Did anyone feel the tremors in New York City?

No. I didn't feel anything. The shock waves must have traveled down the fault line that extends along the Hudson and then skipped over to the other side of Manhattan where it just touched the Brooklyn Bridge. Apparently, when Manhattan was made back in the 1400's, people placed a lot of rock and cement on the ground to cover over the swamp area. Perhaps that is why the earthquake or tremor never went through Manhattan. Well, at least I didn't feel it. If anyone in this forum felt in while in Manhattan, then that will throw my theory out the window. If you did feel it, tell us where you were and how much you felt of the tremor.

@hhusted I really didnt know that NYC could be affected by an earthquake. Didnt know about the fault line that extends along the Hudson.. wow can you even begin to imagine what would happen if an earthquake were to hit the city?

I personally didn't feel it. But I read in a Wall Street Journal article that there were some people who noticed some shaking/swaying, even if it was negligible: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703900004575325243652359592.html

@Uptowngirl: You didn't know there was a fault line right up the Hudson River? Sure is.

Take a look at this: http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/features/15002/

http://www.nyc24.org/2006/issue2/story03/index.html

It can be scary to think we live on or near a fault line. One geologist stated that NYC could be hit with a major earthquake before 2084, maybe even before 2015.

@hhusted I honestly had no idea .. I only ever associate L.A. and other Californian cities with earthquakes. I dont think NYC buildings are built to withstand earthquakes. Does anyone know of any buildings in the city that are earthquake resistant?

Whaaaaat?! Scary.

I didn't know that either and it's pretty scary. Earthquakes are the least fun thing ever. And, to my knowledge, no NYC buildings are equipped to withstand even a small one. My apartment building shakes when a big truck goes by. Everyone practice the triangle of life!

But surely NYC is very unlikely to suffer an earthquake...at least a direct one rather than someone else's aftershock.
What's the triangle of life?

Yeah, what's the triangle of life?

It's where you lay down and cover your head next to something like a bed. If something falls during an earthquake, like a wall, door, shelf, etc, the idea is that it will hit the bed first and teeter off at a 45 degree angle -- and you will be in the triangle of space between what it hit before the floor and the floor. This is the preferred protection method for the "earthquake people" in Cali. Contrary to what was said in the old days, you should never get in a doorway.

@JenMac Hah! Noted, for next time I sense tremors.

Actually, funny that I had no idea about the triangle of life, but I know what to do in case of hurricane approaching in great detail, from growing up in Florida. Guess you just absorb the region's disaster details.

I was working and didn't notice a thing, but what a scary thought for a city as dense as this one!

@JenMac thanks for the info..will definitely keep it mind.. though many folks I know have storage drawers under their beds and will perhaps have nowhere to crawl under. What a truly scary thought!

@Ajadedidealist: Don't be fooled. NYC has suffered major earthquakes in the past. In fact, this area suffered a major one in 1889. Geologist have said this area is in for one major earthquake sooner than we think.

@Hhusted I too have experienced earthquake tremors this was some years ago when there was a major earthquake in Latur which is near Mumbai. My bed began to shake and I was jolted out of my sleep. It was for a few seconds but it was enough to scare me. Actually Mumbai is also located on a major fault line and the threat of an Earthquake always lurks but like NYC it is densely populated and I really dont think any of its buildings will be able to withstand the shock.

@Everybody: The problem with NYC is the fact that contractors and architects had no clue about earthquakes or their history when they began erecting buildings in this city. As such, when NYC gets hit with a major earthquake, look out. If you think seeing the towers fall on 9-11 was shocking and devastating, you haven't seen what can happen in an earthquake. This city would crumble right before your eyes, if you are not caught along with it.

Believe it or not, there are some areas where there is open land in the city. If an earthquake were to occur, it would be a great idea to get to one. The problem is, these places are so far away from most people that they would not make it there safely.

@hhusted I live on a low floor so maybe I will be safe?? My apartment is on the Lobby level not the most desirable spot in a building but it works for me as the apartment building is built on a slope and is actually much higher than street level so I do get a great view. In fact during the power outage of 2003 when most of my friends were greatly inconvenienced my husband who was living in the city at that time was ok for he didnt have to climb a ton of floors to get home and his water supply and flush was unaffected. So living on a lower floor does have some advantages.:)

@Uptowngirl: By living on the first floor you would actually be in a worst state. Why? Think about it. If an earthquake happened, everything above you would collapse down on top of you. Remember what happened to the WTC? The building you live in may not be built the same, but even in an earthquake everything above you would shake and tear loose.

@hhusted perish the thought ! anyway I believe that when your time comes you have to go so whenever/whatever has to happen will..

@hhusted Um, I find it hard to believe that contractors and architects didn't know about earthquakes when they built the city's buildings. What a silly thing to say! That's their job, to measure such factors into creating buildings. It's true that the wind tunnel wasn't invented until the middle of the 20th century, and thereafter certain wind factors became infinitely more easy to project and measure.

#1. You're right, uraniumfish, while NY architects, civil engineers, etc don't take seismic construction / reconstruction nearly as much into account as other cities, they spend about as much time in college as doctors, so I'm pretty sure they're not ignorant to New York's structure. #2. There are fault lines in NY -- and there are a lot of them. However they are all quite small. There isn't one fault in the area that is anywhere near the size of, say, the San Andreas fault. #3. The faults in NY are not the result of plate shifting. Whereas the big quakes in California are due to massive plates of earth shifting against each other on a fault that is literally spanning the state, there isn't any such plate abutting in our area.
There could be an earthquake of about 5 in Manhattan, and, yeah, it'll cause damage and people will die. But, it's really unlikely -- it would require tremors jumping from tiny fault to tiny fault to pick up momentum -- and, a 5 is big but it isn't catastrophic. Anything bigger than a 5 in NY, apparently, is going to take about another 3,000 years to happen, if ever.

@JenMac that's a relief to know.. all of us will be long gone by then.

@Uraniumfish my parents had a similar experience when there was a major earthquake in the 1960's near Mumbai and I do agree that it will easy to get out should anything catastrophic happen.

@hhusted I think the WTC towers collapsed because the supporting pillars melted due to the heat generated by the burning fuel from the planes that hit the towers. No architect /planner could have imagined such a scenario when they built those towers.

I have faith in a lot of the buildings in the city and the way they're built. I don't know what it would take to topple some of the big skyscrapers, but they are engineered well and built to withstand a good amount of shock. Obviously they wouldn't stand up to a major earthquake of 5+, but I think most would be okay under a few tremors. More worrysome are the glass panels on some of the downtown skyscrapers, which have proven notorious for popping out under strong winds and falling to the sidewalks below.

And yeah I'm pretty sure we'll all be gone before anything that catastrophic happens.

No point being paranoid, guys! Life is full of dangers (just read the post on these boards), so stop worrying and live life to the fullest (says the girl petrified of her flight on Thursday...)

@DBlack: Don't kid yourself. The skyscrapers in this city are not built to withstand earthquakes, since earthquakes are not common in this city. If an earthquake occurred here, even a minor one, you will see the tallest buildings go down faster than Superman can fly from NYC to LA.

Love the Triangle-Of-Life concept/description :) (Yes, i'm going back a few posts in this thread...)

@ajadedidealist where are you off to now?

Well, hhusted, what do you suggest we all do then? Write a letter?

@JenMac: Write a letter for what reason. Do you think builders and architects are going to listen to us when millions of dollars are involved. I don't think so. No, those buildings will crumble and those who built them will look in shock, seeing their millions of dollars go up in a cloud of dust and won't be able to do a thing about it.

@hhusted Um, there is in fact a limit to human engineering capability and there is obviously a certain amount of catastrophic shock that no building is able to withstand. So, yeah, a strong earthquake's going to bring down the buildings of this city--does that fact actually surprise anyone?

@hhusted Also, what would you have as your solution?

@JenMac Ha!

@hhusted Aren't you longing to move to LA? You may want to worry more about this when you get there.

@everyone I like how this is such a hot topic of debate - even though we'll never feel anything but a few tremors in our lifetime!

@Everybody, Just a clarification to all regarding the Triangle of Life:

The Triangle of Life theory contains dangerous recommendations and it is based on the assumption that buildings will ALWAYS collapse in the event of the earthquake. This is not true at all, especially within the United States where we have building codes. You are more likely to get injured by falling objects during an earthquake, so the proper method of protecting yourself is still to Drop, Cover, and Hold On. To learn more, please visit: www.earthquakecountry.org/dropcoverholdon

@NeverSleeps: Because of the history of earthquakes in the LA area, most buildings are earthquake proof. Builders made sure of that. I know not all buildings are like that. In some ways, I will just have to take my chances.

@Safetyman: Thanks for the link. However, the best way to not get hurt in an earthquake is not to be involved in one.

@hhusted how pray do you avoid an earthquake?

I recommend practicing your hover abilities and floating away in the event of an earthquake.

@Uraniumfish hover abilities?

Earthquake proof?

@uptowngirl If we get to hear so many kooky ideas and conspiracy theories on this forum then I'm certainly allowed to believe in my own ability to hover in mid-air at will! I practice it every night while dreaming! You'll see when the earthquake hits, as it surely will!

Earthquakes don't exist you guys. I'm in the process of building a website that proves it.

@NeverSleeps Well if you've read more than two books on the subject you're obviously an expert and deserve to have people follow your proclamations unquestioningly.

I love that there's a @safetyman who turns up on our forums to give us advice! Like we're in a kid's TV show. (I mean this sincerely - it totally made my day! Thanks, @safetyman!)

How did you find us @safetyman?

@NeverSleeps I'll be the first person to post a comment to your future website...

@Never Sleeps and Uraniumfish LOL...

btw NeverSleeps will help with the SEO if need be...

@uptowngirl I can always use an SEO expert!

@Uraniumfish Don't worry, I'm sure you'll find another use for your hovering abilities.

Yes, my whole apartment building was shaking on East 6th Street, NYC - Scary!

I definitely felt tremors last night.... sometime after 11:30 pm. Did not sleep well after that!