yeeks! We had an earthquake!

[Running Mommy]

wow. Need to call my bro. He is a commercial fisherman in Crescent city. Surely he felt it. Odd thing was around that time I was on the phone w/my mom in Brookings OR! I bet she felt it. She feels them ALL!! (actually surprised I didn't get a call)...

[Trek420]

I called my mom (Sonoma). She didn't feel it but says she did feel the smaller one we had in the South bay recently. I didn't feel either one.

[Pax]

I don't know how you all do it, I can handle tornadoes, have lived through five hurricanes in FL, hail/fire/flood...but earthquakes scare the living hell out of me!

[jobob]

That's reasonable - you have a bit of warning with hurricanes & storms & fires & floods; not so much with tornadoes, but some. Earthquakes just happen.

But really, the vast majority of them feel like a big truck is rolling past your house, if even that. You get used to it. And try to be prepared.

[Trek420]

"The big one" will not feel like a large truck driving by But it's all part of the thrill of living in paradise earthquakes, floods, fires.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcbK0qGuOsY

I think we all do our best to be prepared, it's hard to have everything but I try to keep an earthquake kit at home and at work, water and food etc.

Speaking of which I need to rotate the water in my kit soon.

[Biciclista]

no, it will more like being in the path of a loaded freight train!

[Pax]

That's reasonable - you have a bit of warning with hurricanes & storms & fires & floods; not so much with tornadoes, but some. Earthquakes just happen.

But really, the vast majority of them feel like a big truck is rolling past your house, if even that. You get used to it. And try to be prepared.

We've had a couple of 4.2's around here and they left me wigged out for days...you can't hide from them, you can't run away. *shudder*

My SO's job is on the line right now and we're discussing the possibility of another move in a year or so (I really don't want to, but it is what it is), California is on the list because of her profession...I would hope I could get used to them, being freaked out all the time would suck!

[Trek420]

Actually the most powerful quake in the written history of these United States was in the midwest. The Mississippi ran backwards for a bit of time

You can't predict them, I don't know if I'd want to know I think you can only be as prepared as best you can and do your best. It's interesting in the SFGATE article the people lining up at the hardware store for flashlights AFTER the quake

Show of hands: if USGS could tell us "8.0 in 30 seconds" would you want to know?

[Catrin]

Actually the most powerful quake in the written history of these United States was in the midwest. The Mississippi ran backwards for a bit of time

Indeed, and it also rang church bells in Boston The New Madrid fault is no slouch, and hopefully it will be a LONG time before it goes again. There were eyewitness accounts of something called "land waves" (just like it sounds) that were something over 3 feet tall due to the force of the earthquake, and there were hundreds of aftershocks over a good period of time. (I want to say they were taller than that, but my memory may be off - it's been some time since grad school).

Show of hands: if USGS could tell us "8.0 in 30 seconds" would you want to know?

Hmmmm, part of me says "yes" the other says "nope" but, in the end, what could one do with that kind of knowledge in such a brief time period other than to say a prayer?