They call aftershocks replicas. I was in my 16th floor apartment watching Piñera's inauguration when the first "replica" of 7.2 magnitude hit causing the room to rock back and forth like a child's swing. When it wouldn't stop immediately I thought oh my God not again! I grabbed the dog, ran through the apartment taking down anything and everything that could fall down again and put them on the floor- less distance to fall. Flying past the hall office I thought: Memo to self-next visit to Sodimac (Chile's version of Home Depot) buy L-braces for all the bookcases!
Our nana/maid, Angelica, was very shaken with this one. I had her start downstairs and wait for me in the park. As I flew down the stairs and arrived on the second floor landing my fear was replaced with hysterical laughter as my field of vision was fill once again with the butt-crack of the young male nude that graces the outside ledge of the second floor. Something reassuring about seeing his buns of steel.
With Sammy in hand, I met up with Angelica across the street. After moving away from the overhead wires that were beginning to swing rapidly I decided to go to the office to check on Andy. Jorge and Kristina were at the job site today. I wanted to make sure that if they were evacuating the building that he would be ok and calm.
I climbed up the 8 floors to the office to have the door open to Jorge's wonderful smile. He had just returned to the office oblivious to the quake as it occurred while he was in route. Seems the trick here is to stay moving to feel calm. As in the old carnival game that tests your strength everyone in the office collected by the staircase to determine their level of fear or calm and whether they would return to work or take the liberal leave that has been in place since March 1.
Andy was ready to return to work, but we decided to let him come home if he wanted. With the prospect of an early departure he headed for the elevator. He was extremely peeved that he had to take the staircase again. On our way home we stopped by Da Dino's our little corner pizza shop for take-out pizza and sandwiches. I tried to encourage Andy to join Angelica, Sam, our dog, and me for a picnic in the park, but he would have nothing of it. I left the sandwiches with Angelica as she was not ready to return to the apartment yet.
Andy, Sammy and I began our ascent of the 16 flights of stairs to our apartment. I tried to talk him out of the climb and encouraged him to sit in the lobby or at the park and have a picnic. He would have nothing of it. He wanted to get back to his room and the comfort of his things. These last weeks have offered Andy the most exercise he has had in a long time! I'm really beginning to rethink the membership to the The Club Golf 50 if this keeps up.
Huffing and puffing he made it ALL the way up. When we opened the door to our apartment he firmly announced:
ALL DONE EARTHQUAKES!
We sat down to our pizza, Andy had his Sprite Zero, I had two Tylenol for my tension headache followed with a glass of Chile's famous Carmenere red wine enjoying the moment of calm and the return to normal.
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From the USGS
7.2 Mw - LIBERTADOR O'HIGGINS, CHILE
| Magnitude | 7.2 Mw |
| Date-Time |
|
| Location | 34.290S 71.950W |
| Depth | 35 km |
| Distances |
|
| Location Uncertainty | Horizontal: 12.5 km; Vertical |
| Parameters | Nph = 54; Dmin = 597.7 km; Rmss = 1.13 seconds; Gp = 72° M-type = Mw; Version = 7 |
| Event ID | US 2010tsa6 ***This event supersedes event AT00831838. |
For updates, maps, and technical information, see:
Event Page
or
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
National Earthquake Information Center
U.S. Geological Survey
http://neic.usgs.gov/
Event Page
or
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
National Earthquake Information Center
U.S. Geological Survey
http://neic.usgs.gov/
So glad you are all safe, and that there is pizza and wine for respite and recovery!
ReplyDeleteA hug your way,
Marsha