As you've heard or will hear on the news there was an 5.4 earthquake centered about 23 miles east of Los Angeles in the town where the Alfa RV factory was located, Chino.
Thought I would share the experience of riding out a 5.4 earthquake for those of you who have never had the privilege to do so.
Imagine sitting in your RV with no stabilizing jacks down and a big old bear decides to use the corner of your RV as a scratching post for about 30 seconds.
That's what a 5.4 earthquake feels like.
RVDude said
04:21 PM Jul 29, 2008
A very visual description. Having never been in a quake, it's a good analogy. Are you sure that it's a "big ol bear" scratching and not "Speedy"? I just had to do it.. Sorry dude!
-- Edited by RVDude at 17:22, 2008-07-29
Judy said
05:52 PM Jul 29, 2008
We just left Ca. July 7 and are now back in New Mexico. We were there for 4 months and I just cannot imagine being in an RV with an earthquake. We are full-timers. I looked up on my laptop the fault map and read up on it finding out that we were right in the areas of where they were. However, I figure there are so many people there if a big one hits it hits it hits. You just cannot worry about it, as its like just anything else floods, fires and whatnot. southwestjudy
bjoyce said
09:59 AM Jul 30, 2008
Being from Washington State I have been through a few earthquakes. There is no warning, you just have to cope as well as you can. It does help to realize what is going on and to have gone through the earthquake drills in school. Been in the RV for two smaller quakes, one in California and the other in Alaska. Both woke me up, but neither woke up Diane. I figure an RV is a good place to be in a quake, most stuff is secured and you will have power and a way to cook afterwards.
The Bear II said
10:40 AM Jul 30, 2008
I've lived in southern California my whole life and have been through many earhquakes. It's quite an experience, you feel completely helpless. All you can do is get under some heavy piece of furniture or a doorway and hope the ground stops shaking.
The house I grew up in had a long hallway. I remember during the Sylmar Quake (the biggest I've experienced) I ran down the hallway bouncing from wall to wall. When I got to the front of the house and looked out our picture window I could see the ground rolling and telephone poles swaying. It was quite a sight. We lived a block away from some large Electric transmission towers and could hear the power lines banging into each other and the towers creaking.
It's amazing how centralized the damage is from the large quakes. Just like tornados. There are certain areas with a lot of damage, maybe a couple of square miles, and then fingers branching out for blocks or miles, with moderate to little damage. And then a few spotty areas with cases of damage, some moderate (usually older masonary buildings), in areas far away from the epicenter.
And just like tornados, the way the media covers the damage, it sounds like all of Los Angeles was destroyed, when in fact the damaged was centered in a couple of mile area about 23 miles east of LA.
Several years ago, we were sleeping in the RV with jacks down when a 4.0 earthquake hit the area and it felt just like a bear was rubbing up against the RV.
If you see the trailer rockin, it's probably due to an earthquake.....or a bear !!!
Speedhitch said
12:12 PM Jul 30, 2008
I wish I was in California Dude...well maybe not during the quake but setting on the beach soaking up the sunshine sipping on a cool drink...having suntan lotion rubbed on my shoulders ....by a....OH my DW... Of course... I guess the shaking on the trailer was like when we do the laundry and the washer goes into the spin cycle??? I hope California is still there when I retire...I would like to see it
KK said
12:34 PM Jul 30, 2008
Red and I were in our 5th wheel in Zion Canyon NP several years ago when a 5.9 earthquake hit. Being from East Texas where we dodge tornadoes and 100 degree temperatures not earthquakes we weren't sure exactly what had happened until one of the neighbors told us the next morning.
The guy next to us was in a tent & sleeping on the ground. He said that even though he was from California and had been through many quakes that one was the most "up close and personal" he had ever experienced.
In my limited opinion I believe an RV with shocks, springs, and rubber on the ground is probably the best place to be to weather that particular phenomenon.
KK in East Texas
The Bear II said
01:45 PM Jul 30, 2008
Speedy,
You're right the spin cycle does produce an earthquake like motion in our 5th Wheel.
The first time my Dad stayed with us in the 5th wheel, he was taking a nap on the couch and when the washer went in to spin cycle, he jumped up and said "Earthquake".
It was kind of fun watching him run out the door, down the steps and through the campground in his skivvys..... just kidding.
Thought I would share the experience of riding out a 5.4 earthquake for those of you who have never had the privilege to do so.
Imagine sitting in your RV with no stabilizing jacks down and a big old bear decides to use the corner of your RV as a scratching post for about 30 seconds.
That's what a 5.4 earthquake feels like.
Are you sure that it's a "big ol bear" scratching and not "Speedy"?
-- Edited by RVDude at 17:22, 2008-07-29
southwestjudy
You're right the spin cycle does produce an earthquake like motion in our 5th Wheel.
The first time my Dad stayed with us in the 5th wheel, he was taking a nap on the couch and when the washer went in to spin cycle, he jumped up and said "Earthquake".
It was kind of fun watching him run out the door, down the steps and through the campground in his skivvys..... just kidding.
The Bear II
southwestjudy