California Quake Gals... Did You Feel It?

[craftymissbeth]

Earthquakes scare the crap out of me! We've been having quite a few in the last couple of years here in the Midwest but obviously nothing compared to the life endangering ones on the west coast. Ours are just little baby rumbles.... like a big truck is passing by.

We get tornadoes that are deadly and destructive but we usually know days ahead of time when to expect dangerous weather. I can't imagine just hanging out and then suddenly a wild earthquake appears!

[Sunshine74]

I'll take our snow, thanks.

My in-laws live in Southern Ca, and every time I hear about an earthquake I get a little nervous, because the news we usually get is the fact that there was one- then I have to search for details on severity.

[TwinKristi]

I've lived in CA 99% of my life and have been in a lot of little quakes and one big quake (Loma Prieta, 1989) and must say I would still choose to live here over the Midwest or east. Tornados, hurricanes, blizzards all have a season and happen every year but the severity varies. Earthquakes happen all the time and we just don't feel them but we have a big one that does actual structure damage once every 20+ years. This one, while it was a shaker, was only a 5.1! The one in Japan a few years back was 9.2? It actually caused the earth's rotation to change. That was a catastrophic quake. Luckily we don't rely on nuclear energy much here and our plants are all inactive. I think we would be less likely to have our gov't lie to us about the severity of nuclear fallout!

I just stocked up on water bottles at Costco today. That's probably my one area I slack in. My kids always sneak them out of my emergency supplies!

[sharlan]

Really, folks!

How many people die every year in an earthquake in CA? NONE How many people die every year in the mid-west from tornadoes? How much property damage is caused every year from tornadoes and hurricanes? A LOT!

The last earthquake that anybody died in CA was the Northridge earthquake in January of 1994. 54 people died in that quake. That's just over 20 years ago.

You have a greater chance of dying walking across the street. (No I do not have statistics to back that up.)

We make it a fun thing, with lots of laughing and joking so the kids don't panic. Last night we had the grandkids come downstairs for awhile. I made them some chocolate milk and we laughed how it was like a Disneyland ride.

[Michelle]

I'm not saying California isn't appealing (although I've never been there) but some day it is gonna get the big one I'm afraid. Otherwise, I'd love to visit.

I'm in Florida and we did get a big hurricane with many deaths (Andrew). I didn't live here then but heard that there hadn't been a hurricane here in a long time so the regulations got lax as far as building codes, etc. Now in a place like Haiti who seems to get them every year, then I'd say that is a bad area for them and wouldn't live there. Also, they are a poor country and probably can't afford the safer construction/hurricane grade windows, etc. So I think it would be hard to make a blanket statement as far as deaths as there are many variables with hurricanes. Maybe not so much with tornados but, even then, there are variables like if the area has warning sirens or not.

Hurricane Katrina passed through my neighborhood before moving onto Louisana but it was just getting started and we just got weather compared to a bad thunderstorm. Then Wilma hit us pretty good. Maybe a category 2/3, can't remember. That one was a little scary. We lost electric for a week, a backyard full of trees down. Almost every telephone pole snapped (they are cement here). We were pretty lucky but my friend a few streets away had someone's patio roof blow off and lodge into her roof. Then when the hurricane switched directions like they do it came out and left a gaping hole with rain pouring in. She said if the patio roof would have stayed there it would have been fine as it plugged up the hole it made.

It was expensive but little by little year by year we finally have all hurricane windows and doors. It is gonna be soooo nice not to have to board up. What a pain!

Laurel

P.S. Hey wait, we have Mickey Mouse too!!! :: And what is this mountain you speak of? We are completely flat. There is a small grade by our neighborhood quickie mart and I have to explain to the kiddies that it is kind of like a hill as they only see snow and hills in books! ::

Oh yea, well we had Mickey Mouse first and he's my bud ( I seriously know one of the cast members that plays Mickey
I am with Sharlan
We joke and play around too but still thinking in my mind " is this going to get worse ?"
We go on with life .. In fact I'm at Knotts Berry Farm right now
So yea we just learn to live with them but they do rattle your nerves when they don't happen very often

[sharlan]

Oh yea, well we had Mickey Mouse first and he's my bud ( I seriously know one of the cast members that plays Mickey
I am with Sharlan
We joke and play around too but still thinking in my mind " is this going to get worse ?"
We go on with life .. In fact I'm at Knotts Berry Farm right now
So yea we just learn to live with them but they do rattle your nerves when they don't happen very often

I have never had one rattle my nerves yet. I remember the Sylmar earthquake of 71. 58 died in that one. My bed rolled from one side of the room to the other. I thought it was fun.

[Lucy]

I grew up in SoCal. I experienced the 1971 San Fernando (Sylmar) earthquake which was a 6.6

Both my brothers still live in the area, and both felt last night's quake. One is in Culver City, and the other in Arcadia. Each about 25 miles from the epicenter. Glad there wasn't too much damage from this one!

[Michael]

I just stocked up on water bottles at Costco today. That's probably my one area I slack in. My kids always sneak them out of my emergency supplies!

Since I have a tankless water heater I opted for one of these last week from Walmart. Augason Farms 55 Gallon Emergency Water Storage Kit

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Augason-Farms-Emergency-Water-Storage-Kit/21776414

and a Solar Cube to go along with my gas generator. I am a freak when it comes to this stuff.

Solar e Power Cube 1500

[TwinKristi]

That's great Michael! Thank you! We have an old style w/h and my dh always reminds me that can be used in an emergency as well as filling the tub ASAP. We have ice and extra water in the garage fridge too. But I would love to store water that way. That's going to be the biggest problem. We also have a generator and gas BBQ. LOL we also have lots of canned beans, tomatoes, soups, etc.

I agree Laurel. Many people died in the Loma Prieta (7.0) too, I don't remember how many but several from the bridge collapsing. So even a 7.0 didn't cause us to shelter in place or lose power/water, etc.

[Blackcat31]

Really, folks!

How many people die every year in an earthquake in CA? NONE How many people die every year in the mid-west from tornadoes? How much property damage is caused every year from tornadoes and hurricanes? A LOT!

The last earthquake that anybody died in CA was the Northridge earthquake in January of 1994. 54 people died in that quake. That's just over 20 years ago.

You have a greater chance of dying walking across the street. (No I do not have statistics to back that up.)

We make it a fun thing, with lots of laughing and joking so the kids don't panic. Last night we had the grandkids come downstairs for awhile. I made them some chocolate milk and we laughed how it was like a Disneyland ride.

I'll stay right where I'm at.

According to the USGS, 204 people have died in California earthquakes since 1971.

According to the MN Department of Natural Resources, only 70 people have died from blizzards. About 1/3 of those were heart attacks from shoveling snow.

I do agree though that earthquakes aren't as prevalent as most people think but that "big one" that is supposedly coming freaks me out enough that I don't think I could ever live in Cali.

I also think that although there are some good systems in place, early warning is just not early enough for me to be comfortable with...kwim?


I AM glad that everyone is safe though and not nearly as freaked out as I would have been.

[Laurel]

seriosuly we just had another one as I was writing this!
omg
I can quickly say that the mountains that I was talking about are the san gabriel mountains, sierras, now i got to go
I don't want to be sitting by this fireplace in case of aftershock

Oh my gosh.

You California people are making me nervous just reading about it. ::

Laurel

[Laurel]

I'll stay right where I'm at.

According to the USGS, 204 people have died in California earthquakes since 1971.

According to the MN Department of Natural Resources, only 70 people have died from blizzards. About 1/3 of those were heart attacks from shoveling snow.

I do agree though that earthquakes aren't as prevalent as most people think but that "big one" that is supposedly coming freaks me out enough that I don't think I could ever live in Cali.

I also think that although there are some good systems in place, early warning is just not early enough for me to be comfortable with...kwim?


I AM glad that everyone is safe though and not nearly as freaked out as I would have been.

Plus with hurricanes we try to minimize the risk in our minds too because it helps with the stress. Plus the worst one I experienced was a 2 or 3. I was only scared at one point when I heard some wind in the attic. I had the feeling that it was possible that the roof could lift off. It only lasted a minute or two but whew! A 5 totally would scare me.

Some parts are kinda cool though. I had to close for a whole week and it was in October so it wasn't horribly hot without air conditioning. It felt like we were on a camping trip cause we spent a lot of time clearing tree limbs from our yard. With no working dryer we hung wet things on a downed large tree limb. :: We stacked all the branches, etc. out in front of the house for the garbage man. Since I had nothing better to do I made a sign that said "Free Firewood". They cancelled Halloween that year. We had all our power lines snap in two and that was the best thing ever as before that we kept having power problems. Come to find out it was because the equipment was old and they were too cheap to replace it. Thank you Hurricane Wilma!

Laurel

Edited to add: And it was really cool that with all the poles down out of town electric companies were here to help. It felt really good to see all the help on short notice. There were trucks from Pennsylvania and other places and I think maybe even Canada. Can't remember now.

[sharlan]

I'll stay right where I'm at.

According to the USGS, 204 people have died in California earthquakes since 1971.
According to the MN Department of Natural Resources, only 70 people have died from blizzards. About 1/3 of those were heart attacks from shoveling snow.

I do agree though that earthquakes aren't as prevalent as most people think but that "big one" that is supposedly coming freaks me out enough that I don't think I could ever live in Cali.

I also think that although there are some good systems in place, early warning is just not early enough for me to be comfortable with...kwim?


I AM glad that everyone is safe though and not nearly as freaked out as I would have been.

Never mind, I found it. I'd forgotten where 1 or 2 people died in little quakes.

[Michelle]

I guess it all boils down to how close you are to the epicenter.
We are 10 miles away and we had a little damage.
Nothing major, just some glasses knocked off some shelves.

The most important thing to remember is to be prepared.
At my last licensing visit she said I was so prepared for any emergency that she wanted me to go speak at the next licensing orientation but public speaking is more scary than earthquakes so I said I couldn't ( they do orientations online now I think)
Any ways Michael I love your water tank and generator!
Are you an a fellow extreme prepper?::::

We have 3 huge red back packs that are our "go bags" that have the usual binder with all the kids emergency info/pictures
but in there is also 3 days worth of food,water,medicine,toiletries,and misc. other things but also I put some coloring books and crayons, play dough etc. in case I ended up in some tent city or shelter with some or all of the dck's
In addition I have 10 large Rubbermaid totes with enough food,water,and clothes, blankets, and activities for 2 months .

I really want a generator, that's on my list to get next.
We will always have earthquakes but as far as the "big one?"
I think that it is very exaggerated and I am not that concerned.
and if we all fall into the ocean, well my mom just bought a yacht and I guess I am prepared for that too!
::::::
Love my California!
I think I will go to the beach today lovethis

[MarinaVanessa]

I am a freak when it comes to this stuff.

My family thinks I'm a prepper .

We don't have a solar powered thingy or a big barrel for water but we have the required 3 days worth of food and water for evacuations or shelter-in-place for 8 kids and 4 adults. We also have extra food and water for 4 adults to last for 10 more days that's separate. We each have "go-bags" with small first-aid kits and necessities (4 adult bags and 2 kid bags) and a large rolling bin with other emergency supplies (can-opener, more flashlights, wind-up radio, toilet paper etc.). It's just smart. Oh and we have guns and rifles and stock up on ammo. I'm not scared about a zombie apocalypse or the end of the world, I'm scared of the crazies that believe in that stuff and get crazy when something happens. My husband is afraid if looters that break into businesses and homes to steal things.

And no ... I didn't feel any of the earthquakes. Not .. even .. one :confused:. I'm in Ventura County so I should have felt at least one right? I havn't felt any of the earthquakes in the last few weeks. IDK ???

BTW Michael ... my DH and I are uber-jealous of your solar cube. I showed him the specs and he was in awe ... all he said was "Bas-@$$". It is now on our wish-list.