First Fires, now EARTHQUAKES in CA

[deedeeO]

Just went through a 5.6 here in Pleasanton (8:04 PM) http://quake.usgs.gov/recenteqs/Quakes/nc40204628.htm. The epicenter was located just south of Fremont on the Calvaveras fault. We shook pretty good, but no damage, but hubbie is assessing damage at work, which is in Fremont near the fault. I'm still shaking, but it I guess we could have had it worse here. I'll keep you all posted on what we hear elsewhere....

[RonH]

5.6 with numerous small after shocks approx. 2.0. No reported major damage.

[AngelicKim]

Denise, so glad to hear you are ok and no damage. I hope to hear the same from others in the areas affected. Your poor state just can't seem to catch a break. Take care and be safe.

[RonH]

This is why they call California the Earth, Wind and Fire State. The earth moves, the wind blows and then the Fires burn. But at least we do't get tornadoes like the mid-west or Hurricanes like the South-east.

[nkeevers]

Denise, gosh, you guys can't catch a break! Glad to hear you're all okay though!

[deedeeO]

All is fine and OK. Just scary. And Ron, I really really miss the warning thingy that scrolls across your TV in the event of a tornado. Too bad earthquakes are not more predictable, but if they were, we could we do....hold up our houses???:eek:

[mrod]

I was talking to my brother last night who lives in the Palo Alto area. We hung up, and he called back 3 minutes later, saying they just had an earthquake...must be one and the same?

Mike

[Byron Gale]

I am 29 miles NE of the epicenter. I was sitting down at the time of the quake last evening, and it felt to me like a side-to-side motion in a roughly North/South direction. I think I felt it for 10-15 seconds, and it wasn't too intense -- kind of like being in a parked car during high wind gusts.

Since I heard no crashing or any noise that would indicate trouble, the first thing I did was run out to look at the pool to see how much the water was moving. :D Nothing exciting -- just about 3-inch "tides"... not enough to slosh out.

My bird was upset enough about his perch (the upstairs bannister) moving around under him that he decided to fly straight into a wall. But that's typical behavior for him under any circumstance that gets him in a tizzy.

We checked with the kids in San Jose - probably about 10 miles from the epicenter - and they reported no damage, a couple things off garage shelves, and the grandkids oblivious, due to them being in the tub having too much fun to notice.

[troush]

I can live with tornados (we have early warning systems and a basment) and snowstorms that dump 3 feet of snow at a time. I think the unpredictability of earthquakes is what would be hard for me. (They do occasionally mess up the fact that a snow storm is going to drop 3 feet of snow, but not very often - they usually mess it up the other way, "We'll get 24 to 36 inches," and we get 2 to 3 inches.)

Glad it wasn't "too serious."

-Trish

[jazzfisher]

We (California) are trying to keep more out of staters from moving here!:D:twisted::D
Shake, rattle & roll...................

[Barb O]

For most people in or near the San Francisco Bay Area, I think that this one (earthquake) was nothing compared to Loma Prieta in 1989 or the 1984 quake on that same Caleveras fault as this one. Also, nothing compared to the Southern California fires.

I was in the kitchen and it did definitely shake at our house. Our estimate is that it shook for about 20 seconds but fortunately just about the time that I was starting to worry if it would get worse it ended.

Byron,

We are south and west of the epicenter (perhaps 12 - 14 miles) and for us it was shaking, no side to side or rolling motions.

[mrod]

We (California) are trying to keep more out of staters from moving here!:D:twisted::D
Shake, rattle & roll...................


Funny--That's what we say about our rain to deter you Californians! :D

[Ric Cisson]

As a former Bay Area resident, (San Jose) I do remember a number in my lifetime, missed the '89 Quake, was in the Persian Gulf at the time, but I sure remember many many more along the Hayward Falt, the Morgan Hill Falt and one time I remember, but do not remember the year our family was down in Hollister, and a pretty good jolt shook me off a fence down there.

I have always said and will continue to say, I can put up with the earthquakes, but when it comes to hurricanes and tornadoes,:eek: you can have them.:D

[mrod]

For most people in or near the San Francisco Bay Area, I think that this one (earthquake) was nothing compared to Loma Prieta in 1989 or the 1984 quake on that same Caleveras fault as this one. Also, nothing compared to the Southern California fires.

I was in the kitchen and it did definitely shake at our house. Our estimate is that it shook for about 20 seconds but fortunately just about the time that I was starting to worry if it would get worse it ended.

Byron,

We are south and west of the epicenter (perhaps 12 - 14 miles) and for us it was shaking, no side to side or rolling motions.

My brother is in Mt. View. Not exactly sure where that is in relation to you guys and the epicenter. He said he heard a "boom, Boom, BOOM" and then felt the shaking. They live in a second-story apartment. He didn't sound too shook-up on the phone. Literally and figuratively.

Mike

[jazzfisher]

They can be very scary! So far I've been through fires, earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes & waterspouts...am I missing out on anything else--if so I think I'll pass..........

[Cmcburnett]

Glad everyone is safe. Hope it stays that way.

[DMurray407]

I lived in No CA most of my life and now live in MN. I hate the whole severe weather warning system-it goes on for hours and I sit and worry the entire time. At least with an earthquake, it comes and goes before you even have time to think about it-and most of them aren't too bad. I suppose it depends on what you grow up with!

[troush]

I lived in No CA most of my life and now live in MN. I hate the whole severe weather warning system-it goes on for hours and I sit and worry the entire time. At least with an earthquake, it comes and goes before you even have time to think about it-and most of them aren't too bad. I suppose it depends on what you grow up with!

Deb,

Here (Denver area) - it goes off for 5 minutes. Then, when the warning has passed (usually 15 minutes later or so), it goes off again, telling you it is over. This last summer I don't remember a single warning. Last year I think we had 3 or 4. What I usually do is turn on the radio or TV, see where they say the warning is, and if it says our county or area, I go look outside and make an assessment. If the clouds are green and/or swirling, we head for the basement. If the clouds are just gray, I don't worry about it. Most all of the tornadoes have been west of here. We get an occasional small one in the metro area, but those are might rare.

I lived in Texas before and had two near misses with tornadoes. I've also felt two small (maybe 2.0) earthquakes - one in Las Cruces, NM and one here in the Denver area. Wind doesn't bother me so much as the ground shaking.

-Trish

[RonH]

Hey Jazzfisher you have yet to experience Tsunami and mudslides??? Just remain in California and we will make arrangements.

[selawela]

Glad everyone is okay. You know, we have a saying that "it's earthquake weather," and it definitely looks like it. Hot and dry weather in either October or January! Keep safe, Californians!


I'm a veteran of the '71 San Fernando/Sylmar quake, and the '94 Northridge quake. I lived in the San Fernando Valley during both, which is pretty much at the epicenter of both...not fun at all.

Sela

[jazzfisher]

Ron,
Hey Jazzfisher you have yet to experience Tsunami and mudslides??? Just remain in California and we will make arrangements.
Hey I forgot about Tsunami's & Mudslides--although I had good friends in the Tsunami--Last year-they were okay because they were out in the water on a boat!
Well, I'm a fourth generation Californian so I guess I have some more surprises to come--Hey how about volcanos?:eek:

[Ric Cisson]

Sherry, with the fires in your neck of the woods recently,...I don't think I would want to be mentioning rain and mudslides in the same breath...let us just pray that this upcoming wet season in S. California...and in particular the fire ravaged areas, the rains...if any...come in moderation.

Volcanoes, yes that is a possibility, probably more in the Northern part of the state, say draw a line from Needles, CA to the coast and then North to Washington and further North and you have a history in the Eastern Pacific Rim in ancient volcanic activity. I did go through one eruption of Mt Haeckla (pronounced hec-la) in Iceland back in 1980. Was about 30 miles from that eruption, broke out windows, shook buildings off their foundations, then the next morning went dormant...go figure...it belched one night.:D

[selawela]

Sherry, with the fires in your neck of the woods recently,...I don't think I would want to be mentioning rain and mudslides in the same breath...let us just pray that this upcoming wet season in S. California...and in particular the fire ravaged areas, the rains...if any...come in moderation.

Volcanoes, yes that is a possibility, probably more in the Northern part of the state, say draw a line from Needles, CA to the coast and then North to Washington and further North and you have a history in the Eastern Pacific Rim in ancient volcanic activity. I did go through one eruption of Mt Haeckla (pronounced hec-la) in Iceland back in 1980. Was about 30 miles from that eruption, broke out windows, shook buildings off their foundations, then the next morning went dormant...go figure...it belched one night.:D


Mammoth Lakes is a beautiful place to visit for snow skiing, mountain biking, fishing, hiking, you name it. We have been going to Mammoth for over 20 years and just love the area.

Mammoth Mountain is also a young volcano in eastern California, and sits on the southwest rim of Long Valley Caldera. In 1994 scientists detected high concentrations of CO2 gas in the soil on Mammoth Mountain. This invisible gas, seeping from beneath the volcano, is killing trees on the sides of the mountain and can pose a threat to humans. Recent measurements indicate that the total rate of CO2 gas emission at Mammoth Mountain is close to 300 tons per day.

In this photo, which I took just recently in August, you can see large areas of dead and dying trees near Horseshoe Lake, which is on the southeast flank of Mammoth Mountain.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1QHm1INqTYgp6lgh2Yt4dcCs6Y4FEc1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1QHm1INqTYgp6lgh2Yt4dcCs6Y4FEc1)

That's all we need now, a volcano eruption!

Sela

[RonH]

Jazz,

Were you in CA when Mt. St Helens erupted (May 18, 1980)? I remember having ash fall in the yard and on the cars even though it was in Washington. Does that count?

Also we had a Tsunami hit the Northern Coast of California from Crescent City to Monterey March 27, 1964. I remember it but since I live in the valley it wasn't an issue.

[jazzfisher]

Ron,
Yes i was here in 80 but I don't remember the ash then. In 64 I might have been in Missouri--oh yeah, floods......ice & snow storms.....:eek:

[virgo1]

I'll take lake effect snow from Lake Superior and the cold. The nor'easters on the Lake are not just high winds. Swells are huge, 20-30 feet. 15 foot swells were recorded yesterday and the wind gusts were around 30mph. So much for the western Great Lakes maritime report.:)
Eva;)

[jazzfisher]

Eva,
A bit cold for surfing, eh?:D

[virgo1]

Sherry,
Is done wearing dry suits. Sheboygan WI, on Lake Michigan, is known as the surf city of the mid west.:D
Eva;)

[JulieM]

Also we had a Tsunami hit the Northern Coast of California from Crescent City to Monterey March 27, 1964. I remember it but since I live in the valley it wasn't an issue.

I lived in the coastal Los Angeles area in '64 and remember very well the "tidal wave" warning. I don't know if it was really a threat to that area but we were all on alert!

[DMurray407]

I lived in the coastal Los Angeles area in '64 and remember very well the "tidal wave" warning. I don't know if it was really a threat to that area but we were all on alert!

I remember this one-we were camping at Patrick's Point on the Mendocino Coast (I think that's where it is . . .could be Humboldt) and the evacuated the campground to higher ground for several hours. I was 9-it was pretty neat, the rangers fed us chili and gave us hot cocoa.