California Earthquakes...4.4 shake-up nothing like Northridge temblor! Force of Nature...

I was tossng and turning in bed this morning when I felt a sudden jolt.

Was it my imagination?

It felt like a giant hand had given my boudoir a gentle shove.

Sure enough, when I jumped in my car and headed over to Starbucks for a piping hot cup of tea, the DJ's on the radio were excitedly gushing over the 4.4. temblor.

"Did 'ya feel it," one radio announcer queried his listeners on air.

"If so, give us a call!"

One woman noted that she felt embarrassed about all the fuss over a quake that registered so low on the richter scale.

"When you consider the quake in Haiti - or the magnitude of the aftershocks in Chile - it's ludicrous."

"Yeah," piped in a popular disc jokey (Valentine).

"If  it's not a five, I don't want to even bother mentioning it on air."

The morning team poked fun at local newsmen  who were making such a big deal about the quiver.

"And now, a waitress from I HOP is here to discuss her experience this morning out in Norwalk," they mocked with wicked delight.

Californias are a pretty rugged lot.

Shortly after I transplated to the West Coast (from Canada) I got used to the phenomenon.

No  problem!

If I wake up now during a three-point-fiver, for example, I just roll over and drift back into dreamland.

Until the Northridge earthquake rolled in, of course!

In a post in the past, I recalled the catastrophic eruption which resulted in numerous deaths and millions of dollars of damage in the well-populated areas where the wrath of mother nature struck.

Post:  04/19/08

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2008/04/northridge-earthquakea-lesson-to-all.html

Uh-huh.

There's a price to pay for choosing to reside in the lofty climbs of Southern California.

Would we have it any other way?

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San Francisco..shake-up triggers memories of Northridge earthquake! Now, the big one...

Northridge quake (1994)

Earthquake preparation kit!

The other morning when a quake rattled the Bay area around ten in the morning, I was totally oblivious to it.

Looking back, I surmise that I was busy jostling around San Francisco's picturesque climbs, and mistook the rumbling for a cable car or a dumpster barreling down an alley.

But, when a 6.8 temblor struck in the Eureka region, it triggered memories of the Northridge earthquake (just North of Los Angeles) back in 1994.

When I first migrated to sunny California, I worried about the "big one", but - over time - became complacent like so many other die-hard transplants and locals.

If Angelinos are jolted in the middle of the night,they roll with it, and go back to sleep.

Unfortunately, that was not the case with the devastating Northridge quake which killed hapless victims, toppled buildings, squashed motorcars into tin pancakes - and quite generally - left a trail of destruction in its wake.

The catastrophic event touched me personally, too.

I was forced to evacuate the next morning when a city inspector condemned the qaint five-story New-York-style walk-up in Hollywood proper which hadn't been retro-fitted.

If I hadn't been residing there, I wouldn't have escaped the wrath of the frightful earth-twister elsewhere, though.

After checking on the safety of former neighbors in three other locations I once lived at, I learned that all of the buildings I onced rented suites in, were severely damaged and which required mandatory moves at the directio of authorities.

On that occasion, I also learned about the importance of being prepared for an earthquake.

For details, check out my post on the Northridge quake at the link below.

Post: 07/29/08

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2008/07/earthquake-update58-magnitude-shaker.html

Although the quake centered in-and-around Eureka was 6.8 in magnitude, fortunately there were no deaths or reports of serious injuries.

According to Humbolt county residents (who felt the brunt of the unexpected jolt) townsfolk only suffered cuts, bruises, and the unpleasant task of sweeping up broken glass and the like.

However, they were forced to struggle through the incovenience of power outages that lasted a few hours in some cases and rattled nerves.

As James Bond would quip with suave flair:

Shaken but not stirred.

Fortunately, the quake was centered off-shore and underwater, or else the outcome may have been more devastating.

Officials noted that the aforementioned Northridge quake resulted in many deaths and millions of dollars of damage, because it was centered in the heart of a busy populated neighborhood in the mainland of Los Angeles.

Of course, Californians have to recognize that earthquakes are undoubtedly part 'n parcel with the California lifestyle.

Simply put, the state rests on two large plates beneath the surface, that are constantly moving in opposite directions.

Occasionally, when the plates collide - and pressure mounts to bursting point - the earth will erupt to alleviate the problem.

Years ago, I recall studying the earthquake phenomenon in California and was surprised to learn that scientists have actually experimented with the idea of inserting explosives at these hot-spots, with the ultimate aim of alleviating the problem before breaking point.

I have my own theories about the increasing number of quakes in recent decades.

Although I am not a specialist in the field, I understand that oil beneath the surface may actually play a role in reducing the friction and preventing the build-up of pressure.

In essence, oil lubricates the plates, so they can slip and slide with greater ease sans friction.

As man depletes the earth of oil resources, is it highly probable that the earthquake problem may increase over time, as a result.

The first time I was jostled about in a quake of considerable magnitude, the potent forces of nature came into perspective.

For example, two-ton cars literally bounced up and down on the street like toys.

And, the walls in my apartment first rippled - then transformed - into a sort-of flowing liquid mass.

The creaking and groaning of the floorboards - and the structural frame of the building in limbo - was a terrifing sound to fall on the ears as well.

In sum, I felt helpless, powerless to the whimsy of mother nature.

For a species that dare go where no man has ever dared go before, it is usually a humbling reality.

In the final analysis, we're just pawns in the grand scheme of things, at the mercy of God's Grace.

Amen!

Climb under desk or arch of door frame!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Northridge earthquake...a lesson to everyone. Boy Scout Motto: be prepared!

Northridge Earthquake's devastating effects!

This past week, many residents in Desert Hot Springs awoke with a start.

What was that?

For some, the bed shook violently; for others dishes rattled and floorboards creaked.

Earthquake!

And, in the Midwest, a temblor centered in Illinois - the biggest earth-moving event in recent years - caused the locals to haul a** out of bed and take notice.

But, we're such a jaded lot here on the West Coast. After all, a new year barely flutters by without a little earth rattling now and then. Normally, Californians just roll over and slip back into dreamland.

That was not the case in 1994, though, when the Northridge Quake hit - big!

On the Richter scale, it was a staggering 6.8.

On that occasion, I was renting an apartment in a New-York-style walk up fashioned in old rugged bricks.

No retrofit, of course.

When the tumbler hit, I sat upright in shock. It felt like an airplane had smashed into the five-storey building. Yes, there was a lot of creaking and groaning goin' on, as the foundations seemed to give way.

As I peered out the window, the lights around Los Angeles systematically shut down - in what amounted to a domino effect - as far as the eye could see.

I scrambled out of bed naked - yes I slumber in the nude - but had difficulty getting my bearings in the pitch black that had fallen all around. As I searched for my pants, and my keys, and a flashlight - it suddenly dawned on me why it is often hammered into residents to be earthquake prepared.

The next time (!) I'll have a handy little kit packed away in a safe place primed and ready-to-go - with candles, matches, flashlight, and emergency water - you name it!

When I managed to locate a few stitches of clothing, I stumbled to the door - but a sturdy oak bookcase and a number of leafy plants which had smashed to the floor - were blocking the exit. After a few minutes, I managed to squeeze my way through, into the pitch black hallway.

Not a soul in site.

To make matters worse, the emergency doors had sprung shut and the elevators automatically shut down.

I headed for the back stairwell barefoot and cried out in pain when sharp edges of broken plaster bit into my flesh.

Throughout the ordeal, I did not encounter anyone.

When I stepped out into the street, people were huddled in near hysteria on the sidewalk, scantily-clad in skimpy nighties, boxers, and the like. A couple of neighbors were frantically listening to the radio for an update on the quake.

The newscasters were reporting that Los Angeles was hit by a major, devastating quake, centered in Northridge.

At this point, I realized my "lovebirds" had been left behind upstairs. Against protests from acquaintances, I dashed back into the crumbling building to rescue them from their perch in the kitchen.

Later that morning, we were notified by the Manager that the dwelling was red-tagged - unsafe to inhabit. All the tenants were forced to seek emergency shelter or turn to family and friends for assistance.

Northridge itself was shattered by the event.

Three-story buildings were turned into pancakes, freeway bridges were downed, and there were - of course - a number of deaths.

Down the street in Hollywood proper, as I sauntered into a local cafe for a coffee, ubiquitous armed guards stood at the entrance to retail stores to prevent further looting which had been earlier curbed.

I felt like I was in Beirut or some war-torn place like that.

In the final analysis, Earthquakes are part 'n parcel of life in California.

Is the big one on the way?

You bet your sweet bippy!

'Til then, we continue on our merry way.

Shaken, but not stirred!

Footnote

The Federal Emergency Agency recommends that if you're indoors when a quake hits, you should take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture, cover your face, and stay away from glass and walls. If outdoors when the earth shifts, move away from buildings and streetlights and stay in an open space until the shaking stops. And, don't forget about potential aftershocks!

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