Post by Spruance on Feb 27, 2008 9:44:00 GMT -6
I realise that earthquakes are, sadly, commonplace in the US, but over here they are fortunately as rare as hen's teeth!
I had dozed off whilst watching TV last night, when at around 1am I felt as though someone was shaking my armchair. As I awoke the shaking continued for several seconds, and despite the fact that I have never experienced one before my first thought was that it must have been an earthquake.
The shaking was accompanied by a low rumble, and then all of a sudden it just stopped. Just stepping out onto the front drive, I noticed that several of the neghbours were also looking out no doubt wondering what had happened.
There seemed to be nothing amiss outside so I went back into the house and flicked on the local radio, which by that time was running wall-to wall coverage of what has transpired to have been a 5.2 magnitude earthquake.
I have witnessed no local damage although there were reports on the radio this morning that Boston town centre had been sealed off so that the Fire Service could check out some suspect chimney stacks, which resulted in the inevitable traffic delays.
Just looking at the news reports today it seems that this is the first earthquake of any consequence to hit the UK since 1984, and the first one to be centred on Lincolnshire since 1755. The epicentre of last night's event being some 30 miles north of here.
All in all it looks as though we have got off fairly lightly. Injuries have largely been minor, although a 19 year old man from South Yorkshire suffered a broken pelvis when the chimney collapsed through his bedroom ceiling. Structurally it seems to be just a case of chimneys and loose masonry falling which as it happened in the early hours has largely passed without further incident.
This is the first earthquake I have experienced in all of my 49 years, and although it was more intriguing than alarming, I don't mind waiting another 49 years before I experience the next one!!
I had dozed off whilst watching TV last night, when at around 1am I felt as though someone was shaking my armchair. As I awoke the shaking continued for several seconds, and despite the fact that I have never experienced one before my first thought was that it must have been an earthquake.
The shaking was accompanied by a low rumble, and then all of a sudden it just stopped. Just stepping out onto the front drive, I noticed that several of the neghbours were also looking out no doubt wondering what had happened.
There seemed to be nothing amiss outside so I went back into the house and flicked on the local radio, which by that time was running wall-to wall coverage of what has transpired to have been a 5.2 magnitude earthquake.
I have witnessed no local damage although there were reports on the radio this morning that Boston town centre had been sealed off so that the Fire Service could check out some suspect chimney stacks, which resulted in the inevitable traffic delays.
Just looking at the news reports today it seems that this is the first earthquake of any consequence to hit the UK since 1984, and the first one to be centred on Lincolnshire since 1755. The epicentre of last night's event being some 30 miles north of here.
All in all it looks as though we have got off fairly lightly. Injuries have largely been minor, although a 19 year old man from South Yorkshire suffered a broken pelvis when the chimney collapsed through his bedroom ceiling. Structurally it seems to be just a case of chimneys and loose masonry falling which as it happened in the early hours has largely passed without further incident.
This is the first earthquake I have experienced in all of my 49 years, and although it was more intriguing than alarming, I don't mind waiting another 49 years before I experience the next one!!
