BajaNomad

MORE INFO ON QUAKE

Barry A. - 4-20-2010 at 08:15 AM

For those inclined to "really get into it" on the recent Earth Quake south of Mexicali, here is a link that gives you more tech. info on the quake that you may ever wish to know------

http://www.scsn.org/

DianaT - 4-20-2010 at 12:34 PM

Interesting ---thanks. Lots of good information.

While driving, we saw several places with quite large cracks and displacement. On the road, there were several places where it buckled and they have just torn up the asphalt.

But in the one area, it was interesting that the rather large crack ran right down the center line of the road.

Once when I was camping, an earthquake hit and it was strange being outside----no fear. But it was not a large earthquake. With the amount of land movement we observed, this one had to be something else watching cracks and displacement happening.

If we had not been with a caravan, we would have stopped and taken more photos.

Bajahowodd - 4-20-2010 at 12:54 PM

Interesting stuff. I'm reminded that a quake of this magnitude could have cause an immense amount of property damage as well as injuries and deaths had it struck in an urban zone. In fact, although so much attention is paid the the San Andreas, the fact is that a number of faults underlying the LA metro area have a potential for a quake this large. Not to minimize what happened to those in the Calexico- Mexicali area, but in a big picture sense, a bullet appears to have been dodged.

DianaT - 4-20-2010 at 01:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Interesting stuff. I'm reminded that a quake of this magnitude could have cause an immense amount of property damage as well as injuries and deaths had it struck in an urban zone. In fact, although so much attention is paid the the San Andreas, the fact is that a number of faults underlying the LA metro area have a potential for a quake this large. Not to minimize what happened to those in the Calexico- Mexicali area, but in a big picture sense, a bullet appears to have been dodged.


In Calexico, it is a VERY good thing that the quake hit during Spring Break. A friend sent me some pictures of Jefferson Elementary school--- a real mess with the rooms tossed, ceilings and lights down, and one picture shows that the entire ceiling part of one of the walkways by some classrooms came down. After seeing the pictures, if school had been in session---well it is difficult to believe injuries would not have happened.

While I do understand what you are saying about numbers, I doubt the people who lost their homes, or their homes were flooded, that lost most their belongings, etc., think they dodged a bullet.

Barry A. - 4-20-2010 at 01:44 PM

If my memory serves me correctly, Mexicali and environs supports a population of almost 1 million folks---------not really a rural area. Mexicali was hit hard---------and there is the possibility that the immediate area of the Mexicali valley, and it's agricultural complex, is now "tilted" to the west, changing all the drainage and irrigation patterns--------yet to be determined. Lets hope not, and I agree with what you said, but this is no small problem for a LOT of people if it turns out to be as bad as it looks.

Barry

Bajahowodd - 4-20-2010 at 01:53 PM

I wasn't looking to appear insensitive. Please note that I stated that I wasn't looking to minimize what happened to the folks in Mexicali or Calexico. My point was rather that if you take a look at the first graphic, just imagine what might have happened if the gray line ran right through Mexicali. Further, as I noted re: the LA metro area, imagine what havoc would have been wrought if such a rupture occurred in the LA basin. That's all I was trying to say. Consider that even though this quake was stronger than the one that struck Haiti, there were only two reported deaths. Haiti, they were measured in the tens of thousands.

Barry A. - 4-20-2010 at 01:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
I wasn't looking to appear insensitive. Please note that I stated that I wasn't looking to minimize what happened to the folks in Mexicali or Calexico. My point was rather that if you take a look at the first graphic, just imagine what might have happened if the gray line ran right through Mexicali. Further, as I noted re: the LA metro area, imagine what havoc would have been wrought if such a rupture occurred in the LA basin. That's all I was trying to say. Consider that even though this quake was stronger than the one that struck Haiti, there were only two reported deaths. Haiti, they were measured in the tens of thousands.


All your points are well taken, and I am sorry that I appeared to be critical of them-----that was not my intent. I just wanted to expand on them, and point out for the uninformed that tho it is not getting much attention by the media, there is a world of hurt going on in that valley, from what I hear from my contacts.

You are right, if this happened in LA or San Diego??? It would be much worse.

Peace brother, Barry :bounce: