I realize that some readers may have experience a few earthquakes in their life - but I live in northern Illinois.
This farm field on Plank Road in Hampshire was the epicenter of an overnight earthquake in Illinois, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. (Stacey Wescott/Tribune)
My initial reaction to the boom and shake - What the hell was that?
Shortly afterwards I heard my daughter getting ready and then leaving for her opening shift at Starbucks. She didn't report anything, so I figured the loud boom and window rattling was from a snow plow which have awaken me before. It wasn't until she returned that I found out it was an earthquake. I had taken my time before getting on the internet today so I had not seen any news about it.
But it certainly was an unusual event that I wanted to share. Also, it got me thinking about the many potential and actual disasters I have witnessed in my life. Now I can add earthquake to my list.
The hurricane while living in Biloxi Mississippi was probably the scariest. Right up there on the list has been tornadoes here in Illinois. Funnel clouds are amazing and scary at the same time. I understand the fascination those tornado hunters have.
Another disaster I found myself and family in while not in Illinois was a forest fire. This huge blaze added some memories to our vacation to Montana. The town of West Glacier was evacuated about 15 minutes after we finished dinner there and headed back to the hotel. Do you prefer your salmon smoked?
And I had detours on a road trip coming back home with one daughter caused by floods and a tornado.
Maybe when you stop and think about it, mother nature can really throw some nasty stuff in your life's path. Any natural disasters to share? please comment.
27 comments:
Scary! ... is it my imagination or are there more and more disastrous or potentially disastrous taking place around the globe - perhaps it's just that with improved communications systems these events are being more widely reported?
man...you have had your share! too many earthquakes as of late (and in unusual places). I hadn't heard about yours yet. I guess I will on the news tonight.
Many things are reported from around the world that never were before. The world is so well connected now and I think that is mostly a good thing. I remember watching a documentary on Pearl Harbor and learning that back in 40's many Americans didn't even know where Hawaii was. Of course, we on a whole are probably not known for our geographical skills.
Disasters are no fun. I am in the business of disaster recovery for the federal government and I can tell you that some of the things I have seen have tested me beyond what I thought I was capable of.
My ex is in Chicag on business and slept thru it. CRAZY! But yeah, now you can add it to your list.
thanks for your comment. This earthquake was no disaster thank God. No damage and no injuries. I don't mean to make fun of serious disasters and in an earlier post reminded readers to help Haiti. Thank you for your service in helping those in need.
I think the Disqus service was out for awhile tonight. Sorry if I missed your comment.
Do post your holiday itineraries well in advance so we can opt for elsewhere!
Hi lisleman.
I wasn't saying you were making fun of any disaster :). I'm sorry if it sounded like that.
I agree Mother Nature has a way of surprising us :)
I have always had the utmost respect for mother nature. I grew up in southern California so earthquakes were just something to get through. Fires and mudslides were also common. My younger daughter and her husband lost just about everything in the Northridge quake so the entire family pulled together to help them replace dishes and glasses and even television and couch and chairs which ended up so full of broken glass they had to be taken to the dump. Like the people in Haiti, there is a need to get things back to normal as soon as possible. Then emotionally they can begin to recover. Now that I live in Nebraska, I have been learning about tornadoes. Things can change in a few seconds. This is a good post, got us thinking and talking.
I think you and OneStonedCrow have something there - the world is so much more 'connected' that we're hearing more of the oddities - like an earthquake in Illinois... :) That would be freaky! I remember experiencing an earthquake when I lived in Seattle - which seemed not-so-odd considering it's on the same coast as earthquake central California. But Illinois would be freaky! :)
Boy, I guess you have experienced more that most of us. I am 75 and have never been in any of those things. It's not luck, just never lived where these things have happened. Have a nice weekend.
thanks for sharing - I guess feeling, hearing and noticing the all whole thing counts for something but really since there was no damage, I count my "experience" credit lightly.
thanks for sharing - Your daughter's experience really shows the love of family. If there is any 'silver' lining to these disasters it's witnessing the kindness and caring of humanity.
NE - what can I say? I've driven though on the way to CO and didn't think much of the flat part we drove. I know being from IL how could I complain about flat. Maybe other parts of NE are hilly and there are hilly part of IL (I've enjoyed those areas) but the part of NE along that river makes for some dull driving (IMHO). So do you like NE?
oh I've had a many good ones. Even the forest fire was interesting and believe or not I was interviewed for the local news. We were surprised to see my face (gob?) on the news that night in the hotel.
So many things to like about NE. Food is half what it was in CA and rent
too. With both of us on social security and not working we can live here but
would not have been able to in CA. The little town we are in is so friendly
and calm and nice. The people make all the difference. I like it here very
much. Yes NE is flat mostly, so is KS and lots of states. There is something
to like in every place I guess. But for me I feel like have come home.
that's great to hear. After that trip to Montana (forest fire mentioned up there) I wanted to move there. I still do. I think a small town would be simpler and more enjoyable than a suburb. thanks
I've had my share of tornadoes and have been in what I later learned was a hurricane, I have also been in an earthquake and that was by far the most surreal experience. That's about it. I always thought we were safe from the ground shifting in the midwest but I guess not.
"That's about it." you say - that's a good amount of bad weather. How would you not know you were in a hurricane unless maybe you were too young?
I wasn't too young just in a place where hurricanes weren't likely to
happen, England. I didn't know it was one until later.
that seems like an odd place for that to me too.
My brother and his wife live in Montana. They just moved there about six
months ago from Oahu HI. So far they like it very much in Montana. My
sister-in-law volunteers at some place that helps pregnant teens and has
gotten involved in the community.
That Blago comment was really funny.
I have never experienced earthquake but my husband won't quit telling the stories of an earthquake he experienced in Taipei. He was on the 20th floor or somewhere high and he said at first he thought the mirror was leaning, but quickly realised it was the building that was leaning and when he ran down the stairwell, there was a Frenchman that went zipping by calling bon-pousser, bon-pousser or something French. And this whole incident was repeated again later in the night.
wow the world is really connected - you on the other side of the world knows about our idiot ex-governor. Of course, he does get his face and voice on every media outlet possible. - thanks for sharing
I'm glad you've lived to tell of all the natural disasters you have witnessed.
Let's see - two very mild earthquakes (just a single bump felt). Once the car I was driving was struck by lightning and my arm was resting on the frame of rolled down window (it was a summer rain-less thunderstorm). It threw my arm back into the car and killed the gauges in the dash. Two hurricanes in Mississippi - one got evacuated from school and the other we were in a houseboat on a lake at the time - fun stuff! And I've watched lava flow in Hawaii and also watched an avalanche while hiking in the Alps. All interesting.
You should post about these 'lucky' events. So the lightning strike didn't cause an accident? When I was a kid lightning hit a wall that was only a few feet away. We thought it was cool.
thanks for sharing
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