Tuesday, November 06, 2007
My First Earthquake
No, i have never experienced an earthquake in S'pore. it wasn't even part of my structural curriculum to study seismic. so i was literally 'stunned' when a 5.6 quake occured last tue, the day before Halloween.
i was cooking at 8pm, standing right next to the electric stove when the earth shook. i only remembered to turn off the stove, but stood there for the entire time. carol 'scolded' me saying that i need to duck under the table or something.
yes, this shake up was a really good reminder to be disaster prepared. i put together an earthquake pack (not complete) and need to get familiar with the escape route of my apartment building.
i think all the talk of disaster scenario planning that i did during my years in LTA can never match the real need i felt after this. it was actually quite scary. u never know how long the quake is going to last and severe it may be.
i live on the 2nd floor so not only the thrid floor could come crushing down, my floor could give way beneath me. then there may be a fire along the corridor and do i have an alternative escape route (eg via the balcony)? all these need to be thought through. Hopefully i'll never get to use them, but 'readiness' is really the word of the day!!
the bay area is long over due for a major earthquake. so who knows...... that's why when friends say 'next year', i say 'now'; not sure if we are all still here by then......
BTW, i told my mum about the earthquake. all she asked was whether i suffer any property damaged. apparently she is cool....
i was cooking at 8pm, standing right next to the electric stove when the earth shook. i only remembered to turn off the stove, but stood there for the entire time. carol 'scolded' me saying that i need to duck under the table or something.
yes, this shake up was a really good reminder to be disaster prepared. i put together an earthquake pack (not complete) and need to get familiar with the escape route of my apartment building.
i think all the talk of disaster scenario planning that i did during my years in LTA can never match the real need i felt after this. it was actually quite scary. u never know how long the quake is going to last and severe it may be.
i live on the 2nd floor so not only the thrid floor could come crushing down, my floor could give way beneath me. then there may be a fire along the corridor and do i have an alternative escape route (eg via the balcony)? all these need to be thought through. Hopefully i'll never get to use them, but 'readiness' is really the word of the day!!
the bay area is long over due for a major earthquake. so who knows...... that's why when friends say 'next year', i say 'now'; not sure if we are all still here by then......
BTW, i told my mum about the earthquake. all she asked was whether i suffer any property damaged. apparently she is cool....
