just as asteroids have not caused the earth to lose it's delicate balance - whenever there are huge earthquakes - the magnitude, imo, could cause a lot of stuff to go wrong at once. i mean - we have tsunamis, fault lines, (not to mention gas lines - power lines - internet liens) - all this can be disrupted over the entire planet and dump us into a sort of 'ice-age,' too. if enough volcanoes erupt - you have a lot of ash that closes off sunlight.
i'm not trying to say i'm scientific enough to explain things - but after witnessing video clips (we were gone at the time) of a huge piece of land in anchorage, alaska going into the cook inlet - and in seward (afterwards)- a GIANT tsunami - it's just a matter of degree.
if you have a REALLY big earthquake - really big things happen.
living in california was freakier than here onthe east coast (although i hear that a major earthquake could cause a big portion of the east coast to go under or be affected by tsunami). at least when they happen frequently (earthquakes) you are used to the idea. in california they happen frequently. seeing the devastation of the northridge earthquake - the magnitude struck me there, too. that people can suddenly be without major transportation lines. ie - the freeway. huge pieces of freeway were suddenly jutting out into thin air.
seems that there are different types of earthquakes. one i remember feeling like 'surfing.' there was a kind of undulating feel to it. another - was simply like being shaken out of bed. like someone just shaking the bed back and forth. another - i remember a sort of train-like sound before hand. a rumble. anyways - i concur with pianowolfi that when they happen - it seems unreal. but, it is very real in our world and you have to be prepared!
flashlights! slippers near the bed. clothes on preferably. imean something on. in california - we got to where we had this routine and knew how to turn the gas off. we had water stored up. and limited dried foodstuffs. emergency plan - of where to go and what contacts. but, you know - it's never a matter of being fully prepared enough. especially in winter. they were saying to have blankets in the car and first aid kits - etc etc. we usually never went beyond the basics for one person - so the rest of the family would be freezing. if you live in cold climates - i think it might be a good idea to put in extra blankets or sleeping bags and snacks or whatever - in case you do have to drive somewheres. the thing is - after major earthquakes - you can't really trust the roads and have to be very careful what is ahead.
the san andreas fault line is really gaping in some places.
Topic: Earthquake