So thats what a 7.1 Earthquake feels like

[brettdale]

The earthquake was extremely violent, I mean really really violent, i was in bed at 430am, and it woke me up, at the start of it, it just sounded like a wee one, that would stop, but then all of a sudden, it was massively loud and shooked the house so much, i mean you had to go through it to believe it, I tried to walk to the door way, but i couldnt make it, because the house was shaking so much, finally I made it, (once the violent part of it stopped), but it keep going and going and going, when it finally stopped, I knew this wasnt a little one and there would be serious damage to the city.

The streets are a mess.

Hats off to the council though and civil defense people, power, water and such are back on. Neighbiours were helping neighbours, the only two negative ascepts of human behavior were the two looters and the guy selling bopttle water for ten bucks on the street corner. Other than that people were great.

[Little Star]

1. Where???

[Obamanaut]

2. When? nt

[rosesaylavee]

3. New Zealand?

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/New-Zealand-Begins-Post-Earthquake-Clean-Up--102248169.html

[Dead_Parrot]

4. How's the house?

Not too bad, I hope?

[brettdale]

6. I got off lucky

No damage, and everything back on. But my city Christchurch is a mess, this is going to costs in the billions to fix, we were very lucky
that it hit in the wee hours of the morning, otherwise, there would of been a lot of dead people.

Thank you for asking. :-)

[Dead_Parrot]

13. Glad to hear it

It sounds like a lot of the historic building have taken a hit. Not that surprising I suppose, but a shame. :(

[proud patriot]

15. I'm glad you are safe

wow a 7.1 eeek !

[blm]

16. Hoping for a speedy recovery. Biggest reason for LA's quick recovery after Northridge Quake

was that tens of thousands of 'illegal' immigrants traveled north to LA to help in the rebuild. Unfortunately, our society tends to forget about the benefits of their work when it suits their political bents.

[Warpy]

18. One photo at Twitter showed a pedestrian bridge

that was turned into a corkscrew, largely impassable. Others showed roadways blocked because one part was a foot higher than the other part, cracks everywhere.

I can't imagine going through one this bad.

One thing I did notice, though, was that all the buildings that lost their walls still had their roofs stay up. That's the reason for the low number of injuries and low loss of life, right there, that and the fact that when the quake struck no one was on the street to get crushed by collapsing walls.

Whatever the building codes there are like, it seems that they're correct in that case.

[eShirl]

5. So glad you're safe! And amazing NOBODY died.

:hug: :donut:

[brettdale]

8. Thanks

Our city cannot beleive nobody died, and for once our poilticans here newzealand didnt stuff up.

[Dead_Parrot]

11. I think one guy did die of a heart attack...

...but it is pretty surprising.

[denbot]

7. It looks like we are going to get hit in my life time here in L.A.

I read a report speaking of an "earthquake donut" http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2010/07/19/Doughnut-hole-quake-theory-studied/UPI-63911279568512/ surrounding L.A. Basin. These donuts are thought to be loading mechanisms for stress on some major know faults like the Newport Inglewood which runs close to my home, and the Whittier fault which runs across the eastern portion on the county to downtown Los Angeles, and god know what ever unknown monsters lurking just below the surface.

I just hope I'm not going to be in a Wilshire Blvd high rise when it happens.. Best wishes and a speeding recovery to you and your country men.

[brettdale]

9. Thanks to all for the kindd wishes

heres hoping LA doesnt get struck.

[malaise]

10. Glad you're OK

Now prepare for serious wind and rain. My fear is that many damaged buildings will collapse with the storm.

[brettdale]

12. thanks

The wind have just picked up in the past half hour.

[eShirl]

14. (NZ Herald coverage of the quake, for anyone interested)

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/christchurch-earthquake/news/headlines.cfm?c_id=1502981

[hlthe2b]

17. Hello, brettdale... I knew we had New Zealanders posting...

but didn't realize that you were actually in Christchurch. How frightening that must have been. As bad as this was, thankfully you folks seem to have had the wisdom to adopt the best construction practices over the past decades and it sounds like you are weathering as well as you possibly could.

So good to hear that you are well and that your officials are responding well. Be safe. I am sure there are still aftershocks and safety issues inherent with weakened buildings and infrastructure to deal with. Your DU community is thinking of you and all New Zealanders.

[diane in sf]

19. Wow, you have (had) a lot of old brick buildings in Christchurch. In the 89 quake

here in San Francisco brick chimneys fell down in many areas.

Good timing for your quake--most people were inside--not under falling exterior brick walls (this and a collapsing freeway are what killed most people here).