Earthquake in California Leaves Residents Shocked

On July 29 2008, the Southern California earthquake left some residents in a state of panic. In Ontario, local resident E. Anne said, "I thought the roof was going to collapse! I was not sure what I would do. I was in total shock so I just watched other people as they tried to figure out what to do."

Another Southern Californian said, "I was so worried about my daughter. I was running everywhere calling her name."

After the quake there was a mad rush to call family and friends, causing a phone jam. In Sacramento, the California Office of Emergency Services urged people to cut down on their use of the telephone in order to free up the phone lines for those who must call 911 for an emergency.

Although the 5.4 magnitude earthquake was considered moderate, it was enough to sway buildings, shake windows and cause wall hangings to fall to the floor. Fortunately, there were no major injuries or serious damages to properties.

The governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, said, "This earthquake reminds us yet again that in California we have to be prepared for everything and anything," An advice, many who live in California are going to follow. Imelda said, "We have to be prepared in case a more serious earthquake occurs. We are going to the store to buy an emergency kit in case this happens again."

Experts say it is likely another earthquake will occur. According to Kate Hutton, a seismologist at the California Institute of Technology, "This is a sample, a small sample." She goes on to say that there is a five percent chance yesterday's quake could be a precursor to a bigger earthquake. After a day, the chance will drop to one percent.

As I write this, it is now 2:25 PM of the next day. Californians can now breathe a sigh of relief, even if only for a moment.