Ever worry about LA Earthquake risk? (Los Angeles, San Francisco: skyscrapers, tornadoes, apartment)

[Chelito23]

All earthquakes feel different. It depends on how far you are from the epicenter, the magnitude, the soil type, what you are doing when the quake begins and so on.

In most moderate quakes there is an initial shock that is felt and then things move side to side...sometimes fast, and sometimes slow. The largest quake I have been in was when I was asleep. I sleep on my side, and I remember being pushed stomach down on the bed and then back up to the fetal position. Just that one strong movement then it started to taper off. Other times the smaller quakes feel like large vehicles passing by or just minor shaking and isn't all that alarming (to me). It really varies and answers will differ greatly from person to person.

[UB50]

I think about earthquakes pretty often. The only thing you can do is be prepared for them because they are going to happen.

Store food and water, keep a pair of walking shoes in the car (in case you have to walk), anchor heavy pieces of furniture down so they won't fall, and put locking latches on your kitchen cupboards. Most of the quakes we feel are small. I'm sure a big one will hit one day but I have no idea when.

[majoun]

I have personal experience with two sizeable earthquakes here: in '71 as a kid and in '94 as an adult. Yes, quakes can be scary, but - probably due to friends of mine from Florida and the Gulf Coast - hurricanes seem much more scary.

[Sorcerer68]

This depends entirely upon your perspective. I've lived in Hawaii through quakes and with the additional concern of volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. I lived in Florida and boy were Hurricanes fun. Missouri brought tornados.

Earthquake damage is heartbreaking. I've not personally lost anyone in an earthquake and suffered only very, very minor property damage but have many friends who weren't so lucky. It's a risk to carefully consider. I've never been any place that is free from the risk of natural disaster. Earthquakes are of course scary because of the lack of warning. In the Northridge quake I lost only a champagne glass. During the Loma Prieta, I was working in a control center on the Central coast and my all glass office shook and quivered but stayed intact. I was in an earthquake fairly recently in Hawaii at my vacation home. There was widespread damage here. Aside from a little minor settling, my cottage is fine. Nobody died in this one. Northridge was heartbreaking as all those people died in ground floor (and some not) apartments in the valley.

[SandyCo]

I've been in three major earthquakes in my life.

The first one was in '71 (Sylmar). I was living in La Crescenta; I was only seven years old, and it woke me up. Lots of nonstructural damage (dishes all came out of the cupboards to shatter on the floor; the fish tank sloshed water and fish everywhere, etc.).

The second was the Landers quake in '92. I leaped out of bed and went to the doorway, which was rocking back and forth beneath my hands. While it was a rather large earthquake, it was also a rolling motion, so the dishes didn't come out of the cupboards or anything.

The third was the Northride quake in '94. I was living in Glendale in an apartment, and it really shook pretty hard. I was out in the Valley for a couple of the bigger aftershocks, which were very rough. Even in Glendale we lost electricity for a few hours; the earthquake occurred at 4:31 a.m., and we didn't get power back until after 11:00 a.m. What amazed me was how the very same freeway ramps and overpasses that fell in the '71 quake fell again in '94!

[joeyla91601]

hello
that one reason i am moving to arizona in a year or so

Originally Posted by SandyCo

The risk of earthquakes is always on my mind. That's one reason (of many!) I'm hoping to move out of California in the next two or three years. I know it's a silly thing to worry about, but that's me.

[JerZ]

I don't really worry about it. In "disaster" documentaries, they're constantly talking about how "any day" the Big One could happen. But I remember people buzzing about how California was going to fall into the sea even when I was a young girl in the 70s.

At some point it could happen. But I think we always tend to think of huge disasters happening during our own time. The previous generation thought so, too. When was that huge San Fran earthquake? 100 years ago? So, a few generations. I just don't think it's something that "has to" happen during my time.

Now mind you, I don't live in the city itself. However, an earthquake of the caliber that people are always threatening (and disaster movies always portray) would certainly have repercussions in my area.

I moved here two years ago, and we had those couple/few quakes during the summer. One was supposedly very big. It was weird--dishes rattling, etc...but I wasn't scared. There wasn't enough time to be scared. That's one thing I learned about earthquakes right off the bat. Unlike in the movies, they don't generally last half an hour. By the time I could have gotten scared, it was already over with.

If it were to happen, especially if the main damage was done in the city itself, it could be a huge disaster. People could lose lives, and certainly property damage would be in the astronomical numbers. But no, I don't think about it from day to day. I mean what could possibly be done to prevent it? Realistically speaking.

When I lived on the east coast the big fear was hurricaines. In the midwest, it's tornadoes. You can't really escape Mother Nature.

[JerZ]

Originally Posted by SandyCo

The third was the Northride quake in '94.

My DH told me about this one!!!!! He was in school at the time (USC). He said people were running half-dressed out of the dorms. Nobody knew what to do and everybody was scared.

I was surprised to hear this because I'd had it in my mind that "all" Californians were used to quakes and knew exactly what to do and would head for a doorway or something. But DH said it's far different when it's actually going on--you can sort of not know what to do--everything you've been told just sort of goes out of your head.

That was definitely my experience with the few quakes I've experienced. It is a very odd feeling and goes very fast and you don't necessarily have time to think. Stocking up on water and other tips people have given here are the best preparatory things to do, in case the electricity goes out and that sort of thing.

[midnightbirdgirl]

We live on a fault line (San Andres), but although we are prepared, and have experienced a few pretty bad earthquakes, don't think about it much.
MBG

[cre8]

Originally Posted by hedgefundpirate

do any of you ever think about the possibility that Los Angeles will be leveled by a big earthquake.Is Southern Cali more at risk than San Francisco? I wonder if its only a matter of time before Los Angeles is flattened by a quake because of the many fault lines.Would like to hear your thoughts on earthquake risk and how you deal with it.

"Leveled or flattened"? Not so sure that's exactly the prediction. If deciding between LA or SF regarding a "big one" on the San Andreas, I'd choose LA since the San Andreas runs directly through SF. That said, LA has smaller faults under it that could produce some serious destruction.

But what's it all mean, anyway? Eventually the San Gabriel Mountains will march right over LA downtown -- in a few million years!!

Seriously, though, earthquakes and preparedness for them are always in the back of my mind in that I try to be aware of my surroundings. I feel particularly vulnerable when sitting in traffic under bridges and overpasses, or when in the vicinity of above-ground electrical lines.