Monday, June 14, 2010

Earthquake??

Around 9:25pm tonight, as I was doing the blog thing on the computer, I heard the ceiling light fixture rattling just a tad and, simultaneously, also noticed my potted anthurium swaying without rhyme, reason, or a breeze.

Lasted probably around 30-60 seconds (i.e, about a minute). There's been a recent swarm of minor earthquakes in and around the area of Anza Borrego Desert SP (E. San Diego County). In checking the USGS website, a 5.7 magnitude earthquake did occur about 5 mile SE of Ocotillo at 9:26:58pm this evening http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/ci14745580.php

All of us here in California are bracing for the big one along the San Andreas Fault, and you just never know what might be a precursor. Not freaked out, but just waiting with baited breath.

9 comments:

  1. Felt it in Chino Hills. It must have been out your way, as we only felt a gentle shaking for a few minutes. Thank God, the kids slept through it. My son is deathly terrified of earthquakes.

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  2. Yes, earthquakes are scary. Then again, I'm not sure I'd like hurricanes either. Thanks for visiting on Bloom Day!

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  3. Tell me that you've got an earthquake kit...

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  4. Certainly something to always be prepared for, but try not to think about too often otherwise. Last couple of minor quakes we've felt here have usually been most obvious because our glass door cabinets in the kitchen start to rattle. Not a sound I like to hear!

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  5. wow thats scary - I know everyone says that the big one is overdue - I hope it stays overdue. I have friends in the USA that are so prepared for all types of disasters. They always have an emergency set of bags ready to be able to survive quite a few days without civic amenities - containers for water, water purifying tablets, stove, etc. You really do experience such extremes of weather.

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  6. Lisa, we actually do have an earthquake kit - in fact two: one in the garage (enough food & water for us and the pooch for two weeks, along with meds & an emergency stash of wine/scotch) and a much smaller version (minus the booze) in the car. You can never be overprepared!

    Clare, I hear you. I generally don't give much thought to earthquakes until we get the inevitable little temblor once in awhile. Those tend to be the most nerve-wracking for the first few seconds because you just don't know where they're going to go from there.

    Rosie, I'll bet you have your share of inclement weather in your part of the world, too! Aside from our earthquake/emergency supplies, we also have tons of camping gear which comes in handy for minor things like power outages (not that uncommon in our semi-rural area). It's kind of fun to break out all the lanterns and to fire up the grill for dinner in the dark, like 'pretend' camping in our own backyard. The only problem? No computer! For that, we might just have to invest in a generator. MUST have access to the computer.

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  7. Turling, you felt it all the way in Chino Hills, eh? Remember the 5.4 that was epicentered just south of Chino Hills last summer? I was at work in Diamond Bar when that one hit, and it was a doozy. I was talking to a coworker when the ground started rolling and the windows starting bending in a weird warpy way. Instead of running for cover though, we just stood around like deer caught in headlights. So much for collective sensibility. If your kids went through that, I can totally understand why your son would be so frightened of earthquakes!

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  8. I definitely felt this one too. I can't remember so many aftershocks, and it's interesting and unsettling how they seem to be moving slowly northward along the Elsinore Fault--unfortunately towards you! Here's hoping you'll never need to break open the earthquake kit.

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  9. Uh oh - the Elsinore Fault, James? Not liking the sound of that. My husband, on the contrary, can't wait for an excuse to break out the emergency supplies. He's spent years packing and repacking those darned things, like an exercise in futility. Hope it stays that way though...

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