Earthquake!

THegraNDscheme

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Felt it pretty strong in Pasadena MD! About 7 seconds of solid shaking followed by about 10 secs of subtle vibrations as things settled.

Good thing my bedroom doorway is right next to the flatscreen..that way I didn't have to sacrifice myself!
 

BGIF

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lol... was listening to a show and the host freaked out...

then I heard it was a 5.8... I guess when you have never been in one that's scary... but if you have been in as many as most out here... 5.8 is hardly news worthy anymore.

It's not in CA which is classified as Seismic Zone 4 (the highest) but it is in VA which is Zone 1, (the lowest). Which is why the evacuations are to be expected - the unexpected happened. The building codes in Zone 1 don't require the structural integrity Californians are accoustomed too. Nor are the EMAs and the populace prepared for this such a situation like CA is.

Whittier Narrows was a 5.9, a moderate quake in '87 but killed 8 or 10 people, injured hunderds, did a couple hundred million in damage, something like 1500 gas leaks. Wasn't big by CA standards but it was to those effected.

I had just walked out of the Moscone Center when the Loma Prieta quake hit. I though it was cool until the reports of the 880 collapse came in. And later saw the smoke rising from the marina district. It was impressive how quickly the power and gas services were shutdown. I learned later that this was S.O.P. A coordinated effort between the EMAs, utility companies, police, fire, and medical facilities immediately sprung into action. It was hardly noticeable. It was routine for them. Likewise with traffic lights out, drivers were patient at intersections. They had been there before.

Cities and towns in the lower rated Seismic Zones have contingency plans but so did New Orleand for hurricanes. They don't get practiced for as the probability and budgets are both low.
 

BGIF

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I agree...I'm in Cincy and my grandmother felt it 10 ft away from me, and I felt nothing! what a gip!!

She's probably more accoustomed to feeling the earth move that you. Even if it's only distance memories.
 

BGIF

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Washington Monument is supposedly "tilted." I don't believe these reports, but something to keep an eye on. Maybe it's not BS.

Hadn't heard that but it wouldn't be surprising. Stone blocks piled 500 feet high.
 

GO IRISH!!!

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It's not in CA which is classified as Seismic Zone 4 (the highest) but it is in VA which is Zone 1, (the lowest). Which is why the evacuations are to be expected - the unexpected happened. The building codes in Zone 1 don't require the structural integrity Californians are accoustomed too. Nor are the EMAs and the populace prepared for this such a situation like CA is.

Whittier Narrows was a 5.9, a moderate quake in '87 but killed 8 or 10 people, injured hunderds, did a couple hundred million in damage, something like 1500 gas leaks. Wasn't big by CA standards but it was to those effected.

I had just walked out of the Moscone Center when the Loma Prieta quake hit. I though it was cool until the reports of the 880 collapse came in. And later saw the smoke rising from the marina district. It was impressive how quickly the power and gas services were shutdown. I learned later that this was S.O.P. A coordinated effort between the EMAs, utility companies, police, fire, and medical facilities immediately sprung into action. It was hardly noticeable. It was routine for them. Likewise with traffic lights out, drivers were patient at intersections. They had been there before.

Cities and towns in the lower rated Seismic Zones have contingency plans but so did New Orleand for hurricanes. They don't get practiced for as the probability and budgets are both low.

People always comment on California earthquakes, but I always tell them that we build things to withstand earthquakes. Other parts of the country don't. It takes a pretty big shake for us to even ponder doing something. Usually we just ride it out.

If I remember correctly, one of the largest fault lines in the country runs right through Illinois. If a sizable quake hits that fault, Chicago will be in big trouble. It will be bad.
 

NDFan4Life

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I'm about 4 hours south of DC. We felt a slight tremor, but that was about it.
 

tankjeep

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I Live Down in the southwestern tip of VA felt a small rumble no damage though.

i live/work in southeastern va and it scared the crap out of me. started off as a tremor, then the building started shaking. i swear, i thought the floor was going to fall out from under me.

only lasted about 5 to 10 seconds, but that was enough for me to get my panties in a wad.
 

alaskandomer

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People always comment on California earthquakes, but I always tell them that we build things to withstand earthquakes. Other parts of the country don't. It takes a pretty big shake for us to even ponder doing something. Usually we just ride it out.

If I remember correctly, one of the largest fault lines in the country runs right through Illinois. If a sizable quake hits that fault, Chicago will be in big trouble. It will be bad.

Anchorage also has stringent construction standards due to the frequency/severity of earthquakes here. I couldn't figure out why Californians would get so much damage from what we'd consider a minor quake until a seismologist explained that some of that has to do with the depth of the fault lines. Most of us wouldn't even notice something less than 4.5 or so unless it was right under us. Also, earthquakes can often be felt great distances from the epicenter. The Good Friday earthquake here in 1964 (a 9.2, the most powerful in the history of North America) generated a tsunami that actually killed a few folks in California.
 
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