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Fun with Earthquakes
14 years ago
Well, For the second time in my life, Washington DC (downtown area I mean) is evacuating. Not an official evacuation, but it might as well be as we have all been ordered out of our office buildings onto the street. Annoyingly, like last time (9/11) it is a bit difficult to get out of the city, only worse this time as the trains are running slow as a precaution. So slow in fact, that expecting to catch one is unrealistic at this point. So, I am stuck typing this on my tablet right now while on a bench on the street. There is no place to go, no way to escape the city. Many other young office workers like myself are making an early happy hour of it at local cafes and taverns as our long wait sets in. I will probably join them soon. But meanwhile, a journal entry to pass the time.
As most of you must know by now, there was an eathquake today along the east coast. It actually had its epicenter in my home state of Virginia though, and rattled us here in DC. The east coast is not used to this sort of thing, so everyone called it a day and decided to go home. Hence the sudden and impossible commute.
Personally, I have already been in many earthquakes, so I am puzzled by all the closings which feel overly careful to me. But those earthquake experiences were from my time in Central America, and this region here has not had a 5.9, (gosh, nearly a 6) during the lifetime of anyone I know, so it's understandable that people are alarmed, if perhaps overreacting a bit. To be fair, perhaps it's a case of better safe than sorry.
The streets are packed, and cars are barely moving, but people are being civil enough and all this will pass. No aftershocks so far, which is helpful. It's a shame not being able to get home, but at least it is a lovely day and an earthquake does break up the day for a change of pace. No cell signals are getting through, but as you can see, the Internet is not so easily silenced, thanks to my mifi, which has been very useful today for news updates.
All this happening so close to the tenth anniversary of the last city evacuation is a bit disconcerting as it does bring back unpleasant memories, but perhaps it is good to be reminded now and then of how uncertain each hour really is.
I hope the day finds the rest of you safe and sound. Remember, if it gets feisty again, don't go in the basement. It's an earthquake, go outside for goodness sake.
Rave
As most of you must know by now, there was an eathquake today along the east coast. It actually had its epicenter in my home state of Virginia though, and rattled us here in DC. The east coast is not used to this sort of thing, so everyone called it a day and decided to go home. Hence the sudden and impossible commute.
Personally, I have already been in many earthquakes, so I am puzzled by all the closings which feel overly careful to me. But those earthquake experiences were from my time in Central America, and this region here has not had a 5.9, (gosh, nearly a 6) during the lifetime of anyone I know, so it's understandable that people are alarmed, if perhaps overreacting a bit. To be fair, perhaps it's a case of better safe than sorry.
The streets are packed, and cars are barely moving, but people are being civil enough and all this will pass. No aftershocks so far, which is helpful. It's a shame not being able to get home, but at least it is a lovely day and an earthquake does break up the day for a change of pace. No cell signals are getting through, but as you can see, the Internet is not so easily silenced, thanks to my mifi, which has been very useful today for news updates.
All this happening so close to the tenth anniversary of the last city evacuation is a bit disconcerting as it does bring back unpleasant memories, but perhaps it is good to be reminded now and then of how uncertain each hour really is.
I hope the day finds the rest of you safe and sound. Remember, if it gets feisty again, don't go in the basement. It's an earthquake, go outside for goodness sake.
Rave
Well, I suppose it gets people out of the tall office buildings at least, but that may be all. I suspect a lot of people wanted to get with their families as well.
At lest if you are around tall buildings. Far more chance of being hit and killed by something falling off the outside of one, especially during the shaking. Get into an area with close spaced walls and wait it out. Any of us Californians can tell you that, and anything less than a 6.0 isn't even worth noticing around LA and San Fran.