Within a few seconds, the shaking became more pronounced. My tiki bar became a clamorous mass of clanking dishes and glass. For a few seconds, the shaking was intense. I realized what was going on. This was no plane buzz. It was an earthquake. I ran under a door frame and grabbed on to each side. My husband, who was also working from home, ran up from his office in the basement and told me to go outside. For some reason, I started to cry. I felt weird. Emotional. And no pun intended: shaken up.
As soon as the husband and I got outside, the quake was over. Apparently, it was a 5.9 on the Richter scale. In all of my years living in Virginia, I never thought I would ever experience an earthquake.
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=109&sid=2509622
After the earthquake stopped, my husband waited a while and then proceeded to check our house for damage. Other than the crack in the east-facing wall of our tiki room (seen above. Sorry for the blur), everything is fine.
Here is a black and white view of the crack:
Nevertheless, I hope all are well. I am a bit weirded out but I am ok. It is moments like this that make me realize how little control we have in life. I somehow feel more aware of what's important and what is bupkis at the end of the day!
Glad to hear you're okay, if a bit shaken!
ReplyDeleteGoodness! I do hope that crack is merely superficial.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you are okay!
Fingers crossed that we both endure hurricane Irene with such good fortune!
Thank you, Tasha!! I just hope it's over. I don't think my cat can take any more shaking! She's hiding!
ReplyDeleteGinger, it was crazy. I had no idea the East Coast even got earthquakes but fault lines are everywhere so they can occur anywhere. As for the hurricane, I guess we just have to stay updated. I am married to a Palm Beach, FL native with many years of hurricane experience. I am in good hands :)
ReplyDeletei felt it all the way up in portland, maine. so weird!
ReplyDeleteWow, Kate!! I hope you are ok too! My cousin in Queens, NYC felt it as well. How intense was your quake?
ReplyDeleteAmorcito,
ReplyDeleteI never knew earthquakes happening in virginia.
The earth shakes when we least expect it.
Glad your okay, keep safe
Hugs
La Dama,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the well wishes!Estoy bien. My pardes are in the UK visiting my tias and they knew about it almost as quickly as we did here in the EEUU! I had no idea that earthquakes would even happen here. Que extraño!! But como dijiste, the shakes can occur anywhere.
I was alone at work today and just thought a pipe had burst or something. I didn't even know what had happend about 10 minutes later.
ReplyDeletewell, i live in a ca 1890s building that sits on an old fashioned granite stone foundation (looks kinda like a stone wall with grout in between the stones). the building shakes when a big truck goes by... the whole house swung back and forth a little bit. my roommate and i were like "wow all of the plants are shaking and the windows are vibrating". wasn't too bad, no damage or anything like that. so weird! hope your house just has a little cosmetic damage and nothing more serious!
ReplyDeleteGlad you're okay and I'm sure the crack is superficial! We have a ton of earthquakes here and it's still scary when they are big enough to be felt.
ReplyDeleteLaura, I hope all is well in Richmond with you!! My parents live there (I was born and raised there) but thankfully they are safe in the UK! I just hope nothing in their house was damaged.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Trixie! The crack is just in the spackle and paint. Nothing bad. I have never experienced a quake before. I never thought it would happen in Va! Oh well! It is amazing how much coverage this event is getting on the news. I am sure the folks on the Left Coast are laughing their a$$es off at East Coasters like myself going nuts over this! lol
ReplyDeleteI've been in two earthquakes before, and always that sort of 'is that a train, plane, truck?!?' AND then things start shaking, and your brain finally processes what's really going on. Good thing it wasn't any worse, I don't know that buildings out there are meant to withstand that sort of thing!
ReplyDeleteGlad you and the hubs and the kitty are ok :)
Barbara,
ReplyDeleteYeah, I first thought it was a plane, then I thought the husband was working on something in the basement, and then I got wise and realized what was really going on! It's funny how our minds do not cop on right away. The cat is extra clingy but I think she slept through most of it. The man was great. He discovered the crack in our tiki room and was lovely enough to make me a Mai Tai at our tiki bar about an hour ago. I needed a tropical drink. I was too hyper! lol
Thanks! I've been in Williamsburg for the summer, but my roommmates and I have been in touch and everything's alright luckily
ReplyDeleteOooh scary! Thankfully in the UK, we don't really get earthquakes, or if we do, they are so small you don't even feel them. I was staying with a friend in New Jersey a few years ago, and a tornado warning was issued..it went right through her back garden while we were in the house. I felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz! It was sooooo scary. The house was really shaking! They were not fazed...."oh it happens all the time here" eek!
ReplyDeleteLet us know what your insurance company says about the crack in the wall, if you do end up calling them. I'm curious if that sort of thing is covered as earthquakes aren't really the norm in your area. I'm really glad you are okay!
ReplyDeleteVery glad you guys are okay. I would have cried too! It would be very scary to have something like that happen which you have no control over.
ReplyDeleteI only ever once felt a tremor and it just slightly shook my bed one morning while I was still half asleep. I later saw on the news an earthquake had hit somewhere quite a ways away. Even that was frightning!!
Yes we heard about it here very quickly, glad everyone was ok.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're safe! Yes, we felt it here too in Queens, NYC. I was at home with my 6 yr old boy who was frightened by the event. I remained calm so he would feel safe. Thank God it didn't last long. So many weird things going on with the weather too!
ReplyDelete