6.3 at its epicenter (offshore), and according to the radio, magnitude 3 in Taipei – USGS uses a different scale and says the main shock was intensity IV where we are. There was a later shock of magnitude 5.1 at its epicenter, but I slept through it.
No injuries or damage were reported.
I know I keep harping on the point of how kind people are here, but I have to say it again. I thought I heard my phone beep last night. This morning I found a text message from a local rowing coach, sent at 2AM just after the shock:
“Paula, do not take the lift and leave the building. Just need to open a window and go back to sleep.”
It must have woken him up too (it woke everyone!) and he thought of us and realized we might not know what to do in a bad one. (I actually was wondering, because apparently you’re not supposed to take the stairs either – those columns of concrete are vulnerable to earthquake damage. Fortunately, if ever needed we do have climbing gear in our apartment including rope and rappel equipment. I guess we could use that in an emergency!
Whew. Glad the quake didn’t do a damage.
No worries, I didn’t feel spanked by your advice to have hope. It’s true, I am just so blitzed right now and shocked at feeling this low when I thought it would never be this bad again. Bad, sure, not such a fool to think life would be creamy forever. Just gobsmacked and overwhelmed.
Dig this though, I’m working for The New York Times! A telecommuting drone with no byline (yet), but still! LA from nowhere has a foot in the door at The New York Times. Cool, eh? ~LA