Magnitude 5.4 Quake Shook Southern California
No major structural damages or injuries were reported. Bricks did fall from walls inside and out. High rise buildings in downtown Los Angeles swayed. Buildings in other cities swayed, also. Cracks in walls and broken windows were reported. Items fell from counter tops and walls and items flew from store shelves. Some stores had to close the doors to the public to clean up the mess. As a precaution workers were evacuated from buildings. The campuses were closed on some colleges. No power outages or gas leaks were reported.
A flood of phone calls after the quake jammed up the phone lines. My two grandchildren ages 14 and 16 were home alone, because their mom teaches summer school at a college; I called them immediately on the home phone and both their cell phones. I couldn't get through. I went to check on them. They were shook up but they were okay. Their cat was on the third floor, the kids said the cat dashed down stairs, ran by them and went to the first floor and took cover under a table.
It was dramatic. When the quake hit I was sitting at the dinning room table, writing checks to pay bills. The entire house shook hard, the hanging ceiling light, that's above the table, swayed from side to side. I thought it was going to fall. But, it held its ground. It swayed seconds after the quake stopped. The quake lasted only 15 seconds, but, it seemed like 60 seconds. I have been in a 5.9 quake years ago. but, you never really get used to it. Your mind instantly goes to work, "Is this the big one?" - " I hope the shaking stops."
Good news is, it's been little more than six hours since the quake and no injuries or death has been reported.
More than 300 faults crisscross the state of California. California is one of the most seismically active regions. It sits top of Pacific and North America plates. California is shook by approximately 10,000 quakes each year. However, most of them are not felt because they are much too small. Usually when I feel an earth quake; it is reported 3.0 or better.
Published by Mary E. Coe
I write articles, songs, poetry, short stories and stageplays. Some of my writings are fictitious and some are fact based. In the Spring of 1993, some of my poems were published in the library at Citrus Col... View profile
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14 Comments
Post a CommentI was sitting on the "step" at the back door when I heard a noise from neighbor's apartment. I leaned inside the kitchen as if I thought I could see through the walls to see what hit mine from his. Then I realized the building was swaying and the ground was shaking! I started to stand up, wanted to get my purse, just in case it is the big one. Thought I was going to fall, so sat thinking. They say to stand in a doorway, so guess I best sit right where I am. Yet the imagination was working big time; picture getting crushed by those concrete walls. When it stopped I stood only to sit right back down again. Aftershocks. Even hours later I thought I felt shaking. Not sure if I did or it was paranoia. Long Beach is on a triple fault line. This is only the second time I felt an earthquake even though there have been quite a few other people felt since I lived in CA.
So scary! I am glad you all were OK!
I always say that I miss San Diego; we were lucky to have only a few small quakes here and there when we lived there. If "the big one hit", well, we'd probably freak ourselves out so bad. Oddly enough, all our animals would start acting weird before one hit. I never picked up on it the first few years but when the guinea pigs and rabbits would start running in circles or hiding even when food was put out for them, we knew something was going to happen.
I've lived through hurricanes in Miami and one small earthshake in Costa Rica...the idea of a big shake makes me quake...;) I'm glad you and your family came out of this ok..
Quite scary! You all take care!
I have never experienced a earth quake. Not sure I want to either! Glad you are all alright!!!
So scary, super coverage here nicely put!!!
Good coverage.
Scary stuff...keep safe.
I am so glad that you and your family are OK. I hope that I never have to experience something like that...it sounds so scary.