quake (Woodbridge, Fairfax, Washington: to buy, school, tornado)

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Originally Posted by coo77

This is just an average quake folks. This size and much larger happen a few times per year in California and western states. While large earthquakes are uncommon and rare on the East Coast, it is still wise to be somewhat prepared. Maybe not to the extent as Californians and folks out West, but an emergency kit, water, dry food, flashlights, etc... are basic things that can save a life. Out west we know in a total disaster like an earthquake the government, police, and firefighters will be overwhelmed so you gotta be ready to take care of yourself. Especially on the East Coast where the police and firefighters will likely be just as shocked as you are that a 7.0+ earthquake happened. With many of the old homes in Virginia not being built for earthquakes (brick is like the WORST material for earthquakes) you don't want to be caught sorry if the very unlikely, but as we saw today, big earthquake happens. The attitude towards earthquakes should always be "when" not "if." You can google emergency packs online and they will have kits. They would be useful in other emergencies as well.

We were just saying the same at work. If the quake had been here no one would have mentioned it. LOL

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by guilliam

Now it's easy to see how unnecessary panic occurs in crowds. This was an earthquake of the type that is routine out west, and certainly no one runs for the hills or leaves work early for something like this. Calm done, folks. Things are OK.

You are correct that people panic. One thing you have to remember, here: Probably not too many of our buildings are built to "earthquake code". So while the magnitude was moderate, our buildings are just not built for them.

Fortunately nothing major happened but we did have some spires fall from the top of the National Cathedral, ceiling tiles have fallen in the airport and union station.

While it's not a big deal, we aren't, architecturally, sturdy enough to handle what California or Japan can handle.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by spencgr

The "panic" is evident on the roads. Every major artery conjested beyond belief. Once again, everyone leaves at the same time, and causes a total traffic nightmare.

Personally, I don't think this area can handle anything - hurricane, earthquake, snowstorm, thunderstorm.......all of it makes the masses head for the roads.......

What I am wondering is, why when something like this happens (and 9/11 was the first I witnessed it) does everyone RACE to their car and hit the roads. I just don't get it. Why would you panic and run in your car to get home? Or get anywhere.

My poor friend is sitting at work on a bench because a thousand people at our office decided to "run home" and they clogged up the garage so bad that no one could move.

On 9/11 I was almost run down by people running out of the building, down to the garage, only to sit on 395 for HOURS.

[phonelady61]

okay does anyone know if roanoke is okay ? I cant reach my cousin who lives there and Im worried . Thanks to anyone who can give info .

[Kophi]

Originally Posted by JohnPaul

one of many devastating photo's of the carnage thus far....run for your life

LOL!!

It was amazing. First it sounded like large rodents were duking it out in my chimney, but then I realized what was happening when the house started doing that shimmy-shifty-twisty thing that they do in a quake. Haven't felt that since we lived overseas!

I have lived in Virginia all my life and never felt anything like that here. Wow!


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[VACollegeStudent]

I think it’s because people like to make sure their loved ones are okay, and these events ALWAYS makes us remember what’s most important. I was in class at a college campus. The room started shaking and my professor was shocked as the room started to sway I got up and booked towards the door the building looked like it was going to collapse in on us! This was a 3 story building and as many have said we just aren’t built our building to handle that magnitude of an earth quake. The professor put her hand out and told me the safest place was in that room?? Then it was over, now after that we all evacuated the building and the whole campus was in shock our phones weren’t working and we all were so scared! I booked it to my car and drove SLOWLY home, who knew if there was a aftershock I was going to be the first one on the shoulder of the road, got home checked on my dog and sister, so in events like these we all panic or most of us do, and then usually check on loved ones I think it’s just human nature?? I don’t appreciate the idiots who were driving on 495 south and 95 south swerving in and out of lanes on their phones almost killing me to get to their destination though i was scared also but is it worth it?!

[VACollegeStudent]

Originally Posted by phonelady61

okay does anyone know if roanoke is okay ? I cant reach my cousin who lives there and Im worried . Thanks to anyone who can give info .

Txt is the best way to reach someone at this moment, hope all is well

[Kophi]

Originally Posted by phonelady61

okay does anyone know if roanoke is okay ? I cant reach my cousin who lives there and Im worried . Thanks to anyone who can give info .

From what I gather from this local report (here), nothing major has happened there; they felt the tremors like other areas did.

.

[Alley01]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

What I am wondering is, why when something like this happens (and 9/11 was the first I witnessed it) does everyone RACE to their car and hit the roads. I just don't get it. Why would you panic and run in your car to get home? Or get anywhere.

My poor friend is sitting at work on a bench because a thousand people at our office decided to "run home" and they clogged up the garage so bad that no one could move.

On 9/11 I was almost run down by people running out of the building, down to the garage, only to sit on 395 for HOURS.

I agree. The safest thing is to stay put, yet most feel that home will be better. Must be a comfort thing. I guess I can empathize with parents who want to get home to their kids, but it seems like we should all have contingency plans in place for our families should anything like this happen again. It is definitely something to talk over with my neighbors, so that if they get stuck, I can help look after any animals and help their kids when I work from home and vice versa. I was able to receive phone calls for the first hour but haven't been able to since. I had to e-mail my family.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by Alley01

I agree. The safest thing is to stay put, yet most feel that home will be better. Must be a comfort thing. I guess I can empathize with parents who want to get home to their kids, but it seems like we should all have contingency plans in place for our families should anything like this happen again. It is definitely something to talk over with my neighbors, so that if they get stuck, I can help look after any animals and help their kids when I work from home and vice versa.

Yep, these incidents are good reminders to get plans in place.

When 9/11 happened, my kids were in elementary school in Woodbridge and I was stuck in DC. Of course, internally, I really *wanted* to be home; however, I knew that running down the halls in a panic (as many of my coworkers were doing) and screeching through garage onto DC streets wasn't really going to help me or anyone else.