First Earthquake (Los Angeles, Malibu: apartment complex, house, moving)

[GlenB]

OK...I know all of you native Californians will laugh..but I just moved 3 weeks ago from the east coast to Newbury ParK (T.O.). Yesterday morning about 6:30am I felt a jolt like a truck just backed into my apartment complex. At first it didn't cross my mind but then I signed onto the computer to see that I had just experienced a 3.5 earthquake just 8 miles from my home. It wasn't bad at all but the thought that it happens that fast was a bit unsettleing. When I asked my co-worker if he felt it...he said he did not...and when I told him it was a 3.5...he laughed at me and said "that's not an earthquake, wait until you feel a 5.0 or better"...lol...for an lifetime New Jersey and Florida boy...anytime the earth under my feet moves....its an event

I guess i've been indoctrinated.....sort of !?!?!?

[JerZ]

Are you sure? How weird, I didn't feel that one.

I remember my first earthquake too. It was so fast I didn't even have time to be scared, but in retrospect I pretty much wasn't scared anyway. I felt something shove/push from behind me (sort of) in a jerk, and for some totally bizarre reason I stood up and turned off the computer, LOL. I have NO idea why.

It was SO quick. When I thought of earthquakes before moving here, I pretty much envisioned 35-minute-long quaking and shaking with OJ Simpson bursting out of an elevator.

Congratulations on your indoctrination!

[Roma]

Welcome to California GlenB!

I survived the Northridge quake in 1994. My apartment in Northridge was condemned and I only had minor injuries but I lost a lot of personnel belongings.

You said you are in NP. Are you across the street from Amgen? (Hillcrest Park) I think is the name.

[Sorcerer68]

I've been in earthquakes all my life in CA and HI. It's funny, non-natives point out tiny earthquakes I can't feel. I'm in Malibu and felt nothing.

[brikag]

I could sleep through a nuclear attack. A 3.5 earthquake is barely a breeze to wake me up. Welcome to Cali. Tell all your friends and family members. They love stories like that. Mine do! Good luck!

[GlenB]

JerZ...yes i'm sure...I saw it on the earthquake site map 10 minutes later and it also made the morning news (very short blurb)

Roma...I am down the street from Amgen in Arroyo Villa apts.


I hope thats the most i'm indoctrinated for a while to come!!!

[artichoke63]

Originally Posted by GlenB

OK...I know all of you native Californians will laugh..but I just moved 3 weeks ago from the east coast to Newbury ParK (T.O.). Yesterday morning about 6:30am I felt a jolt like a truck just backed into my apartment complex. At first it didn't cross my mind but then I signed onto the computer to see that I had just experienced a 3.5 earthquake just 8 miles from my home. It wasn't bad at all but the thought that it happens that fast was a bit unsettleing. When I asked my co-worker if he felt it...he said he did not...and when I told him it was a 3.5...he laughed at me and said "that's not an earthquake, wait until you feel a 5.0 or better"...lol...for an lifetime New Jersey and Florida boy...anytime the earth under my feet moves....its an event

I guess i've been indoctrinated.....sort of !?!?!?

Well, I don't recall hearing about it. Are you SURE it was an earthquake? Just remember, in the event of an earthquake, do NOT stand under doorways or hide under objects like a desk or bed. Curl up next to the desk. The object next to you will take the brunt of the impact. If you hide under the desk, you'll be crushed....

Artie

[fastfilm]

My two neighbors across the street from us were amongst the sixty killed in the 1994 Northridge quake. We were part of the non-rescue effort, and every house sustained damages: we were three miles away from the epicenter. Do not underestimate how destructive quakes can be. The below link shows what went on here even in the last hour...
http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/recenteqs/

[Keithns]

Originally Posted by GlenB

OK...I know all of you native Californians will laugh..but I just moved 3 weeks ago from the east coast to Newbury ParK (T.O.). Yesterday morning about 6:30am I felt a jolt like a truck just backed into my apartment complex. At first it didn't cross my mind but then I signed onto the computer to see that I had just experienced a 3.5 earthquake just 8 miles from my home. It wasn't bad at all but the thought that it happens that fast was a bit unsettleing. When I asked my co-worker if he felt it...he said he did not...and when I told him it was a 3.5...he laughed at me and said "that's not an earthquake, wait until you feel a 5.0 or better"...lol...for an lifetime New Jersey and Florida boy...anytime the earth under my feet moves....its an event

I guess i've been indoctrinated.....sort of !?!?!?

We have received serious earthquakes about once every 20 years. In 1971 there was the Sylmar quake, in 1994 there was the Northridge quake. Distance of only 20 miles from them, which is easy in L.A., buffers the effects of the quakes to make the quake only noticeable.
Compare those damages to the effects and frequency of hurricanes and floods in other parts of the nation. I'm an L.A. native and I've never felt like moving because of disasters.
I have the site below wired to email me whenever there is a 3.0 or more in California or Nevada.
http://www.data.scec.org/recenteqs.html
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/

[Keithns]

There is a Los Angeles fireman named Henry Johnson
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0425226/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0127462/
who has done some video tapes for PBS about earthquakes.
He talks about how survivable quakes are and 100s of details of how to prepare for them in the home, at work, and on the road.
Henry's tapes will rivet you to your chair.