Sunday, April 04, 2010

EARTHQUAKE

We just had a pretty bad earthquake here in Southern California.

It seemed to be a very long earthquake. It started slow, and just kept getting worse for about 45 seconds.

More to come.

As of yet, I have not been able to get through to the Caltech Seismograph website.

UPDATE

IT WAS A 6.9 EARTHQUAKE BASED IN NORTHERN MEXICO.

MORE TO COME.

MAP

People are reporting having felt it out in Phoenix.

UPDATE: Northern California has just experienced two 4.0 magnitude earthquakes.

I don't know anything about the area of Mexico in which the 6.9 earthquake occurred.

I'm know a little bit about Brawley, CA, which I believe is about 70-80 miles north. Apparently, it is a desert area. Probably sparsely populated.

Let's hope not many people are hurt.

HUFFINTON POST IS ALSO REPORTING, BUT THEY HAVE LESS THAN US.


UPDATE: By the way, the reason I knew this was a large earthquake is because, having lived here in SoCal for 47 years, I know that a long, rolling earthquake usually means the epicenter is far away.

A close epicenter is usually characterized as a strong and sudden shock, as if your house got hit my a truck.

This was a very long, very strong roll.

And, it started very slowly.

I was actually sitting at the Easter dinner table with my family, and I was feeling the roll for a good 45 seconds, and starting to get quezy (sp?) before anyone else said, "Hey, we're having an earthquake."

I've lived in this home for about 17 years, and I have never seen the chandeliers fly around like that.

The quake got stronger as it went along, and the final roll almost sent me off my feet, though that may have been because I was quite dizzy by that time.

And no, I have not been drinking.

;-)

Not a single drink.

The earthquake really was that disorienting.

UPDATE 4:25 pm SoCal time - we just had a 5.1 earthquake in SoCal 9 minutes ago.

I THINK IT MIGHT BE SAFE TO SAY WE ARE EXPERIENCING A BIT OF AN EARTHQUAKE CLUSTER, THOUGH I GUESS THEY COULD BE UNRELATED.

I will say this, in my 47 years, that 6.9 roller was the longest, most disorienting quake I have ever felt. I've felt stronger quakes, but that one was the longest.

Scratch that. Northridge may have been longer, but in that case, I was woken up from a sleep after a night of partying, so what do I know.

;-)

20 comments:

midnight rider said...

You sure someone at the table isn't just farting? (if so, blame it on the dog. I do)

:)

Glad you're all okay.

Anonymous said...

Daughter near Irvine reports she and her hubby felt nothing. Local friend's called to check in on them just prior to my call and that's how they became aware of the event.
Phew.
Ya'all stay safe on that coast now, ya hear!

Worry wart mom -
HRW

P.S. Happy belated Easter to all!

Pastorius said...

Felt nothing in Irvine?

That's hard to believe.

I'm north of that another 20 miles. In other words, I'm 20 miles further away. Believe me, it tweren't nothing.

:)

Pastorius said...

Thing is, if you are on hard land, you don't feel as much. I'm at the base of a hill here. I've been in San Francisco during an earthquake, and felt what it was like to be on a rock hill (Union Square). It's different. Not as much rolling. More noise.

Pastorius said...

MR,
I don't think farting would have done this. If so, I'd have to blame my wife's cooking, because that would be the worst fart in history.

midnight rider said...

:)

christian soldier said...

I'm getting 'bad'--I felt it roll for a very long time in earthquake 'time'...
since it was nothing like the 1994 quake-(8.0 in my immediate neck of the woods'--near Northridge)... ---My brain 'said' HO HUMMMM...
and I completely ignored it ....
I hope I don't become too complacent...
Happy Easter-My Friends --He Is Risen!!!
C-CS

christian soldier said...

BTW-Pasto-the 6.9 figure was equated by using a wider geographic parameter than is usually used - to lessen the impact of-as I recall- insurance purposes and FEMA coverage...
Just a tid-bit to put away for future use....
C-CS

Pastorius said...

The Northridge quake was smaller than this one.

The reason I knew it was so large is because I have had both

1) the Northridge/Sylmar experience (of being far away from the epicenter of a large quake

and

2) the experience of being right at the epicenter of a small quake

Because I have felt them both, I can tell a large quake, even if it is far away.

I'm not perfect, but I guessed this one was over 5.5-6.0.

I was off, but of course, the damned thing was 300 miles away.

Who woulda thunk it?

Pastorius said...

CS,
Does that mean it was smaller than 6.9?

Anonymous said...

pastorius that was just the giant easter bunny of debt dropping the biggest egg of bankruptcy ever in cali

Pastorius said...

Rumcrook,
An ObamaBunny?

midnight rider said...

Info for you Calis from HotAir:

Now it’s listed as 7.2 on the Richter. The USGS data show this to be an earthquake “swarm,” commenter Mutnodjmet says, and it’s interesting to read. Here are the significant quakes in the series (all times PT):
•15:34, Guadalupe Victoria, BC, magnitude 3.3 Richter
•15:40, Guadalupe Victoria, BC, 7.2
•15:56, Borrego Springs, CA, 3.9
•16:09, Jacumba Hot Springs, CA, 4.5
•16:10, Malibu, CA, 3.0
•16:15, Imperial, CA, 5.1
•16:19, Jacumba Hot Springs, CA, 3.8
•16:20, Julian, CA, 3.6
•16:25, Guadalupe Victoria, BC, 5.4
•16:34, Calexico, CA, 4.3
•16:37, Mexicali, BC, 4.7
•16:46, Seeley, CA, 3.5
•16:48, Holtville, CA, 3.4
•16:49, North Shore, CA, 3.4
•16:53, Seeley, CA, 3.6
•16:57, Seeley, CA, 3.9

Here's their post on it (so far):

http://hotair.com/archives/2010/04/04/breaking-big-earthquakes-hit-california-mexico/

Pastorius said...

Now, tell me, was not my report on the earthquake more interesting, substantive, and informative than the Hot Air report?

;-)

midnight rider said...

Absolutely and unequivically. Captain Ed move over.

Wait. . .this is IBA. . .

Captain Ed get the fuck outta the way!

Pastorius said...

Ed lives in Minnesota, or something like that.

What does he know about earthquakes?

;-)

Anonymous said...

blog with pictures and video of quake

Pasto- daughter was vacuuming and son-in-law was transferring wash to dryer during event. They both swear they didn't hear or feel a thing. But -- they clarify that they reside in foothills outside of Irvine.
HRW

revereridesagain said...

Wow, that looks strange -- I've never been in one, must be a weird feeling. No serious damage I hope?

Today we had the most gorgeous warm spring day for an April 4 that I can remember. Hoping this will continue, for one thing need it to dry up all the soggy ground after that rain end of March.

Epaminondas said...

I'll take a first class BLIZZARD lasting 3 days anytime

So glad all are all right

Pastorius said...

There was serious damage in Mexico.

But, not here in SoCal.