Northridge quake (1994)
Earthquake preparation kit!
The other morning when a quake rattled the Bay area around ten in the morning, I was totally oblivious to it.
Looking back, I surmise that I was busy jostling around San Francisco's picturesque climbs, and mistook the rumbling for a cable car or a dumpster barreling down an alley.
But, when a 6.8 temblor struck in the Eureka region, it triggered memories of the Northridge earthquake (just North of Los Angeles) back in 1994.
When I first migrated to sunny California, I worried about the "big one", but - over time - became complacent like so many other die-hard transplants and locals.
If Angelinos are jolted in the middle of the night,they roll with it, and go back to sleep.
Unfortunately, that was not the case with the devastating Northridge quake which killed hapless victims, toppled buildings, squashed motorcars into tin pancakes - and quite generally - left a trail of destruction in its wake.
The catastrophic event touched me personally, too.
I was forced to evacuate the next morning when a city inspector condemned the qaint five-story New-York-style walk-up in Hollywood proper which hadn't been retro-fitted.
If I hadn't been residing there, I wouldn't have escaped the wrath of the frightful earth-twister elsewhere, though.
After checking on the safety of former neighbors in three other locations I once lived at, I learned that all of the buildings I onced rented suites in, were severely damaged and which required mandatory moves at the directio of authorities.
On that occasion, I also learned about the importance of being prepared for an earthquake.
For details, check out my post on the Northridge quake at the link below.
Post: 07/29/08http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2008/07/earthquake-update58-magnitude-shaker.htmlAlthough the quake centered in-and-around Eureka was 6.8 in magnitude, fortunately there were no deaths or reports of serious injuries.
According to Humbolt county residents (who felt the brunt of the unexpected jolt) townsfolk only suffered cuts, bruises, and the unpleasant task of sweeping up broken glass and the like.
However, they were forced to struggle through the incovenience of power outages that lasted a few hours in some cases and rattled nerves.
As James Bond would quip with suave flair:
Shaken but not stirred.
Fortunately, the quake was centered off-shore and underwater, or else the outcome may have been more devastating.
Officials noted that the aforementioned Northridge quake resulted in many deaths and millions of dollars of damage, because it was centered in the heart of a busy populated neighborhood in the mainland of Los Angeles.
Of course, Californians have to recognize that earthquakes are undoubtedly part 'n parcel with the California lifestyle.
Simply put, the state rests on two large plates beneath the surface, that are constantly moving in opposite directions.
Occasionally, when the plates collide - and pressure mounts to bursting point - the earth will erupt to alleviate the problem.
Years ago, I recall studying the earthquake phenomenon in California and was surprised to learn that scientists have actually experimented with the idea of inserting explosives at these hot-spots, with the ultimate aim of alleviating the problem before breaking point.
I have my own theories about the increasing number of quakes in recent decades.
Although I am not a specialist in the field, I understand that oil beneath the surface may actually play a role in reducing the friction and preventing the build-up of pressure.
In essence, oil lubricates the plates, so they can slip and slide with greater ease sans friction.
As man depletes the earth of oil resources, is it highly probable that the earthquake problem may increase over time, as a result.
The first time I was jostled about in a quake of considerable magnitude, the potent forces of nature came into perspective.
For example, two-ton cars literally bounced up and down on the street like toys.
And, the walls in my apartment first rippled - then transformed - into a sort-of flowing liquid mass.
The creaking and groaning of the floorboards - and the structural frame of the building in limbo - was a terrifing sound to fall on the ears as well.
In sum, I felt helpless, powerless to the whimsy of mother nature.
For a species that dare go where no man has ever dared go before, it is usually a humbling reality.
In the final analysis, we're just pawns in the grand scheme of things, at the mercy of God's Grace.
Amen!
Climb under desk or arch of door frame!
