Earthquake.... A Real Wakeup Call
We certainly had a huge wakeup call last night with a 7.1 Earthquake centered 60 miles west of Homer Alaska. Thank Goodness there were no reports of injuries. Minor damage for the most part. However after the quake gas leaks caused a fire on a home in Kenai and 20 plus homes were evacuated until it was under control. Kalifornsky Beach Road was also damaged and power outages affected around 10,000 homes in Nikiski Soldotna and Anchorage.
Somehow we made it through here without any of those issues. Strange how we were closest to the center and had less damage than Anchorage 250 miles away. Facebook was light up with people talking about the quake. It was 1:30 in the morning and if you weren’t awake when it happened...well not many people slept through it. It got our attention.
My friend was in Anchorage on the 12th floor of a Hotel with her son and his buddy. The power was out, she could see people running out of a bar below in a sheer panic and she was scared. She wanted me to tell her what to do… frankly I wasn’t sure. Should she stay put or go down the stairs and get out of the building. We were waiting for the aftershocks. For another shaker. For an answer as to what to do. We could hear sirens and she said she could see smoke across town. I finally told her to call the front desk on her cell phone. They told her to stay put. We talked for a while until we felt safe that it was over.
So what is the answer in an Earthquake. Your first impulse is to run outside. Get away from the building. If you are outside you have to watch for power lines and other objects that can fall on you. I grew up in Tornado country, I am not an expert on Earthquakes. They say DROP onto your hands and knees so you are down but can move if you need to. COVER your head and neck with your hands and get under a sturdy desk or table if possible then HOLD ON till the shaking stops. Here is some really good information to read and practice.
http://www.earthquakecountry.org/dropcoverholdon/
As morning dawned we are all, for the most part, Okay.
But we need to Pay Attention and Be Ready and Prepared for the next one!
There will be one… let’s hope it is not worse than this one!
Some other websites to go to for more information are here.
https://www.fema.gov/earthquake
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Debra I had no idea this happened, nor of the fact that Alaska has Quakes...glad all is well. Anything over 4.1 usually is an attention getter..... I have written many posts about Earth Quake Preparedness, but the reality is we all become complacent....when something happens everyone focuses on it short term and then it is forgotten...speaking of which I better replace the food and water in our Earth Quake Kit, Endre
Debra that must have horribly scary.... and your friend in the high-rise....poor girl I bet those boys were more scared than her. Glad your safe and writing about it.
Yes Endre Barath, Jr. we are a Quake state! We had the 9.2 in 1964 Earthquake they say was probably a 10 ... that one was really big and caused a lot of damage. Last night was the biggest in Cook Inlet ever recorded.. I will admit I was scared ... it went on for almost 2 minutes. I just checked my food, safety kit and battery supply too!
Hello Bob Ratliff, Broker Associate - REALTOR® CRS, GRI ~ 512-587-5689 yes it was actually the scariest one I and many have felt. One of the boys slept thru it! Alaska Kids are tough!
That is just cray. Glad you are ok. I was in a 7.2 when I lived in California and it was a scary experience.
Yes 7.2 in more populated areas would be worse. We are spread out thank you Belinda Spillman
Hello Debra ... it was a wake up call for me
Up in Anchorage it was read as a 6.4 but the bed was shaking, it was like the scene in the Exorcist. Lin woke me up praying "Oh Jesus" and the was a very strange feeling I might add.
Your post has been featured to the group:
I'm glad you're OK - and so is Alaska Bob!
We've had 3 quakes here in my lifetime and I missed every one. Once I was away at school. The next time I just couldn't figure out why my shower door was rattling. The third time my son and I were in Spokane, but in the wrong part of town. We didn't feel a thing and didn't know it had happened until we went to lunch and heard people talking about it.
We have a lot of Quakes and you get used to them a jolt or shake... this one was a lot more intense! Glad you have missed them! Thank you Marte Cliff
Good morning Debra Leisek . I have been through some minor earthquakes and those feel strange. I could not imagine a 7.1.
Good morning Debra. I read about your earthquake on Facebook. I am glad you and your are OK. I wouldn't know what to do either.
Yikes, give me hurricanes any-day. At least with our version of nature's fury we have 5-7 days' notice.
Yes TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc. 7.1 was beyond the normal jolt or shake. Not fun!
Sheila Anderson thank you! yes I am really glad we didn't have more damage in our area and no one was hurt!
Doug Rogers I am with you ... at least with tornadoes and hurricanes you know they are coming earthquake are so random
Deborah
That must have been pretty scary - 7.1 is pretty significant. I of course heard about it online just after it happened. Thank goodness things were not worse than they were.
Jeff
Yes 7.1 is a little more than we usually have... it did rattle us a little...hope we dont go biggger! Thank you Jeff Dowler CRS
It's really scary to get shaken awake by an earthquake! Glad to hear there were no serious injuries or loss of life. Love that sunset photo!
Yes it is a little unnerving! thank yo Georgie Hunter R(S) we Alaskans and Hawaiians like our sunsets!