magnitude-8.3 earthquake hit off Chile's northern coast. Have you ever been in a quake and how did you react?

2015-09-17T03:20:35-04:00

SANTIAGO, Chile – A powerful magnitude-8.3 earthquake hit off Chile's northern coast Wednesday night, causing buildings to sway in the capital of Santiago and bringing flooding from small tsunami waves in some shore towns.

Officials reported three deaths. There were no reports of serious damage hours after the quake, but officials were still checking the region late into the night.

Authorities had issued a tsunami alert for Chile's entire Pacific coast, and the tremor was so strong that people on the other side of the continent, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, reported feeling it.

Numerous strong aftershocks, including one measuring 7.0 magnitude and three above 6, rattled the region after the first major tremor since a powerful quake and tsunami killed hundreds in 2010 and leveled part of the city of Concepcion in south-central Chile.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/09/17/strong-quake-shakes-chile-capital-causing-buildings-to-sway/

At least 8 dead after magnitude-8.3 earthquake rattles Chile capital

A powerful earthquake has shaken Chile's capital, causing buildings to sway and people to take refuge in the streets.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Sep 17 at 2015 3:29 AM

2015-09-17T03:29:27-04:00

Thoughts going out to Chile. Here's hoping that any RP members who may have family there are okay (their family members that is).

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Sep 17 at 2015 3:42 AM

2015-09-17T03:42:22-04:00

I slept through a 5.8.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Sep 17 at 2015 7:30 AM

2015-09-17T07:30:03-04:00

I've been through a couple small quakes in Afghanistan and one in Kansas. Mostly my reaction was "wtf is that"!!

Response by SGT Scott Bell made Sep 17 at 2015 8:18 AM

2015-09-17T08:18:23-04:00

No i have not

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Sep 17 at 2015 9:45 AM

2015-09-17T09:45:56-04:00

1SG Private RallyPoint Member - I have been in quite a few low-level quakes when I was assigned in Naples, Italy. Nothing major, although very noticeable.

Interestingly enough, we actually had an earthquake, whose epicenter was about 10 miles from my house, in the Augusta, Georgia area, last year. Turns out, this area is in a fairly large fault... Who knew?

Response by PO1 Tony Holland made Sep 17 at 2015 10:03 AM

2015-09-17T10:03:47-04:00

I experienced the 7.8 Loma Prieta quake on the top floor of a seven story bank building adjacent to the University of Santa Clara in California at the last CPA firm where I was employed. I was in a tax planning strategy session with an electronics firm executive.
My back was to the window and initially I didn't feel anything. But my clients eyes dilated significantly and then I noticed a bookcase behind him swaying. He, however, was seeing assorted campus buildings swaying through the window behind me. Subsequently, both the sixth and seventh floors were condemned as being unsafe forcing the relocation of our firm and the law firm below us.

Prior to that I slept through the Riverside quake which occurred shortly after I was assigned to SEAL Team One. My wife bolted out of bed and hid under it.

Response by SPC Patricia Heltzel made Sep 17 at 2015 2:15 PM

2015-09-17T14:15:55-04:00

I have. I moved to California about 19 years ago. My first earthquake was a small one-- I had just gotten home from a night out with friends, and I climbed into my bed and it shook. Asked my hubby if he just rolled over, and he said NO, so I figured it was a quake. Since then, I've been in a bunch. The smaller ones, I can deal with. But I was in a 5 something that happened less than 5 miles from my house, and while it happened, I was calm and I immediately knew what to do.. it was afterwards that I freaked. I don't like them. Every other natural disaster, you kinda have advanced warning-- Tornadoes, hurricanes, etc.. but with a quake, one second the ground is solid, and the next, well, it's moving and shaking!! And with that 5, there was a loud BOOM first. I'm more comfortable in them at work, as I know that it was retrofitted (I work in a baseball stadium), but my house is old, and probably not up to the current standards, even though it's stood through everything else so far!!! Hubby was in the Northridge and Whittier Narrows quakes. He can handle all of them, easily. Wish I could.

Response by MGySgt George W Iliffe Jr made Sep 29 at 2015 1:57 PM

2015-09-29T13:57:23-04:00

I have been in a lot of earthquakes in Japan and California. None were severe enough to scare me though.

Response by SPC Luis Mendez made Sep 29 at 2015 2:59 PM

2015-09-29T14:59:15-04:00

I felt 2 small ones in my entire life. The last one for about 5 seconds in a 15 floors high rise Condo, was Very scary. The Reinforced concrete structure was built with some "Tolerances" in place, but still made some Weird squeaky sounds. We were there [my wife and I with 2 little ones] looking at each other unable to move and our minds went blank, 'cause simply there was no escape possible if it became catastrophic.