Earthquake in Ottawa

[JoanD]

Hope Susan and family are all OK after a 5.0-5.5 earthquake hit Ottawa mid afternoon today. This is very unusual in Ontario but there could be no doubt as to what was happening as the tremors rattled through. Let us know how everyone is, Susan.

[StitchinGrandma]

Wow. I had no idea until I read this. I hope she's ok. I just researched a bit before posting and if this info is correct she should be ok.

I checked the USGS government site that studies earthquakes and this appears to show it was just NE of Ottawa and that her area may not have felt a strong quake becasue of where the center appears to have been.

Check these links
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/shakemap/global/shake/2010xwa7/

http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/eq_depot/2010/eq_100623_xwa7/neic_xwa7_l.html

The distance map shows the epicenter was about 1 1/2 hrs from her so hopefully she'll show up soon to let us know she's fine.


ETA: I just found the Canadian site
http://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/recent_eq/2010/20100623.1741/index-eng.php

I sure hope she's ok.

[StitchinGrandma]

Wow. The local news here in IL just did a story about that earthquake because the seismograph at the University of Southern IL recorded the movement way down there. They are saying too that people in Rockford, just north of me in some of the taller buildings on the upper floors actually felt it there. That earthquake must be on a very large fault line for it to travel this far and then about 4 hours south of me where that university is located.

[katiedoodles]

I am sure that Susan is OK and will be checking in to let us know soon!

[susank]

Yikes it was scary! The epicentre was very close (about 50 km - really only about 45 minutes) and we felt it very hard - it was felt as far away as the Northern US to Toronto and then to Quebec city. This is very strange for us. I was walking through my kitchen and at first it felt like an incredibly off kilter washing machine but then I realized it was the whole house. My youngest daughter was home at the time and when I realized what was happening I called (OK - screamed) for her to come downstairs. We stood under a large archway because I was afraid to go near the windows which were severely shaking to the door to go outside - you have to remember that I have 20 feet high by 20 feet wide windows in my family room adjacent to the kitchen, my living room and my front entry - I couldn't get to a door. We stood there for what seemed like a few minutes until it stopped. Immediately afterward I tried to contact my oldest daughter who was out to see if she was OK - I couldn't get through because all the cell lines were jammed. I sent her a text and she had been driving so didn't feel it all - same with my husband - driving - felt nothing. The whole city then apparently went into a gridlock as people left their office towers to head home. I think my husband is glad he had an appointment outside of downtown!

We are all OK - but now I have to ask -- I have been hit by lightning and a flood - I was waiting for the plague of locusts but I guess an earthquake is close enough -- what next??? And unlike the lightning - my sewing machine survived this one!

Thanks for your concern guys - I won't forget this day!

[katiedoodles]

Uh oh Susan, I wouldn't wonder what's next :D Glad to hear you and your family are all OK!

[susank]

Thanks Katie - I am really just surprised that all of you heard about this. When it happened I almost sent out a note - but I thought all of you Americans with your earthquakes, hurricanes etc. would think I was overreacting. I am glad to hear you thought it was a big one too. They are saying it's a ten year thing - I could wait at least that long for another one of these. Maybe then I won't live in a house made of glass!!

[fun2sew]

I guess WEST MICH http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/kent_county/Earthquake-in-Quebec-felt-in-GR felt it too! I personally did not but here is our news

Hang on Vicki.. I too am sick of RAIN as my Hubby sells irrigation products... maybe we better sell DEWATERING supplies!!! lol

We had TREES down as straight line winds took out out Dozens of trees in our area!

Stay SAFE tonight!

[JoanD]

It's a relief to hear that everyone made it through this very unusual event. We're about 2 hr. east of Ottawa and felt the tremors. About 6:30 pm we then had a tornado rip through with damage north of us and minor injuries but power outages and phone lines down. It's been so wet it feels like we're living in a cloud. What a day!

[StitchinGrandma]

It's very good your machine made it through this earthquake Susan. I'm not sure Curt would have been able to recreate another profile pic showing a machine being hit by an earthquake. LOL You're VERY lucky those windows made it. Those would not be cheap to replace that's for sure. I'm so happy you are all ok too.

And Dawn ~ I am SOOOOOOO sick of severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings!! We have had multiple tornadoes hitting within 45 minutes to an hour away from our house so it's been way too close for me. The one that just hit the village of Eagle, WI went through here as a very bad storm and then formed that tornado and hit them. Then this last storm hit about 45 minutes SW of here and thankfully for us headed more East than North or that one would have come straight at our area again. That one however headed off toward Dekalb causing some damage with an unconfirmed tornado and then off to the Chicago area. We are not supposed to be seeing any more storms or rain now for at least a few days so I'm very happy.

[fun2sew]

H E L L OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

This is 1/2 mile from my HOUSE !!!!! YES I SAID 1/2 MILE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_story.aspx?storyid=123018&catid=14

We were in our basement as my hubby told us to get downstairs!
The house down the road got 3 BIG TREES Down and One on the front of her house... I wish I took better pictures! But we took a ride and you can see damage about 1 1/2 mile long!

Too Close to home!

[susank]

Fun to Sew - I saw the weather warnings on television because I happened to be watching a Michigan station - it sounded really bad. You are right 1/2 mile is too close for comfort!

But Joan it's funny I heard about tornadoes around us but not east of Ottawa - the ones I saw were closer to Toronto. Maybe I was watching Global TV - where Toronto is the center of the universe!!

[JoanD]

Oops, east/west of Ottawa....should have said "west", close to Georgian Bay. Sorry for the confusion-just too much excitement to keep my thoughts straight. And yes, Toronto does act like the centre of the universe esp. now with G8 & G20 happening.