Still Quaking

Night before last, we had a big earthquake around 4:35 am. The epicenter of the quake was reight here in Gurgaon, so the impact was huge, and lead to wonder at all those people who stay right on top of San Andreas Fault. I was asleep on the sofa downstairs, having given up in defeat of getting any sleep in the bedroom thanks to a very snorey husband. Suddenly, everything starting moving and shaking from side to side. Various things in the house started jangling and clanking, the sofa moved like it wanted to throw me off.

I woke up in a flash and flew up the stairs, first calling to my maid to head downstairs and out of the house. I picked up my sleeping daughter from her crib, having first shrieked to my husband to get up, pick up our son and flee downstairs. I can't remember ever having moved faster, especially down the stairs, given that I have a slight phobia of stairs, especially when carrying my kids. In fact, I hardly ever carry them downstairs, since I'm so convinced I'll slip and fall with them.

That didn't stop me this time, and we were soon out in the park across the house. I sent the maid to wake up dad and my in-laws who were staying over at his house. That's when I realised I had come out into a cold wintry night clad only in PJs, and with no slippers or shoes on. Thankfully, the kids were warmly covered to start with, and my husband who's a pretty deliberate person, had taken the time to pull on a jacket and wear his slippers.

We waited uneasily outside. The nextdoor neighbour peered out of her window and asked if that had been an earthquake. "Yes, that's why we're out here", I replied, hoping she would take the hint. Nope, she and her family stayed put inside. Two more families had woken up. One stood around in their lawn - the husband and wife, that is, while their daughters were sleeping peacefully inside. "Don't disturb their sleep", I heard the mother say to the father.

We weren't sure exactly how long we were supposed to stand outside, so after a chilly fifteen minutes, we figured there was no risk of aftershakes and went back in. Later we heard that the intensity had been 4.8, which is pretty mild, but because we were at the epicenter, it felt like an 8 or 9 ( not in a good way!)

Today after all the excitement and lack of sleep has passed, I find myself thinking how little we know about safety rules. Do we know what makes for safety within a home, and how much of those do we follow? Do we have an emergency drill for fire, for earthquakes and other such calamities? I mean, God forbid, but they do happen. If our house had collapsed in the quake, we would have had no money, no passports, no documents of anything - quite apart from no clothes ( and slippers in my case).

Well, I looked up the safety rules for earthquakes and according to one website - pretty much do nothing! Stay indoors under furniture. If outdoors, head for open spaces. It doesn't say how long to wait for fear of aftershakes. Most important rule: Stay Calm! one website advises - Do not go sightseeing!
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