E is for Earthquake

My theme for my 2015 A to Z Challenge came from my Disaster Crimes series. Disasters are a theme in each story, so it got me thinking about all the disasters that occur from natural disasters to manmade disasters.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Many of you may know I finished writing the sequel to Hurricane Crimes, but I haven't revealed what disaster my characters face in book two. Until now...
Today’s disaster is...EARTHQUAKE
An EARTHQUAKE occurs when tectonic plates move. These plates separate, slide past each other, or collide into each other. This movement happens because the crust, which is made up of the oceans and continents, is floating on top of an elastic layer, like crackers on top of a bowl of tomato soup. The quake is the vibration of rocks.


2008 Earthquake in Sichuan
Image from Wikipedia
FACT:There is absolutely no way to know when an earthquake will strike, and no place is completely earthquake free.
Earthquakes may only last about 40-45 seconds, but their impact can be deadly. Furniture can move or overturn, pictures and mirrors on the wall can fall, windows can break, buildings and chimneys can collapse, and power lines can fall down.
Image from Wikipedia
7.1 earthquake in Washington.FACT:Atlantis is believed to have been swallowed by earthquakes that originated in the Mediterranean, creating tsunamis.
Primary waves (push and pull) arrive first during an earthquake because they travel faster than slower secondary waves (side to side). A near quake can have a combination of both push/pull and side to side motions because the waves don’t have a chance to separate over distance. Following the initial quake, aftershocks are extremely common as the plates settle. Aftershocks can last for months after a quake, getting less powerful over time.
FACT: 700 quakes rock the United States a year.

Image from Flickr
Earthquake in Mulchen
Earthquake Dangers:·         Bridges and buildings collapse·         Falling debris·         Tsunamis·         Floods·         Mud/rock slides·         Fires·         Gas leaks·         Sink holes·         Dams break·         Looting
If you ever experience an earthquake, stand in a doorway and cover your head with your arms. Doorways are sturdy and can protect you from injury.
After a quake, check for damage to your home, and seek shelter if necessary. Even if a building is left standing after a quake, a weak structure can collapse during aftershocks. Never light a gas stove or drink water from a pipe until you know it’s safe.
FACT:There is a 25% chance of an earthquake measuring 7.0 or higher on the Richter scale in the next 20 years on the San Andreas Fault.


Image from Wikipedia
Haiti earthquakes.
QUESTIONS: Have you experienced an earthquake? If so, what was the magnitude, and what was it like?
How many people here live in California?


FINAL MESSAGE: Since so many commenters mention hurricanes (cyclones) as something they have experienced, might I suggest reading my short story Hurricane Crimes? It's about 50 pages long and is packed with a lot of action. Plus, you'll understand the characters a little more if you're interested in reading the earthquake-inspired sequel, which I plan to send to my publisher for consideration very soon. :)

Hurricane Crimes:Amazon US / Amazon UK / NOOK / KOBOGoodreads

Disasters:A: AvalancheB: Blizzard and BlackoutC: CycloneD: Drought and Dust Storm
E: Earthquake


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