5.6 Earthquake in Northern California

Tonight at 8:04 PM Pacific time a 5.6 Earthquake hit the Silicon Valley (A.K.A.--Northern California) five to seven miles east of Milpitas and Alum Rock. The earthquake came in two distinct waves to those closest to the epicenter but there was minimal damage except for places quite close to the epicenter.

On a personal note...

I was outside doing the bad thing (smoking a ciggie, when I'm supposed to be quitting...) watching a helicopter and talking to my cat. Suddenly I feel a jolt that nearly knocks me off the balcony. Recognizing the signs, I abandon my cat, bolt inside and situate myself under a doorjam. The apartment is swaying back and forth like a ship at sea, but nothing falls off the walls or off table tops. After about 32 seconds the shaking stops.

...and my heart is pounding.

As far as we can tell, there have been no injuries.

Just thought yall should know.

Yeah.... I was in the middle of a conversation with Crysi when it happened ><

How bad is a 5.6?

Richter scale, Suzie! Base 10!

5.2 falls right in the middle at "Moderate"--although I'm fairly certain that any corporeal earthquake is enough, no matter the intensity, to make it "too much."

Dude! That was awesome! It was like a roller coaster... but no line! SQUEE!

And yeah. Not too bad... kind of fun actually. Although I did get a little seasick, lol.

I was in the brand new library at school. It felt really disorienting for about thirty seconds. You could feel the ripples through your seat and the lights were swinging too.

I know a strange fact about earthquakes... but I am afraid that fact is of an adult matter. So I can not mention it. LoL.

*hugs Tess*

I felt it all the way up here, though it wasn't much. More like a few seconds of rolling, and me, half-sick and half-asleep, falling out of my chair. And then IMed about a minute later by a friend at home, asking if I felt the earthquake. Worst we had (other than my balance issues) was a few rattled shower doors. I'm glad you're ok!

And oh dear.. that fault line looks like it runs right through my hometown.. eep.

Yeah, Bek. Pretty much.

It was... really terrifying, as I'm sure anyone I was online with at the time could tell. (Sorry for interrupting the conversation with that expletive, Clau -- I'm sure you'll understand.)

Really, I didn't know what it was at first. But when my bed wouldn't stop shaking and my dressers started rattling I just... sorta freaked. By the time I got to my door it was over, but... still pretty terrifying. Especially when realizing there could still be aftershocks.

*hugs Crysi* Yeah, I forgive you XD


I was worried for you. >< if you wouldn't have come back to the computer I think I would have started shouting through IM.