West Seattle stories from this morning’s Kitsap County quake

We have a few notes from people shaken up by the 4.5 quake this morning in Kitsap County; here’s its official page on the UW quake-tracking website. Dan Riley, in a 5th-floor apartment along Avalon, described it as: “Ripple ripple, Big Jolt, ripple ripple.” That area may have shook more than most: According to Talani from Stor-More (WSB sponsor), at least one TV station is roaming around here looking for quake stories; she posted on Facebook (where you’ll find us as WS Blog), “We just got interviewed by Channel 7 at the Alki Starbucks about the earthquake”; her original quake report was, “We rocked for a long time … lying in bed totally still and yet both moving and waking up…so wild! I know Luna Park is on pylinks, and it seems we rocked longer than others who just felt a boom.” LeeAnne Beres, near The Junction, felt it too: “Our whole house shook for 12-15 seconds and we had just enough time to figure out what was happening, look at each other and say “earthquake!” before it stopped. It was nothing like the rolling waves of the 2001 Nisqually quake, but definitely enough to make our 1915 house sway significantly. Lisa points out that the USGS is interested in reports from anyone who felt it; you can send yours in by going here and clicking the “Did you feel it? Tell us!” link. Since the last somewhat notable quake, the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network has upgraded its “recent earthquakes” page – here’s where to go (worth bookmarking) if you ever think you felt something but weren’t sure if it was a quake. ADDED 12:02 PM: Cool page of web-based seismographs that show the motion pattern – like this one that’s at Vashon HS.

19 Replies to "West Seattle stories from this morning's Kitsap County quake"

  • Trissa January 30, 2009 (9:35 am)

    It woke me up- I live in Pigeon Point. I thought my toddler was shaking the bed and trying to get in bed with us, but then I realized he wasn’t that strong. It soon stopped and that was it. I’m glad it wasn’t any stronger!

  • firwave January 30, 2009 (9:54 am)

    ah viaduct…how you doing after the quake??

  • Jo January 30, 2009 (10:03 am)

    It woke me up, also.
    I’m on 61st and Stevens, Alki, right across from Log House Museum, 1 block south of Alki Bakery.
    A hard jolt. My immediate thought was ‘earthquake.’

  • lina rose January 30, 2009 (10:13 am)

    i did not feel anything up at roxbury and 35th
    :(

  • WSB January 30, 2009 (10:17 am)

    firwave – I just posted a separate update – state is checking it – city’s checking its bridges

  • Gina January 30, 2009 (10:21 am)

    Nothing on 45th between Admiral and Lander. I have a hanging fixture in the dining room that rattles when as little vibration as a truck going by, nothing.

  • miws January 30, 2009 (10:44 am)

    Didn’t feel a thing in the Thriftway block of California.

    .

    Most likely, I was asleep at the time, but, I tend to wake up a few times overnight for a short time, so, a chance I was awake and just didn’t feel it.

    .

    Mike

  • trenda January 30, 2009 (10:49 am)

    Nothing near Westcrest Park.

  • Lindsey January 30, 2009 (11:08 am)

    I slept right through it by the Huling Bros lot, but my boyfriend woke up. We’ve only been in Seattle for a year, so I’m glad to have gotten my first earthquake out of the way, without even waking!

  • OP January 30, 2009 (11:43 am)

    Squawdoosh. And I was awake with a 10-month old.

    Wake me when it gets to 6.0+.

  • Ken January 30, 2009 (11:54 am)

    I was up and sitting on a concrete porch with three dogs.

    None of us noticed a thing but the fog getting thicker and a couple of squeaky toys.

    Highpoint.

  • bsmomma January 30, 2009 (12:14 pm)

    I was at the gym on Charlestown. At about 5:25ish, I felt/heard a big “BOOM” and the building shook for about 10 seconds. I thought someone let the gate slam but no one came in. And then KOMO news came on and said they think we may have just had an earthquake and then confirmed it seconds later. When I left the gym I could hear the building making crackling sounds like it was settling. Can’t say that I’ve heard the building do that any other morning.

  • Michael January 30, 2009 (12:46 pm)

    Felt one small “wave,” and saw the window blinds move ever so slightly. Said to self, “hmm, probably an earthquake,” and went back to what I was doing.
    .
    C’est la vie on the West Coast.

  • yumpears January 30, 2009 (1:15 pm)

    I was on a treadmill at Allstar and didn’t even know we had a quake.

  • Grace January 30, 2009 (1:36 pm)

    I THOUGHT we had an earthquake! It woke me from a sound sleep..trust me I am a good sleeper. We are on the hill above Harbor Ave, near Luna Park. I thought my toddler was rocking his crib, it’s noisy when he does that. Then I realized I was moving too..hmm. Since I was very sleepy at the time, I was not sure anything had happened…could have all been my imagination. Glad to see I’m not as crazy as I thought :)

  • Grace January 30, 2009 (1:45 pm)

    OH yeah….my cats were both on high alert, ears pricked up. They were on the bed. The dogs were downstairs and I heard no reactions from them. Proving again that cats are superior beings!

  • rainycity1 January 30, 2009 (2:40 pm)

    Grace, I got a chuckle about your cats. My cats were sleeping on the bed beside me when I felt the quake. Neither moved a whisker. Some alarm system they proved to be. ;-)

  • j January 30, 2009 (3:27 pm)

    Here, here Grace! My cats were going bananas. One of our cats, who never comes into our room due to the other cat sleeping with us, decided it was time for her to make a cameo apperance. Of course this started a minor cat fight, which is the only thing that woke me up. No action from our dog besides trying to be a referee.

  • Bradley5 January 30, 2009 (7:54 pm)

    Didn’t feel a thing, but our usually always hungry lab hasn’t ate anything all day and he was trembling this morning a few hours after the quake. He didn’t eat his breakfast, not a pigs ear and not even some chicken from our dinner tonight. He’s acting fine in every other way, just not hungry. Very odd.

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