San Jose earthquake 8:04pm PDT 10/30/07 5.6 prelim mag

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#1 Post by **rkawakami** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:25 pm

Yes, us crazy people out here on the Left Coast who live under the constant, unseen threat of the ground betraying us, are still here. California has not fallen off into the sea (yet). In fact, it was a tiny one compared to the '89 shaker. I was driving home and didn't feel anything. My wife and daughter were concerned enough to move under a doorway. A few minutes ago I noticed that a crack in the ceiling has gotten larger/longer. Maybe I'll call out a structural engineer and see what he says. No power loss, nothing fell off of the shelves or wall; just a wake-up call to be prepared.

ref: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/eqi ... c40204628/

#2 Post by **ryengineer** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 12:07 am

Thank God you're sound.

skitty4gzus · #3 Post by **skitty4gzus** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 6:28 am

yes, thank God everybody is alright.

pianowizard · #4 Post by **pianowizard** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 6:37 am

I experienced one earthquake in my whole life. It was about five years ago in Boston MA, and it was around 3.2 in magnitude. I was sleeping and it was strong enough to wake me up. Just before waking up, I dreamed about someone dancing on my mattress. 5.6 should be fairly violent.

#5 Post by **GomJabbar** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:00 am

Sounds like a Cosmic experience.

#6 Post by **rkawakami** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 12:43 pm

pianowizard wrote:I experienced one earthquake in my whole life. It was about five years ago in Boston MA, and it was around 3.2 in magnitude.

3.2? Piffle! We eat those for breakfast out here

! Got to be at least a 5.0 before it gets my attention

.

All kidding aside, for somebody who hasn't felt the ground roll up and down or from side to side (for 20 seconds, like last night), it can be a VERY unnerving experience. Some people reported their cars jumping around last night but I didn't feel anything. I was just passing by the San Jose airport listening in to the tower and SJ police frequencies when I heard the police dispatcher say "earthquake" and then followed that up with a request for a roll call. On the way home I tried using my cell phone but it would not connect. No actual damage occurred to the cell system; it's just that everybody was trying to make a call at the same time and it got overloaded. As late as 30 minutes after the shock, I still had problems with my AT&T cell phone.

The '89 quake was around a 6.9 (or 7.1, depending on who you talk to) and centered on the large and well-known San Andreas fault. That's the only one where I actually took cover underneath a desk (born in San Francisco and lived in the South Bay all my life). Yesterday's was the strongest in this area since then. It was on a different fault line but one that experts say can deliver a 6.4. Of more concern is that a third faultline (the Hayward) has historically had a major event averaging every 140 years. This month marks year 139

. The Hayward runs up the East Bay into highly populated areas. Schools, hospitals, even the stadium at Berkeley, are sitting directly atop the fault. When that one goes I hope to be somewhere else...

ref: http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_7326146
(this link will probably die in about a week when the Merc moves it out of public view. Also, FYI, on the map of the quake epicenters, I live in the area just to the right of the words "Los Gatos".)

#7 Post by **gator** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 1:03 pm

Wow ... that was quite a 'quake. I hope everyone is OK.

#8 Post by **ryengineer** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 1:11 pm

GomJabbar wrote:Sounds like a Cosmic experience.

Nice "Shake" experience.

vanaya · #9 Post by **vanaya** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 1:41 pm

On one of our family vacations to Disneyland. I felt the '89 quake. We were driving an RV that broke down just outside of Joshua Tree. As soon as the wrecker pulled up to the mechanics shop, we were just getting out of the wrecker and that quake was a shakin'. I felt like you stood up on a slow moving canoe. Then at hotel the aftershocks came as I was in the shower

..! Haven't been back.

#10 Post by **rkawakami** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 6:02 pm

A tiny 3.7 aftershock just hit a couple of minutes ago. I was at my desk and it seemed to be a quick jot, followed by a slight rolling motion in an east-west direction. No more than 5 seconds. USGS says it was centered in the same spot as last night's quake.

Purcy · #11 Post by **Purcy** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 7:39 pm

Hey Ray, I'm glad you all are okay. I was sort of miffed we didn't have any rollers while DH and I were out there, nothing big. I just wanted him to feel the earth move while he was standing next to me

I did experience a 5.5 while I was visiting CA in the early 90's, we were in Carmel in a little indoor mall and boy did the people go running outside. My sister and I just stood still until it was over then continued shopping. But I won't forget the feeling of the floor rippling past underneath my feet.

Stay safe and do check out that widening crack.

#12 Post by **rkawakami** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 7:58 pm

Conventional wisdom says to stay indoors, moving away from any large windows and get beneath a heavy desk or table. Doorways are also okay. You do NOT want to go running outside during or just after the main shock. Falling debris from buildings has killed people. If you are in a car, stay inside, again moving safely away from any electrical power lines or buildings which might be falling down or losing exterior bricks/glass.

San Jose earthquake 8:04pm PDT 10/30/07 5.6 prelim mag

San Jose earthquake 8:04pm PDT 10/30/07 5.6 prelim mag

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