won't put the fear of God in you, nothing will.
In October of 1989, I was smack dab in the middle of the mayhem that was the Loma Prieta quake. In fact, I had been on the Bay Bridge a few hours before it struck. That was a 7.1 (though I think it was downgraded to a 7.0) and it felt it.
Things began to shake slowly and built to a sharp rocking, giving us time to panic and move -- I ran for a doorway and braced myself. In 15 seconds it was over, but the aftershocks were strong and plentiful. They woke me up in the middle of the night for months.
I've since moved on and out of California, experiencing new terrors like Tornados. While living in Tennessee I even experienced and earthquake there. It woke me up in the middle of the night, and I thought I was back in California. Tennessee has the dreaded New Madrid fault line running close to the Mississippi river, and when that sucker blows, it will be pure bedlam.
The biggest problem caused by the quake centered in Chino Hills, California seemed to be jammed phone lines, because as soon as the shaking stops, apparently everyone has to call everyone they know within 300 miles to ask if they felt it. I was once on the phone with a friend who was across the San Francisco bay from me during an earthquake. He felt it first, as it was centered nearer him, asked if I felt it, and then as the shock waves moved towards me, I did. I understand that folks didn't have immediate information, and were probably fearful that somewhere a much larger quake had occurred.
SoCal did have a devastating quake in Northridge in 1991 -- 72 people were killed, but still at under 7.0 it did not even make the California Top Ten earthquake list. Where the earthquake is centered, and how far underground it originates, and the time length of shaking has a lot to do with the damage it can unleash.
Be that as it may, this quake was pretty puny, and although a few bricks, ceiling tiles, and milk jugs fell, the shaking really didn't add up to much.
Basically, unless the earthquake is at least a 6.5, I'm just not interested.
Basically, unless the earthquake is at least a 6.5, I'm just not interested.
Here in Las Vegas the threat of a major earthquake exists, but it seems remote at best. In recent history, the Las Vegas valley hasn't felt anything remarkable, and I'd put my bet on a major terrorist attack before some natural ground shaking to cause any damage.
