Most people don’t realize it, but there is such a thing in So Cal as an earthquake season. It is due mostly to rapid changes in the temperature. I doubt it is scientific, but those from the area understand that when you have many days of 20 degree changes in temp, you should expect to feel the earth move.
Last night’s 5.2 shake at 1:04am is just one example. I am about 70 miles from Borrego Springs. It is a small desert town that Bob Hope used to vacation at. As a kid that was exciting, to be in an area where Bob Hope might be! I doubt he was there when I was, but with my childhood imagination I could imagine that his house was just down the street from where we stayed. My parents had a rich friend who’s house there was like a mansion, so to me, Bob could have lived down the street. I often imagined Mr. Hope would come and offer me a chance to be in his next movie. Although, by then he had stopped making movies. But my childhood fancies didn’t register that fact. My thoughts are with those in Borrego Springs this week as they continue to shake with after-shocks.
When I woke up at 1am the earthquake felt like it might be close. We have a couple of fault lines not to far away. One of them is usually quite active, but hasn’t moved much the past couple of years. The San Adreas Fault was quite active my entire childhood. Not so much these days.
In school we practiced earthquake drills. And in business we do the same thing. Although, the process is a bit different now. When we were kids, we were told to get under a table or stand in a doorway. I can remember a large quake when i was about 5 years old and my babysitter had me standing in the coat closet doorway. Today, we are told not to do that. In fact, after all of the buildings that have gone through massive earthquakes, specialist say to find a large sturdy desk and squat down next to it, not under it. We still have to get as small as we can and put our hands over the back of our neck. And we still need to watch out for glass that could explode out onto us. But the reason behind squatting next to a desk or table is that when the clean-up crews would come into buildings after an earthquake, they saw voids under all the debris. These voids were consistently found next to large tables or desks. What would happen is the ceiling or other items, would fall on the desk and cause it to break, but it would form a type of tee-pee and the area next to side of the desk left a void that would have protected a person if they were in that spot.
Something to think about the next time you drop and cover.
I am still waiting for the ocean font property that all of the “experts” keep talking about. Hello 2012 anyone? LOL
Featured image is courtesy of Sara Alonzo via The Desert Sun. It was taken inside the La Quinta Wal-Mart not long after the 5.2 quake.
Most people don’t realize it, but there is such a thing in So Cal as an earthquake season. It is due mostly to rapid changes in the temperature. I doubt it is scientific, but those from the area understand that when you have many days of 20 degree changes in temp, you should expect to feel the earth move.
Last night’s 5.2 shake at 1:04am is just one example. I am about 70 miles from Borrego Springs. It is a small desert town that Bob Hope used to vacation at. As a kid that was exciting, to be in an area where Bob Hope might be! I doubt he was there when I was, but with my childhood imagination I could imagine that his house was just down the street from where we stayed. My parents had a rich friend who’s house there was like a mansion, so to me, Bob could have lived down the street. I often imagined Mr. Hope would come and offer me a chance to be in his next movie. Although, by then he had stopped making movies. But my childhood fancies didn’t register that fact. My thoughts are with those in Borrego Springs this week as they continue to shake with after-shocks.
When I woke up at 1am the earthquake felt like it might be close. We have a couple of fault lines not to far away. One of them is usually quite active, but hasn’t moved much the past couple of years. The San Adreas Fault was quite active my entire childhood. Not so much these days.
In school we practiced earthquake drills. And in business we do the same thing. Although, the process is a bit different now. When we were kids, we were told to get under a table or stand in a doorway. I can remember a large quake when i was about 5 years old and my babysitter had me standing in the coat closet doorway. Today, we are told not to do that. In fact, after all of the buildings that have gone through massive earthquakes, specialist say to find a large sturdy desk and squat down next to it, not under it. We still have to get as small as we can and put our hands over the back of our neck. And we still need to watch out for glass that could explode out onto us. But the reason behind squatting next to a desk or table is that when the clean-up crews would come into buildings after an earthquake, they saw voids under all the debris. These voids were consistently found next to large tables or desks. What would happen is the ceiling or other items, would fall on the desk and cause it to break, but it would form a type of tee-pee and the area next to side of the desk left a void that would have protected a person if they were in that spot.
Something to think about the next time you drop and cover.
I am still waiting for the ocean font property that all of the “experts” keep talking about. Hello 2012 anyone? LOL
Featured image is courtesy of Sara Alonzo via The Desert Sun. It was taken inside the La Quinta Wal-Mart not long after the 5.2 quake.
