There was a 5.4 Earthquake in Southern California today and I first learned about it from several people I know in Southern California on Twitter. I'm currently listening to a SoCal new station on the internet to just keep up with what is going on. Everyone that I know in that area is doing fine and it sounds like there is no major damage.
I just remembered that we also had an earthquake here in Maryland many years ago. I wrote about it in one of my old blogs that is no longer up and running. So I'm posting this entry from my archives.
Earthquake
On December 9th I felt an earthquake. That is not really unusual since I spent the first 35 years of my life in Southern California and have felt many earthquakes. But on December 9th I was at work in Rockville Maryland. At about 4PM a quake with a magnitude of 4.5 hit and was centered about 28 miles west of Richmond VA. They say you can have an earthquake anywhere in the world. I just never expected to feel one on the east coast. I really don't have a problem with earthquakes, as long as I'm not in a structurally weak building or driving on or under a overpass. Most of the time that I experienced a quake, I found it kind of fun and exciting.
I just remembered that we also had an earthquake here in Maryland many years ago. I wrote about it in one of my old blogs that is no longer up and running. So I'm posting this entry from my archives.
Earthquake
On December 9th I felt an earthquake. That is not really unusual since I spent the first 35 years of my life in Southern California and have felt many earthquakes. But on December 9th I was at work in Rockville Maryland. At about 4PM a quake with a magnitude of 4.5 hit and was centered about 28 miles west of Richmond VA. They say you can have an earthquake anywhere in the world. I just never expected to feel one on the east coast. I really don't have a problem with earthquakes, as long as I'm not in a structurally weak building or driving on or under a overpass. Most of the time that I experienced a quake, I found it kind of fun and exciting.
There have been a couple of earthquakes that have left me with lasting
memories.
The first one is probably the cause of a minor phobia. When driving in California I was always fearful that I would be stuck on or under a freeway overpass when a massive earthquake would hit.
Back in 1971 (I was almost six years old) the Sylmar earthquake hit the SoCal area at 6AM. It measured a magnitude of 6.6. I faintly remember being woken up from the shaking. The only damage I remember was a new crack formed on our dinning room ceiling. At that time I thought earthquakes were just another amusement park ride.
A couple of weeks later (I think during Easter week.) My Dad and I drove up to San Francisco to visit my great Grandfather. While driving up the 5 freeway we had to pass some major damage caused by the Sylmar quake. With my nose glued to the window I sat in awe looking at all the damage. I then saw a truck sitting under a huge slab of concrete.
At that time I was unaware that anyone got hurt from an earthquake. My father told me that this was the area where two people were crushed to death from a falling overpass. There were also many deaths when a VA hospital collapsed from the quake.
At that time in my life I had never really understood that death can come knocking for you at any time. I remember feeling very afraid the rest of our 6 hour trip up to the bay area.
From LAFire.com:Eight-inch thick concrete pavement slabs were compressed into ridges and thrust over one another, apparently as a result of land-shortening in a north-south direction.
The Sylmar quake happened at 6 in the morning and I doubt the people that were killed were stuck in traffic. It all came down to bad luck and timing. However, the shock from that sight still affects me today in a very small way. While driving on the California freeways I still feel nervous sitting in traffic under an overpass.
Since I have moved to Maryland, that anxious feeling seems to have gone away. Its weird what your subconscious mind does to you when your not looking. There have been other quake memories in my life. I remember working on the machine shop floor at McDonnell Douglas in Huntington Beach. A mid-sized earthquake hit and I could literally see the solid concrete shop floor rise up like a wave about 200 yards ahead of me and travel straight towards me. That wave of concrete almost knocked me on my butt. That was a sight I will never forget.
I remember being glued to the TV when the 6.7 magnitude '94 Northridge earthquake hit. That one hit around 4:30 in the morning and it was strong enough to wake me up. It wasn't until later in the day did we realize how much damage that one really caused. I also remember rooting for survivors in the collapsed apartment building.
When I felt the most recent Virgina earthquake it felt like I was back home in California. I commented to myself, "hey that was an earthquake." But then I thought, it couldn't be. They don't have them out here. Well this is proof. They can have them anywhere.
The first one is probably the cause of a minor phobia. When driving in California I was always fearful that I would be stuck on or under a freeway overpass when a massive earthquake would hit.
Back in 1971 (I was almost six years old) the Sylmar earthquake hit the SoCal area at 6AM. It measured a magnitude of 6.6. I faintly remember being woken up from the shaking. The only damage I remember was a new crack formed on our dinning room ceiling. At that time I thought earthquakes were just another amusement park ride.
A couple of weeks later (I think during Easter week.) My Dad and I drove up to San Francisco to visit my great Grandfather. While driving up the 5 freeway we had to pass some major damage caused by the Sylmar quake. With my nose glued to the window I sat in awe looking at all the damage. I then saw a truck sitting under a huge slab of concrete.
At that time I was unaware that anyone got hurt from an earthquake. My father told me that this was the area where two people were crushed to death from a falling overpass. There were also many deaths when a VA hospital collapsed from the quake.
At that time in my life I had never really understood that death can come knocking for you at any time. I remember feeling very afraid the rest of our 6 hour trip up to the bay area.
From LAFire.com:Eight-inch thick concrete pavement slabs were compressed into ridges and thrust over one another, apparently as a result of land-shortening in a north-south direction.
The Sylmar quake happened at 6 in the morning and I doubt the people that were killed were stuck in traffic. It all came down to bad luck and timing. However, the shock from that sight still affects me today in a very small way. While driving on the California freeways I still feel nervous sitting in traffic under an overpass.
Since I have moved to Maryland, that anxious feeling seems to have gone away. Its weird what your subconscious mind does to you when your not looking. There have been other quake memories in my life. I remember working on the machine shop floor at McDonnell Douglas in Huntington Beach. A mid-sized earthquake hit and I could literally see the solid concrete shop floor rise up like a wave about 200 yards ahead of me and travel straight towards me. That wave of concrete almost knocked me on my butt. That was a sight I will never forget.
I remember being glued to the TV when the 6.7 magnitude '94 Northridge earthquake hit. That one hit around 4:30 in the morning and it was strong enough to wake me up. It wasn't until later in the day did we realize how much damage that one really caused. I also remember rooting for survivors in the collapsed apartment building.
When I felt the most recent Virgina earthquake it felt like I was back home in California. I commented to myself, "hey that was an earthquake." But then I thought, it couldn't be. They don't have them out here. Well this is proof. They can have them anywhere.
