Haven't read many posts, just skimming sort of random. Yours caught my eye. I AGREE -- a 5.9 is a decent quake, maybe noth enough to cause a whole lotta concern among native Californians, but SURE AS HELL enough to put the fear of God in anyone who rides it! I've been in a lot of quakes, including Northridge. I totally respect and understand how anyone with any sense, especially someone who's never felt a quake before, would be "rattled" (no pun intended!!) by a 5.9.
I just want you to know that not ALL of us West Coasters are being smug. This one is feeling very sympathetic to folks who've just experienced that weird, humbling sensation that happens when God all the sudden pulls the rug out from under you house or office!
Because there are fewer faults in the Eastern half of the country, for the same size earthquake the energy travels MUCH farther than in California; it’s like hitting a bar of steel at one end and feeling the vibration at the other end, instead of hitting a box of gravel at one end and feeling nothing at the other end.
So that drives a lot of the Californian smugness; they’re not aware that people are feeling the same shaking they do from the same size earthquake, but in some places upwards of ten times further away.
Yes, HE has a way of reminding us who’s in charge.