r/interesting • u/HomeNowWTF • 22d ago

NATURE Experiencing an earthquake in an airport

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u/Frequent-Coyote-8108 22d ago

Word to the wise:

In an earthquake, if you're RIGHT near an exit, get outside.

Otherwise, just find something structural to hold up near--and preferably a table or something to get under.

DO NOT, under any circumstances, run through a building to get outside.

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u/Apero_ 22d ago

Thanks for this. I grew up in Australia which is not near any fault lines so we never learned this stuff as kids!

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u/Frequent-Coyote-8108 22d ago

Happy to help! I had to learn this the hard way through a couple of experiences:

- 6.7 mag in Afghanistan. The sleeping huts we were in were made of plywood--we had no idea what to do.

- 6.6 mag in Maryland. Very unusual for this area, but I was working in a 3 story building which housed like 5000 people. We had cameras all around the building, when it happened, everyone sort of looked around to see what TF to do. There were people who went hysterical and started running for the exits. Luckily, I knew a guy from SoCal who was like "find a doorway or get under your desk...it's fine." The next day, we had an "all hands" meeting, where they showed the security footage of one of the main exit doors--when the camera started shaking, a few people walked out, bewildered, then a stampede of hysteria followed--like 3500 people just streamed out of the doors--people got trampled, it was a whole thing. The safety officer hosting the all hands ended the video, and was like "this is an excellent example of what NOT to do!" and then for the next hour, we got daddied on what to do next time.

Like and subscribe for more disaster reaction tips!

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u/stephy1771 21d ago

Just for the record, if you’re referring to the 2011 earthquake that was centered in Virginia, that was 5.8!

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u/Elegant-Cricket8106 21d ago

I was in Virginia for that! It didn't seem that bad? I was on the phone with the friend and my condolences was shaking. It was over so fast.

I was interning and am from Canada never experienced any type of earthquake.

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u/stephy1771 21d ago

It was slightly bad for some older buildings mostly near the epicenter, plus like the National Cathedral and Washington Monument. I knew someone whose wedding got postponed b/c the church got condemned!

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u/waynofish 20d ago

I had to check after his post and the largest in MD was like a 2.8 so I checked to see where there were other Marylands in the world. I live on the eastern shore. But I know of several, but we never felt anything over here. Glad you said there was a 5.8 in VA.

Went through a 6.4 in Costa Rica one night and the aftershocks just came coming and coming for the next week or so. It was centered about 20 miles from where I was living and buckled the road quite a bit.

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u/FreshAd2338 20d ago

That 5.8 in VA was felt by us all the way up in Southern New Jersey. I was sitting at my computer at work when the shaking started. I went outside and there were people running from the other buildings. My wife, at the time, said the water was sloshing around in our pool. SURF'S UP DUDE!!!!!

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u/Frequent-Coyote-8108 21d ago

My memory could be fuzzy...but I recall it being later...you might be right though, without looking it up.

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u/accidentalhippie 20d ago

August 2011. I remember because I had a newborn and was home alone with her and the panic I felt has never been rivaled.😩

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u/Frequent-Coyote-8108 20d ago

Well, hopefully, the next time you're in that situation, you can be more at ease, having gone through it before.

When I moved into tornado country, I was deathly afraid every time the sirens went off. Then, I saw a neighborhood which had a direct strike from a pretty bad tornado--the houses were leveled. But when I started talking to neighbors and survivors, I realized that no one actually knew anyone who died--even houses that were leveled, they were like "when it got loud, we just piled in the bathtub, and a couple of minutes later, we got out...and our house was gone. It was oddly reassuring to know that my worst fear was...oddly survivable.

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u/footon00 20d ago

Even knowing what you just said. I would still probably rush for the exit unless I see it is already clogged by people. Chances of the whole house collapsing on you are 0 if you are outside.

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u/WorseDark 21d ago edited 21d ago

Interesting. I grew up in Alberta, Canada, which is near a fault line, but not one that produces "real" earthquakes. Never ever experienced one. But this has been drilled into my head through media consumed from hollywood since my upbringing.

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u/Drakkenfyre 21d ago

My experience is the same as yours. American media really gets the message home. I feel like I am really over prepared for an earthquake now.

Of course, 2022 I think there was a 5.6 up in Peace River. Cray cray. And one year ago I think there was a 4.2 in Lake Louise. But I looked online at the earthquake tracker and it looks like there have been zero earthquakes of magnitude 1.5 or greater in the last year here in Cowtown. But I'm ready!

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u/Altruistic-Mine-1848 21d ago

Portugal had a major one in 1755 and basically never again and we still learn what to do in school.

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u/HighlyImprobable42 21d ago

West coast US has earthquake drills in schools. Basically get under your tiny desk and hope nothing squashes you. 

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u/PuzzleheadedKey9444 20d ago

Get under something and protect your head and neck

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u/bedel99 20d ago

I have been in 2 earthquakes in Australia, the 'big' Newcastle one and then another much smaller one in Newcastle.