Earthquake Shakes Vehicles off Highway

[MeMyselfandI]

Crazy

[martyl63]

We have earthquakes frequently. Live fairly close to the San Andres fault. Back in 79 we had a 6.5. It hit so hard that you couldn't stand up. . It was pretty cool

[FunkPumpkin]

Originally Posted by matthew88

I always assumed if you were in a car you wouldn't really feel it, but I have never felt an earthquake before, and here in my part of the country people go crazy if there is a 2.0.

I was driving to work when a 6.4 quake hit the Seattle area. I-405 was pretty tire-rutted. In my car, the earthquake felt like I changed lanes, when I did not. It wasn't until I got to work and saw everybody standing outside. Everybody was calling it an earthquake, but I didn't 100% believe it until I got to my office and all the shit on my shelves and desk was all over the place.

[Cancun78]

Originally Posted by matthew88

I always assumed if you were in a car you wouldn't really feel it, but I have never felt an earthquake before, and here in my part of the country people go crazy if there is a 2.0.

We've had two aftershocks in my area and everyone in a car when it happened, including myself but I wasn't in a car the first time so I felt it then. ..but they were small aftershocks not a big thing.

[vulturedoors]

Originally Posted by matthew88

I always assumed if you were in a car you wouldn't really feel it, but I have never felt an earthquake before, and here in my part of the country people go crazy if there is a 2.0.

You don't really start to feel them until they reach 3.0 or more, and those only if you are sitting still and not doing anything at the time. I live in California and it takes a solid 5 to really get my attention.

As to whether you notice while in a car, it depends on how strong the quake is. But when we had a 7.1 here in '89, I talked to people who were on the highway at the time and they said it was like driving on really bad shocks (bouncing) and everyone on the freeway stopped like "WTF?"

[Dr. Dot]

Originally Posted by commondenom

lol at the guy thinking his car's broken...

Not as uncommon as one might think. I survived the World Series earthquake in 1989 (officially known as the Loma Prieta quake. E-ticket ride, let me tell you!). Many people who were in their cars when that went said it felt like they threw a rod or something. Fortunately, I was parked and rode it like a surfer.

[NurseBettie]

Yup. Nothing else like it in my lifetime. yet