Quebec Had It's First Earthquake Yesterday

[greatcyber]

OMG! An earthquake in Quebec? Yes, yesterday afternoon at 13:48 we had a 5.0 centered in Quebec that lasted for about 50 seconds. Joe told me about it when I returned home. Footage on the news showed chandeliers swaying, water in fish tanks bobbing about making wave swells of about 4-5 inches. Joe found it "unsettling" and at first thought it was from the renovation ongoing in our building. But when he looked out the 8th floor window and saw everything jiggling about he had to sit down. No time to even try to get outside. I was on the subway at the time so I didn't even realize it had happened until I returned home and Joe told me. Then of course, it was covered on the news.

Called my mum to tell her and she said that there is a storm brewing south of her and it will likely be the first named storm of the hurricane season with a possibility it will turn into a hurricane. If so, they are predicting it will force all that horrid oil into Tampa Bay.

Might have to rethink that 2012 concept, lol.

Luckily, there was no serious injury reported and only minor damage in some areas. One building was shown that had a huge vertical crack in it and one bridge collapsed in Quebec, but it was not one of the monstrous things...just a wee one.

But geez, how creepy!

[marval]

Oh my goodness, how scary. I am glad nobody was badly hurt, creepy indeed Stephen.


Margaret

[Mat]

Yeah, I heard about it in the news. Glad you're alright.

So, are you cancelling your plans for 2013?

[Contratrombone64]

Stephen, how excitment!

[JHC]

It makes you realise how helpless we are when nature gets sh*ty

[greatcyber]

Hey Mat, ask me that one on December 11th, 2012, lol. We'd better have that MIMF bar-b-que before then

@ Margaret: I lived in Venice, CA when I was 17. I was there for about 8 months. We had 3 tremors during those months and immediately after the 3rd one I packed and had my roomies take me to the airport!

@David: excitement seems to follow us no matter where we go. I'm reminded of the line by Bette Davis, "Strap yourselves in boys, it's going to be a bumpy ride!"

@JHC: you ain't just a whistlin Dixie!

Boy, it's nice to be back here!!!!!

[Krummhorn]

. . . I lived in Venice, CA when I was 17. I was there for about 8 months.

Stephen,

Glad to hear you are alright up there ...

I lived about 46 miles south of Venice in Orange County (Garden Grove, Santa Ana, and Irvine) between the years 1950 and 1080. Almost sitting on the San Andreas Fault, we had the usual seismic activity most every year. I can recall seeing the pool water being sloshed out hundreds of gallons at a time, the windows rattling, and dishes falling out of the kitchen cabinets. Those were scary times, for sure.

Don't miss those days one bit ... so where do I move to? The high desert where deadly lightening storms abound every summer .

[rojo]

The epicenter was close to Echo Lake, Quebec, 60 kms north of Ottawa close to the border. It was felt in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, and some of the northern states of the US as well. First they said it was a 5.5 quake, then revised it to a 5.0.

I heard a strange, low, deep sound, and wondered if work was being done somewhere; perhaps some machinery digging up the street. Didn't really feel any shaking. I looked outside, and upon seeing a lack of trucks, wondered what the hell that strange noise was! Then it was reported on the radio that it was indeed a quake.

This is not a first for this area. We sometimes get some small ones that aren't felt. But I remember very well two others that were significant. One in 1998, and one in 1983. Scary stuff. But nothing major compared to those big ones that have occurred elsewhere. No one knows for sure, but I think we're safe here, Stephen.

[greatcyber]

Let's hope that is true, Robin. I did some further reading online and did indeed find that there have been other quakes, especially the one you mentioned. Of course, the news has delved further into the history of all this. But when I first heard the report the day it happened, the anchor on tv did say that it was Quebec's first...his bad.

The media has reported as you said, 5.5, 5.0, and that it lasted for 40 seconds, another says 10 seconds. Whatever - it was eerie.

But we're still set to go for the Jazz Festival starting this evening

[Mat]

But we're still set to go for the Jazz Festival starting this evening

Man, why there are no jazz festivals in my city at the moment...?

Anyway, have fun!

[JHC]

But we're still set to go for the Jazz Festival starting this evening

Hi GC
Take your camera and post some pics.

[greatcyber]

Will do. It's wonderful living in "the city of festivals"

[JHC]

I have just realised the title of this post?? so this is the first quake in Quebec, that makes it a bit more scary.

[greatcyber]

Actually, that was reported incorrectly in the news. There have been some in the past. Robin noted there was one in the 80's that was reported. Nonetheless, not the most comforting feeling.

[Corno Dolce]

I recall the quake of October 2006 in Hawaii - It certainly unsettled me seeing the rafters in the ceiling *dance around*.......