Note from Doni: Friend Sunnie Noellert replied to my email that checked how she, her husband James Theimer and their golden retriever Murdoch were after Saturday’s earthquake that rattled their McKinleyville home. McKinleyville is located in Humboldt County, 5.25 miles north of Arcata.
We’re OK. But this took earthquakes that I’ve experienced to a whole new level.
James was watching his beloved Jets in their playoff football game when, with two minutes to go and the Bengals driving, the earthquake struck. No more Jets.
Because we were upstairs we felt the effects even more so than if we had been on the ground level. It was literally impossible to stay on your feet and keep your balance. The house was moving! And it lasted for quite a while.
Now, quite a while probably translates to about 20 seconds, but when it’s happening, it seems like forever. It was very dramatic.
We did a cursory inspection of the house and things seemed OK, but it got dark fairly quickly after the quake, so we’re going to look closer this morning. Thank goodness the windows didn’t crack or break. The structure is made to move, but the windows aren’t. They’re fixed. But thankfully the steel moved and took them with it.
We were without power, phones (even cells, because they were jammed up with too many callers), and Internet for several hours after the event. But we have those luxuries this morning. James was able to get some limited news off his Blackberry. But it’s amazing how addicted we’ve become to instant information and communication. The withdrawal is severe, especially during an “event”.
It was a most dramatic quake because it had that “slamming” element, when you feel like a semi ran into the wall of your house; and it had that rolling wave element, which is hard on the balance and most disconcerting when you see the walls of your house “waving”. But this time I also experienced a “swirling” sensation that was brand new to me. A sense of liquefaction. Fluidity where there should be none.
Anyway, here’s to terra firma staying firm.
Murdoch took it all in stride.
