We thought it would never end!!!!

so glad you're okay. . .

Do not under any circumstances stand in the doorway of an office building during an earthquake. Those walls are not load-bearing and, therefore, provide no protection. On top of that, the doors are unbelievably heavy and sway in an earthquake and could possibly cause severe injury to my favorite Aunt Purl. Move away from the doors, people!

Glad you are all okay, Laurie. I checked on CNN and they said that is was considered "moderate" . . . but to be honest here, ANY earthquake is scary, moderate or not!

Be sure to keep those arms covered . . . :-)

I was just sitting in my office (which may not roll, don't know) being all sad that I wasn't in LA for the earthquake. I moved there AFTER Northridge, and just had small ones (although I did get woken up by the 7.1 in the MOjave in '99, but that was far, far away).

Anyways - madly jealous. PDX doesn't shake so much.

Also glad you're okay.

(And Lucy is right - office doorways not as good as office desks, usually.)

I'm watching the footage at work. Screw the no-snow winters and celebrities in LA, I'd rather live in Canada!! That's scary shit!!

I'm sure folks here in the midwest are sure you sinners are dropping off into the ocean any day now :D

Living in CA most of my life, I can't even remember how old I was when I was in my first earthquake.

STOP DROP AND ROLL!

oops.. I mean DUCK AND COVER!

Our doors are unbelieveably lightweight! Best place to stand is near an outside wall with no windows.....OR....hunker down near a desk where the "triangle of safety" is.

And here I was just dizzy from exhaustion and hunger. I disregarded it until someone said we had a quake. :)

:)

I'm glad you're ok.

Keep on, keeping calm.

Oh I'm so relieved that you're okay. I broke out into a cold sweat as soon as I saw the news. I swear I'm not a stalker but I felt like you were one of my own kids in danger at that moment. How's your Grandma and Aunt Pam in Orange County??

Glad to hear you're okay.....give those fuzzy babies a big hug when you get home. Stay safe.

I am in San Diego on the 5th bulding in a glass building. Holy crap! If it felt like it did when I was on the phone with the client saying ' OMG.. OMG.. we are having an earth quake. While helping her with converstions' I can only image how it was in your build.

yay for retro fit! I NEED SOME RETRO FITTING FOR MY JEANS.

Our security guy come on the intercom to say that the elevators were in earthquake mode and had stopped running...so don't use them. DUH!!!!!!!

Just got home from work and checked out the online news and came to check on you FIRST THING!!!! Glad you are unharmed and keeping your sense of humor above all!! I hope Bob didn't get too freaked out!!!!!

Kate Hutton from Cal Tech just said that if you feel a rolling motion for awhile it means that you are probably further from the epicenter. Closer in you feel two jolts.

I never knew that....

Real glad to see that you're okay and funny as ever.

Glad you're OK!

I remember my first earthquake in L.A. it was just about how you described. I'm glad all is well and that is was just a shake up! I think you should get together with friends tonight and have an earthquake party. . . drinks for all to calm down.

I just spoke with my mom and dad who are in Whittier. They said it was pretty strong. The cats took off and won't come out from under the bed... mom and dad said they are getting too old for this and mom said navigating a quake when in a wheelchair is a bit rough...

Christine, we felt one HUGE jolt and then the building rolled from the sway of being up so high. Apparently my grandma and Aunt Pam both have some damage inside to mirrors and who knows what all else but they are right on top of it.

Oh and Christine, hey!! See you soon I hope.

You were the first person I thought of when I heard about the earthquake! Glad you are ok.

I had to laugh at them telling you not to panic. On 9/11, I was working in an underground records storage facility in Western PA. So when flight 93 crashed, they decided it was a little too close for comfort and decided to send all 3,000 of us home. Our managers ran literally ran) all around gathering everyone up for a quick meeting. They basically told us we had 5 minutes to leave everything on our desks as it was and get out.....But do not panic! Right!

Sorry....Just relating to your story.

Glad you are ok!

Glad to hear that you are okay. Yikes. I cannot imagine that...

Thanks for taking the time to post. You sure have a lot of concerned "friends" out here in internets land.
Tonight's a good night for a martini!

glad you are okay and able to keep smiling!

Glad you're okay!

And, OMG, cover your arms with your head ROFL!!!

Good! I was a bit worried about ya!
so, did they make you go back to work, or do you get to leave for the day.

Do you think that nice security man needs a bit more voiceover training.? It's L.A. surely someone ould help him!!

glad to hear you're alright! sent an e-mail of support from my cats to yours, but it's good to see you're already back online. here's hoping the aftershocks aren't too bad.

Yes. Protect the arms. They are more important than the head :-) (it is supposed to be the other way around, right?)

Thanks for letting us know you are OK.

Hi CAP, glad your ok. BTW, what do you mean when you say a "skyscraper rolls"???

Glad to here all is well. Can't remember the last time I felt an earthquake. Do they still do the drills where you crawl under your desk in the schools?

Glad to hear you are okay, you're the only person I know (but not really know) in L.A. Glad to hear you took it all in normal humorous stride.

Stay safe and double check the emergency supply box tonight!

I'm so glad you're okay! And remember, don't panic!

well, this is one midwesterner saying THANK GOD YOU'RE OKAY, and hoping all you know are well and good and everyone stays safe and sound.

and may no one fall into the ocean. amen.

Glad you're okay.
PLEASE avoid doorways during an earthquake. The safest thing to do is to place yourself near -NOT UNDER - a large object which will take the brunt of any falling structures or objects and provide you space to breathe and survive. I was crouching on the side of my desk away from the windows.
Remember, doorways BAD, under BAD, next to GOOD.

I'm glad you're ok - I guess this means the Bay Areas next huh? Oh well, nothing like a little rock and roll to get you going!

Glad you're okay. We felt it up here in Santa Barbara. It rolled for about 10 seconds. I knew there had been a big one somewhere.

I saw the CNN alert that an earthquake occurred in LA and my first thought was, oh no! How is Laurie?
Glad to hear you are ok. Go home and check your cats, they are probably inside your shoe boxes by now.

You have me almost falling out of my chair I'm laughing so hard. I gave up LA and it's earthquakes in favor of blizzards and tornadoes earlier this year - you're making me homesick! Glad to hear you're all ok!

So glad you are ok! We have an office out there and all of our co-workers there were im'ing us with all the details! Scary stuff - I would not make it there - sticking with hurricanes here in sunny florida~!

Laurie, I'm so glad you're okay! It was really strong, even out here in Palm Springs. We're all shaken up (me more than most) but I was worried about you!

When's the next one?

I'm so glad to hear you're alright :)

So glad you are ok! We have an office out there and all of our co-workers there were im'ing us with all the details! Scary stuff - I would not make it there - sticking with hurricanes here in sunny florida~!

Doorway? I thought we were supposed to do the whole "Triangle of Life" thing now.

Hi Laurie! I would love to see you soon!

Scary stuff --I'm glad you're ok.

glad you're OK! you're the first person i thought of when i saw it on cnn. thankfully, not much going on in KY today...although an 8.0 earthquake happened here 200 years ago (i know, kentucky, really?), does that count? ;o)

I bet when you get home, the cats are going to velcro themselves to you.

I told my dad about the earthquake when he got home from work, and he was like "meh...5.4, that's a baby quake." Granted, he was in Anchorage, Alaska in 1964 when they had the 9.2 quake.

He was getting ready to go to bed, and had just laid down when the tv launched off of his dresser. He did the duck and cover thing, because of the whole fear of nuclear war they had back in the 60s.

Once he realized it was a quake, he put the tv back on the dresser, and got dressed and went back up to the hospital to go to work early.

We still had that tv in the early 70's. (I was born in '69) and it worked great until it overheated and caught fire when my dad built a cubby in the wall for it to sit in.

Hope your tv didnt fall onto a cat...and hope none of the cats fell off of their carpeted cat perch into the tv.

Dang! I miss the Land of Shake and Bake! WE used to say that anything under a 6.0 M was just entertainment. Glad you're okay, but I'll bet the cats are freaked...!

Sounds likes a typical reaction to a quake.

And I suppose the sign that I'm a native is that I listen for windows rattling and look for things moving on bookcases and other surfaces before looking for cover. OK. This is usually for the tremors in the middle of the night. Because why get up if I don't really need to?

Glad you're okay. Gotta love someone who experiences an earthquake and has such humor about it. I am a chicken when it comes to the power the planet beholds.

Good to hear that all is well.

Sounds like the security guy is from NJ too. Poor guy.

Glad you're all OK.

I read something somewhere about rolling skyscrapers. It has to do with rigid-motion mechanics, the oak vs. the willow, and all that. Bottom line, during an earthquake you are safer in a rolling skyscraper than in a motionless one. I have to admit, I feel safer working 1) on the 5th floor 2) on the other coast.

You were the first person I thought of when I heard about the quake. Guess I'm pretty addicted to your blog if my mind goes straight to your safety, huh?

I'm so glad you're safe.

Felt it here in the mountains above Palm Springs too. My first earthquake memory is the Tehachapi quake in 1952 at 7.3 on the scale. They do make a lasting impression. I was four and can still see the room I was in, specific objects around me and my parents' reactions so I'm pretty sure it's a memory, not a tale handed down. Injuries reported by the LA Times so far are two head injuries resulting from crawling under a table. An open field is probably the best bet, should you have one handy. Earthquakes have one great advantage over tornadoes - at least you can't see them coming.

Thank you for the update. My first thought was CAP!

I had no idea folks would be so up in arms (arms! ha!) about mentioning the doorway. In my office it's the logical place to go since our building is constructed a certain way, it's the only place there's no glass right on you. But then again the quake was pretty much over by then, we were just swaying with the building. You never know what folks will light upon in each column! Always fascinates me!

"Rolling" just refers to the motion the buildings have when they move. The not-scientific explanation is that our skyscrapers are retrofitted (and newly built) to an exacting earthquake code. They have some give built into the structure so the building can redistribute the shock and sway or "roll" with the motion as opposed to being a solid structural monolith that stands firm, in which case it would stress fracture or cause more damage more quickly. Not a perfect explanation, but those are the basics as I understand it.

My favorite T-shirt on the planet says: "Stop Plate Tectonics!"

I am a nerd!

I'm so glad you're okay! In Chicago, the skyscrapers are built with "give." When it is really windy outside, the building sways a little bit. You can't really tell; I mean nothing goes sliding from one side of the desk to another, but you can hear a creaking sound that's pretty creepy.

LOL! "Cover your arms with your head!"

When I lived in LA in 1989, we had a 5.5. I will never forget the hard slam or that rolling sensation as long as I live. Glad you are all OK!

"Be prepared for aftershocks."
Translation: "Get the hell out!"

Purl, if ever there was an appropriate moment to hug someone, this would be it. I'm glad you are fine.

Stirred but not de-furred.

"Skyscraper roll" sounds like some new sushi item.

Doesn't your friend Drew have an Emergency Supply Kit that consists of yarn, cat litter, gin, and tonic? I can't remember what all was in it, but it was hilarious.

I probably would have pee'd myself if I heard that announcement from laughing so hard. Then I would have high tailed it to a stairway.

Exciting Tuesday! So do earthquakes trigger "rain" conditions on the freeways?

Wow that is exciting workplace activity!

Glad all is OK. I know you're supposed to get under something, but so far I've never been in an eq where the actual jolt/shaking lasted long enough for me to gather my wits enough to do anything about it... you know?

Charles Gibson of CBS news broke in during our local news to announce that there'd been an earthquake and the first thing I thought was "I hope Laurie's ok." The second thing I thought was "I probably need to get out more and make real life friends."

I'm glad you're ok!

I'm really glad you're okay, Laurie. I was thinking about you when the news hit. Thanks for letting us all know!

CAP, I was stuck in hideous traffic when I heard the news report about this. My first thought: "How's CAP?" My second thought: "How are the cats?" My third thought: "Guess this traffic isn't so bad afterall."

When CNN announced the earthquake the first thing I thought was "I hope Crazy Aunt Purl is ok." Glad to hear you are safe.

Glad you're all right! If I'm ever in earthquake country, I'll be sure to cover my arms with my head. :)

Glad you survived the earthquake. Bit spooky i think.

Am a bit behind and have just read the previous blog on declutter. Thanks so much, again, what i am trying to achieve. I think there is another book in you too. What about 'De-cluttered, determined and still covered in cat hair'

Hope the earth stops moving for you!

Buildings that roll-with-it are better than the stiff 100 yr old one I work in. The seismic engineer who did a site survey said "the foundation's strong, but the rest of the building will break off and move about four addresses east if a big one hits."

PS Do you keep sneakers in your desk in case you have to run down 20 flights of stairs?

You've definitely earned your martini today - just going by this post's title ;) Whadda say, a Cosmo or lemon drop?

Glad you're safe.

Take care and enjoy petting your kitties tonight.

Would really like him to demonstrate how to cover your arms with your head. ;)

I am glad you are ok. I'll take our Oklahoma tornadoes any day. Kitties ok? Be safe.

glad to hear you're ok. be careful

We felt it quite strong in OC, Huntington Beach. I stood in the doorway between the kitchen and living room and watched the armoire and etagere rock back and forth, but not a thing on them fell. I was so glad it wasn't 3 hours later, when I was had an appointment at the gynecologist's.

Oh my.

Being a Bay Area native, I was 30 miles from the epicenter of the '89 quake (Loma Prieta). In my 50 years of life on this grand old planet of ours, that's the only one which scared me. Where I live now is even closer to where that quake hit, and we live right on top of the Hayward fault now (as opposed to the Greenville fault where I lived when it actually hit - but it still totaled the pipes running to my pool, destroyed everything on my walls, cracked the house in half, etc.). Quakes are just a part of life here, and I've found that natives (including myself) tend to just sit or stand wherever they are, look around, say "Oh... earthquake", and continue doing what they were doing before it hit, as long as they're not the monsters (we had that one and LA had Northridge, so I guess we're even). They always seem to come out with new things you're supposed to do during a quake - get under a desk, stand in a doorway, run outside, stay indoors, blah blah blah. I figure as long as I'm not under anything which could fall from the sky and whack me, I'm about as fine as I'll be. I'm glad you're fine, though - if you haven't grown up with them, I'm sure they scare the crap out of you, just like a tornado or hurricane would scare the crap out of me.

My boyfriend experience a quake last fall when he lived in San Jose. He called me yelling and scared and said he couldn't believe that he'd just experienced a 15 second long 3.2 magnitude earthquake. The boy's from Columbus, GA, bless his heart.

Glad to hear you're okay.

Glad to hear you are ok - please let us know that the felines are fine as well!

Sooo glad you're ok (waiting for a report on the kitties...poor Bob probably still in his secret hiding spot).

I grew up in tornado alley (Aunty Em, Aunty Em) and even when I lived in KY (which sits on the New Madras fault, BTW...so, no earthquake safety there), we had tornados...often during Derby Week...I always wondered if those dressed-to-kill out-of-towners (movie, TV and crazy folk in the news at the time) realized that not only was it raining while they were partying, but the rest of the town was in their basements trying to take shelter from the tornado warnings!

However, my friends, having survived 3 "under 6.0" quakes in PDX, I will take quakes & tornados over hurricanes that last for hours and you're not too sure just how strong it'll be when it hits (hopefully not literally) your house!!

So, good luck to Laurie & everyone who lives where tornados, quakes & hurricanes lurk...which seems like pretty much the whole US.

So glad that you're ok - I heard about the earthquake on the news and immediately thought of you up in that glass highrise.

Poor Bob - he probably won't come out of his hidey hole for a week!

But how are the cats?

It's funny--I was at A Mano and all we felt was a gentle rolling. Not scary, really.

I remember when I was about 12 or 13yrs old, one of the national news networks did a story about the New Madrid fault that's in the Midwest (near Missouri, I think)

That story had me scared for months. I live in Nebraska, which of course, is close to Missouri. In my young, teenaged mind, I thought that we were going to have a quake any day.

I eventually calmed down about earthquakes hitting the Midwest and Plains states...I was left with a serious fascination with earthquakes and how they happen.

In the early 90s. Nebraska had a quake that was a magnitude 2.7 or a 3.0 or something like that. It woke me up. (precariously stacked videotapes crashing to the floor woke me actually) I didnt know until then that a fault line runs thru Eastern Nebraska where I live. (The Humboldt fault)

We get occasional trembles here, maybe one teeny tiny noticable one every 3 or 5 years. It's a little scary to be so close to a fault, but I'm no longer worried that Nebraska will have a serious "California style" quake. (Dude...gnarly quake...umm...sorry) It's the tornadoes that we have to worry about...(and tornadoes are fun to chase and take pictures of)

The best part of the story is your warning announcement - coming after the fact. Why is that always the case? Gives a nice warm secure feeling I'm sure. hahahaha.

I thought instantly of you when I heard about the quake hitting around LA. I then thought once again, how I need to get a Earthquake Survival Kit together as you once descibed in a earlier blog. I work in Memphis and we sit right on the New Madrid Fault Line and it has been said, that the big one is coming, it's just a matter of when. Our city is in no way, shape or form ready for something like the big one, hell not a small one either lol. It will truly be one scary day!

The ONE thing I do not miss about LA . . . Glad you're okay.

I like to cover my arms with my head at work too.... only I call it a "nap".

Glad you're okay!

I have lived in CA for 13 years, and I will never forget my first quake. I was standing in our living room with my hubby, and the whole floor just rolled. I yelled "That was NOT okay!" Ah, California.

Glad you are okay. I love this blog, and have shared it with all my friends, knitters and non-knitters alike.

I live not far from the epicenter and dang, if this quake wasn't scary. And it seemed to last an especially long time. No need to repeat it any time soon!

I was sitting at my desk in my house in Camarillo when it felt as though a bulldozer hit the side of my house. I waited for something to fall, break or crack but all is well.

I don't think I would take it so lightly if I was in a highrise though.

Glad you're okay! We had a fire alarm pulled in our highrise office building and we heard a voice tell us that there was an emergency reported in our building to please shelter in place and await furthur instructions. (Apparently, they only evacuate the fire floor and the one above and below.) But the system malfunctioned so it told us that for 10 minutes straight!

Yeah, we felt it all the way out here in Joshua Tree. Well, my DH felt it...the dog and I were blissfully unaware of anything at all.

When NPR stopped mid-song to report it, my first thought was of Northridge. I'm SO glad that this one was nothing close to that nightmare.

Yet another person here who is SO glad you're okay. :)

Laurie, supported archways are considered safe, but not as safe as under a heavy object. Swinging doors do pose a problem if they are heavy, that's the point that needs to be considered.

And, before anyone jumps on me for saying so, yes, I have lived in earthquake-prone areas: in third-world countries where the building codes were non-existent. Doorways, especially internal ones away from windows are considered safe.

It was the NJ guys fault prolly, cause there was a miniscule quake there, too. His home state didn't want to miss him.

I am glad your okay. I would miss you a lot if you were there. Hope your fur babies were shaken up too much.