Earthquake!!!

**catnapper** · 12-13-2006, 02:05 PM

I never experienced one before, but we just had one!!!

It was a 3.7 on the Richter Scale. We're a few miles from the center of it, but we definately felt it. Ashley, Heather and I all came running when we felt the whole house shake. None of us could figure out what happened, until a newsflash came on the TV.

I know a lot of you live in california where earthquakes are fairly normal, but this was strange to me! Now I'm sitting here wonderinf if we'll feel more in the next few hours or not.

How strong is a 3.7 anyway? Is that small?

**ramanth** · 12-13-2006, 02:08 PM

I think a 7 is considered catastrophic. I'm sure if it was strong enough for you to notice then it's not small.

Supposedly MI has had small tremors...more likely from quakes in other states. PA isn't that far, so I wonder if anyone in our state felt the after effects as the tremor waved it's way outwords.

Glad you're okay!

**sirrahved** · 12-14-2006, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by ramanth

Supposedly MI has had small tremors...more likely from quakes in other states.

There is a fault line in the UP. I actually got to see it! Where you have faults you will have quakes.

**ramanth** · 12-14-2006, 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by sirrahved

There is a fault line in the UP. I actually got to see it! Where you have faults you will have quakes.

How neat! I didn't know that.

**trayi52** · 12-14-2006, 09:20 AM

Glad you are alright, Kim.

Willie

**mugsy** · 12-14-2006, 12:30 PM

As a former geology major, I am reading with interest. The Richter Scale is a logrithmic scale so every number is 10 times worse than the former. 3.7 is definitely a minor one...not to say that a bigger one can't follow.

The worst earthquake in U.S. history was in MO and IL in the 1800s. It was along the New Madrid fault line. It made the Mississippi change course and flow backwards.

There are fault lines just about everywhere, but, most are small. I have seen the fault in MI as well...in fact, we had to map it!

**popcornbird** · 12-14-2006, 12:35 PM

That's tiny!!!

You know what's funny? Whenever we have a quake that small, I don't feel it, at all. Even if I do, I just think I'm 'seeing things' and ignore it until I see it on the news.

It has to be 4.2 + for me to feel it. Earthquakes are scary, no doubt, but I'm sorry...that one was just way too small. Can you tell...? I'm Californian---born and bred...

**RICHARD** · 12-13-2006, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by catnapper

I never experienced one before, but we just had one!!!

It was a 3.7 on the Richter Scale. We're a few miles from the center of it, but we definately felt it. Ashley, Heather and I all came running when we felt the whole house shake. None of us could figure out what happened, until a newsflash came on the TV.

I know a lot of you live in california where earthquakes are fairly normal, but this was strange to me! Now I'm sitting here wonderinf if we'll feel more in the next few hours or not.

How strong is a 3.7 anyway? Is that small?

You may get aftershocks but they are rarely stronger than the initial quake.
Everytime your house creaks for the next few days you will freak out.

3.7 is a baby quake, every tenth of a point is 1000 times stonger.

The last big quake was in 94 (knock on wood) and it was a 6.8....

Relax and enjoy life.....

**RedHedd** · 12-13-2006, 04:26 PM

Our last big one in San Francisco was 7.9 - the Loma Prieta in 1989. 3.7? peh, that's nothing

**borzoimom** · 12-13-2006, 04:37 PM

We had a little one two in Va. last month or 6 weeks ago. We didnt feel it, but the valley did.
I do think that is a small quake. But still- a quake is a quake. They even had in the news the east coast, not the west, was more active in quakes.. Its just the big ones are out west..

**GreyhoundGirl** · 12-13-2006, 04:46 PM

Scary.

We had one just recentally, but it was very small.

**Flatcoatluver** · 12-13-2006, 04:59 PM

The last one we had that I have feld was in the 5th grade... that's about 6 years ago. That was scary and it was a little one. I know how you feel

**todd** · 12-14-2006, 10:23 PM

wow hope evary one is ok

**gini** · 12-15-2006, 09:58 AM

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsus/

Here is a site that will show you earthquakes around the country.

Now I don't mean to make fun at all - but just look at California vs the rest of the country.

So when we hear that you have had a 3.5 we kinda giggle.................because if it is a 6 or higher - your teeth rattle too - and YOU KNOW you have experienced a big one.

But we are more seasoned shakers, so I understand that when you have an earthquake of any magnitude it does wake you up.

And the car chase - I hate when those happen - they spend hours on the tv
following the guy around the city until they catch them.

I'm sorry that you were rattled, and hope that is the end of your earthquakes. They aren't fun!