Over the last 3 weeks California has been inundated with earthquakes. Actually, since California is always inundated with earthquakes, I should clarify that over the last few weeks we've been inundated with earthquakes we can feel. Looking at the various earthquake tracking sites it's quite apparent that earthquakes are happening all day, everyday, all over the world. Sitting upon the very active Pacific Plate and almost on top of the San Andreas Fault, Los Angeles County has its fair share of those quakes alone. However, most of the time they are too small or too deep for most of us to feel. That has not been the case this past month. We've had several that have been large enough (4s or higher) to feel. In fact, just last week we had a 5.1 that actually caused damage to homes, shut down power, and broke water mains near its epicenter.
Feeling these quakes, however small, is disconcerting. Of course, the news has been looking for a story since Malaysia Airline's headlines, and have been reporting that these quakes are leading to something bigger...THE BIG ONE! Scientists say that's not necessarily the case. Even so, there has been enough time in between each one we've felt to relax a little that when the next one hits, it does tend to rattle us a bit. I've straightened more pictures in the last few weeks than I have in all my life I think.
About an hour ago, I sat down on my bed to put my shoes on and after the first shoe, I could have sworn I felt one. The bed moved, the window creaked, the house moaned, for just a quick second or two. I sat up quickly and waited. During an earthquake you always stay still and wait for a moment to see if it's going to continue. Nothing more after that. After I finished getting ready, I checked the tracking sites and Facebook (because someone is always posting about earthquakes on FB) and there wasn't a peep about a tremor. Usually those sites are quickly up-to-date, but I checked again just a moment ago. There were a couple of small ones today, but not at the time I felt it. I'm assuming that the scientists tracking them are more knowledgeable than I am about it so I'm fairly certain that I simply thought I felt one. It seems as if our recent regular occurrences are now making me feel earthquakes even when we're not having one.
I hate earthquakes!
The New New Orchard
7 hours ago
I'd say if you never went through a 'big one' in general you'd be quite blazé, people being what they are and able to get acclimatized to most things.
ReplyDeleteOn the house thing, could it be a slight settling. We get that sometimes here when houses are built on clay and when it dries in summer it contracts ergo a slight settle.
I think my biggest worry about the "big one", actually two biggest worries is being at school when it hits and/or having my house badly damaged - it was built before our last big one so doesn't have any of the newer earthquake codes. My parents' house was partly destroyed in the last one and that was really scary.
DeleteYes, I believe it was the house settling. It had to be...unless I have ghosts. :)
I thought the State gave grants to upgrade the existing housing stock after the one in the mid 90s. Or very low interest loans.
DeleteSorry, I saw this before I went to sleep last night so wasn't firing on all cylinders.
Is there still no 'genuine' forcasting system t tell you one is due in the next 24/48 hour.
Not that I'm aware of. FEMA came in after the last one and gave funds and low interest loans for repairs, and at that point you could upgrade. The interesting thing is that those who didn't have earthquake insurance got the funds much quicker than those who did. And afterwards most who were insured were priced right out of their insurance. Now it's so cost-prohibitive to purchase that most don't have it.
DeleteI just saw part of a news report the other day that the seismologists at Cal Tech have those forecasters. I didn't see all of it, but it was discussing why we should have access to that info. As far as I know the news has never reported that an earthquake was on it's way like they do with hurricanes and tornadoes. That would be a game changer. At least there could be some semblance of preparation beyond storing water and food in the garage.
I guess we are too far north to have felt the EQ but we have already had some thunderstorm watches in MO that I have missed.
ReplyDeleteYah all of our recent ones have been centrally located in the county, and this last one was a bit further south. My family in Ventura Co. felt a few of them, but SB is even further north than that.
DeleteThe La Habra earthquake was very close to where I grew up. When I was a kid it seems like there were always small ones...4's and under...but up here I have only been through the BIG one....but I really am not fond of any!
ReplyDeleteStay safe!!
While some are saying these little ones are leading to a big one others say they are relieving the pressure reducing the chances of a big one. I hope it's the latter.
DeleteI don't know what's worse-- earthquakes or tornados. Both are horrible!
ReplyDeleteI've never been through a tornado, so I can't say. It's probably a toss up - both equally awful. :)
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