I always want to laugh when an inch of snow causes traffic jams and panic in Texas or Florida too, until I remember that driving in the snow takes a lot of practice, but a 5.8 can cause significant structural damage when the building aren't designed for that, and if big slab of concrete falls on your head or you're trampled in the stairwell by panicked people who've never experienced a tremor of that magnitude the actual measurement on the Richter Scale is somewhat irrelevant.
However none of those things happened. Even structured as they are, it takes a good amount of force to crack a support enough to cause even partial collapse.
I do get the panic thing, however. As mentioned, I live in Southern California. When it rains, people loose all ability to drive. Oddly enough, the same happens if a sprinkler breaks on the side of the freeway. A little water....4 care pile-up (almost guarenteed).
~Jeordam
ex-Admin at wotmania (all things wot & art galleries)
Saving the Princess, Humanity, or the World-Entire since 1985
Saving the Princess, Humanity, or the World-Entire since 1985
So there was an Earthquake about 90 miles outside Washington, D.C.
23/08/2011 07:49:59 PM
- 799 Views
Yeah, felt it in DC. Apparently it was felt all the way up to Toronto *NM*
23/08/2011 08:07:52 PM
- 224 Views
Speaking as a southern Californian....
23/08/2011 08:31:29 PM
- 620 Views
Well.
23/08/2011 08:33:42 PM
- 506 Views
True, true....
23/08/2011 08:38:39 PM
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You're right, the reason it's news is because we don't get earthquakes that poweful. Hence, I posted *NM*
23/08/2011 08:34:27 PM
- 231 Views
You'll be ok. But if you're feeling the paranoia.....
23/08/2011 08:53:36 PM
- 570 Views
I doubt things are broken- it wasn't too strong by the time it got to me, at least 100 miles away.
23/08/2011 08:56:34 PM
- 637 Views
Probably worth remembering most of the buildings aren't designed for that
23/08/2011 08:38:08 PM
- 533 Views
*nods* True...
23/08/2011 08:42:03 PM
- 632 Views
NC, checking in. *NM*
23/08/2011 09:44:03 PM
- 197 Views
Widespread tremors, alright. You guys OK, I guess? *NM*
23/08/2011 09:59:22 PM
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Yeah, thanks. Very minor. I actually didn't feel it, but a bunch of my family/friends did. *NM*
24/08/2011 03:55:51 PM
- 199 Views
Richmond, VA... definitely felt it
24/08/2011 06:44:39 AM
- 523 Views