Interesting Earthquake Facts

After feeling my first tremors yesterday (which my husband didn't feel) I started wondering why I could feel the bed shake - significantly - but he didn't. Was it because I'm pregnant? Or could I just be more sensitive to earthquakes?

So I looked into it - and found a lot of information I didn't know before.

Every year, there are about a half-million detectable earthquakes worldwide. Only 20% of those can be felt. Fortunately, only about a hundred of these earthquakes cause any real damage.

Terrified of earthquakes? The states to move to are Florida, Wisconsin, Iowa, or North Dakota. During the twenty years between 1975 and 1995, these were the only American states that did not experience earthquakes. Of these, Florida and North Dakota have the least - though even they have earthquakes. The worst? Not California, but Alaska, which is one of the most seismically active regions on earth.

The worst earthquake in the continental US was centered near New Madrid, Missouri, close to the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. This is not thought of as earthquake country! Four greater earthquakes (estimated at an 8.0 or higher) shook the US as far away as Boston in 1803.

Animals do appear to detect some earthquakes before they happen - but it's impossible to use them to predict earthquake. The behaviors aren't consistent, and they don't even always occur. Scientists are mystified as to what exactly the animals are sensing.

No one knows how it happens, but there are sometimes lights in the sky or the area around the seismic instability up to three weeks or so prior to an earthquake. Theories for where these earthquake lights come from range from forms of luminescence to ionized gases released from the earth. Unfortunately, they do not happen with every earthquake, and are not understood well enough to be used as a predictor.

The safest place during an earthquake: solid rock on clear flat land away from water and buildings. Soft earth, especially if sandy, can liquefy; hills can have landslides (dangerous at the top and bottom); buildings can collapse; and waves from even calm waters can rush out and sweep you into a suddenly-turbulent pond.

If you're in a building when an earthquake starts, don't try to leave. Instead, lay down under a strong table or similar structure, or crouch in a corner with your arms over your head. If you're in bed, stay there and cover your head with a pillow. Try to avoid windows or heavy objects that can fall on you.

Most injuries and deaths in an earthquake occur when walls and buildings collapse onto people. For this reason, experts advise that you find a safe place and stay there when the earth moves.