East coast earthquake

[PamNY]

Elevator areas -- does that mean standing next to the elevator would be safer in an earthquake?

My building is an old (built in 1910) office building that was converted to residential -- so I assume the original walls would be stronger than the walls that were added?

From what I've read, I'd guess the stairwell without windows and right next to the elevator would be safest -- does that sound reasonable?

[pll]

Elevator areas -- does that mean standing next to the elevator would be safer in an earthquake?

My building is an old (built in 1910) office building that was converted to residential -- so I assume the original walls would be stronger than the walls that were added?

From what I've read, I'd guess the stairwell without windows and right next to the elevator would be safest -- does that sound reasonable?

The area of the elevator shaft is reinforced -- safe to stand next to it as the doors are not open. The problem with stairwells is that they are dangerous if people are running down. When I lived in Mexico City, we huddled next to the elevator during an earthquake (8th floor of a building). In Lima, we'd open the doors to the patio/garden and stand in the patio until we could no longer hear what we call 'the rumor' (which I think simply the wave coming and going .... in Lima, you will hear the rumor before you feel the shaking; the one time I felt an earthquake in Evanston, I woke up to that distinctive sound). It's interesting how earthquakes feel different depending on where you are. In Mexico City, I recall the shaking was side to side, while in Lima is more up and down.

[ny biker]

One of my co-workers was standing near the elevators, in the center of the building, and he said he hardly felt anything. My desk is in the corner out near the windows, and I felt lots of shaking. Another co-worker was walking down the street a couple of blocks away. She felt almost nothing -- she thought maybe she had stumbled on something, then wondered why there appeared to be fire drills in so many of the buildings she was walking past.

Afterwards I wondered if the stairwells would be among the more stable places in the building.

When I got home, if I hadn't known there had been an earthquake I would not have thought anything had happened. Only a few small things fell off of the shelves/cabinets that they were on. Most important, my bike was fine.

[divingbiker]

I was never so happy to be a bike commuter as I was yesterday. Traffic was horrible, since everyone was let go at the same time, but I just pedaled along and got home in the usual time, only 2 hours early!

[PamNY]

The area of the elevator shaft is reinforced -- safe to stand next to it as the doors are not open. The problem with stairwells is that they are dangerous if people are running down. When I lived in Mexico City, we huddled next to the elevator during an earthquake (8th floor of a building). In Lima, we'd open the doors to the patio/garden and stand in the patio until we could no longer hear what we call 'the rumor' (which I think simply the wave coming and going .... in Lima, you will hear the rumor before you feel the shaking; the one time I felt an earthquake in Evanston, I woke up to that distinctive sound). It's interesting how earthquakes feel different depending on where you are. In Mexico City, I recall the shaking was side to side, while in Lima is more up and down.

Thanks for the tips. If there's another one I am heading for the elevator. Good point about the stairs -- but it would be less crowded in a residential building if people rushed down. Plus we all know each other and most went through 9/11 and the blackout together, so we are somewhat disaster-prepared.

I finally saw something in the newspaper about the fact that standing under buildings during an earthquake is a bad idea.

All of this has inspired me to figure out exactly what I would do if a hurricane hits here. With no car, evacuation is an adventure.

[ny biker]

All of this has inspired me to figure out exactly what I would do if a hurricane hits here. With no car, evacuation is an adventure.

Perhaps a Dr Zhivago-like ride on NJ Transit?

I would argue that evacuation is an adventure *with* a car. You'd go faster on a bike -- yesterday's p.m. commute in the DC area proved that. The problem is that eventually you'd get tired. And your ability to carry stuff is limited.

[PamNY]

I smiled reading about the DC commute yesterday. I'm sure the cyclists smiled, too.

I have a large, older dog to tote along when evacuating. I have a Radio Flyer wagon which would handily get him to Brooklyn -- if the bridge is open.

When we evacuated after 9/11, I scavenged a grocery cart for the dog (also an older bulldog who is no longer with us). It was missing two front wheels, so we strapped a donated furniture dolly on and it worked just fine.

The Fulton Fish Market was still operational at that time, so I found lots of materials at hand to make the cart comfy for him.

We later returned the dolly to the restaurant that donated it, along with a little plaque explaining how it was used. They still have it on the wall.

[ny biker]

I don't think I'd want to go to Brooklyn for a hurricane.

[GLC1968]

I heard on NPR this morning that the reason the earthquake was felt so far and wide out there is because the bedrock under the east coast is basically just one huge mass. Vibrations will travel the entire length of it because it's old and solid. This is in contrast to the west coast which is much newer (geologically speaking) and full of splits and fissures. Vibrations only travel to the end of the bedrock and then they dissipate, so west coast earthquakes tend to be more localized.

I thought that was interesting.

Back to your regularly scheduled programming...

[PamNY]

I don't think I'd want to go to Brooklyn for a hurricane.

Why not? Where I would go isn't in an evacuation zone and the food is great