Why Is The Building Moving?

[Paradocks]

I just experienced my first earthquake...in Pittsburgh, PA.

I work on the 42nd floor of the US Steel building downtown. While eating lunch I felt the building begin to sway back and forth. The light fixtures above my head started to swing, and my heart started to race. My initial reaction was that something hit the building, but there was no explosion or fire alarm.

It wasn't until I made my way down to ground level and outside the building (where dozens of other people were also congregating) that I found out an earthquake happened in Virginia.

An earthquake in Virginia?!? Hey, this ain't the west coast!!! I don't know how you guys in California can handle this!

We felt it in Pittsburgh, and I'm sure it was felt beyond our location.

Very exciting, and very scary for someone who has never felt an earthquake before.

[Audrey]

I remember our "Spring Break Quake 1993" rather vividly. I was 8 and it woke me up. It was sorta cool, I was sleepy so I just sat in bed. Earthquakes are fun. I'd rather deal with them than Tornados, Tsunamis, or Hurricanes!

Funny story about the 1993 quake: In school, to make people feel less frightened by the experience, we had to draw pictures of what each of our family members were doing during the quake. I drew myself and my baby sister in our beds, and my mom naked in the shower. I'd never been taught that nudity was taboo in any way other than being immodest is rude (this statement might seem contradictory but it's not). My school however thought it was "inappropriate" for me to draw a naked woman in the shower with crayons. My mom was called to the school. When they showed her the project she just laughed and laughed. Then she yelled at them for being idiots and praised me for doing the assignment correctly.

[aspitaletto]

Felt is here also, it was pretty nice, slow shake.

Makes you feel kinda small huuh.

That is the 2nd one i felt in my lifetime here in NJ. The one back in the 90s was a lot different more of a rumble. This one was a slow, bounce really.

[macdarren]

hey a pretty good shaker....about a 5+

Map Centered at 37°N, 80°W

[billnchristy]

I like Audrey's mom.

[Audrey]

Originally Posted by billnchristy

I like Audrey's mom.

She has her moments; both good and bad. Don't we all.

[Captainmorbid]

We had some man made shakers when I was knee high. I think my mom was in the tub for one of them...

Soon after, we learned that the oil companies were using pumped water to fracture the formations to get at all the lovely crude... They aren't allowed to do that in Canada anymore, too many 911 calls...

I think one of the biggest earthquakes in the US's history was in one of those 'shouldn't be quakes here?' areas...

[wmussatto]

There is a fault line running up the Eastern US. The place where Memphis TN is was flattened a few years before there was a Memphis and the quake was at least the size of the one that flattened San Francisco. The difference is on the west coast we have been told to prepare and new construction is continually upgraded (as are the freeways). Not sure if they have gotten around to in along the eastern fault.

Just hearing reports of the Eastern Quake on the news.

[psi chick]

i was one of the few people around here that apparently didn't feel it. my hubby felt it in his building though and he's about 10 miles north....go figure. it seems that those in higher buildings felt it more than those of us in only 3 or 4 story buildings. my brother works in the financial district near wall street and he was evacuated.

[Audrey]

Originally Posted by psi chick

i was one of the few people around here that apparently didn't feel it.