Happy Easter? I was having lunch in Anaheim yesterday celebrating the end of Lent with a mouthwatering mushroom swiss burger (oh how I missed hamburgers), when a small earthquake decided to crash the party. The small tremor provided Sam and I with a long steady shake; I enjoyed the small jolt and continued with my meal not giving the ‘quake a second thought. A few minutes later a man with his family sitting at the table next to us said, “Wow, a 6.9 earthquake hit Mexicali.” My heart literally stopped. I know Mexicali; in fact Mexicali is right across the border from my hometown. I then went into a panic and was desperate to get a hold of any of my family members. I was fortunate enough to reach my brother right away and he assured me that he and all of my family celebrating Easter Sunday at my aunt’s house were ok. Right after that call I was able to reach my dad who informed me that he and my grandfather were okay as well. The assurance of their safety was enough to ease my mind, until I started watching the news…
I have talked to them twice since then, and what they tell me does not match up to news stories. Overall, the cities involved fared well against this large ‘quake. My grandpa tells me the biggest damage came from broke windows in the downtown area, a few broken gas lines, and some cracks in the road. There have been over a hundred aftershocks since the earthquake, but after a 7.2 earthquake, a 5.1 aftershock hardly seems unbearable. I read today that Calexico has declared a state of emergency, with various power outages and broken water lines. If this is true, my house has not been greatly affected. Reports also call Calexico a city with 22,000 people. Where? I’ve lived there all my life and would never have thought the town was so populated. Calexico, CA, a town of little consequence to anyone except those who live there has been thrusted into the mass media. Enjoy your 15 minutes Calexico; I’m glad to hear everyone is okay.
I had planned on going home this past weekend, but expecting a lot of traffic coming back to LA on Sunday I decided not to. Part of me wishes I had, I would like to see all the damage first hand, been able to have taken pictures. It is strange, however, that all over the news there are pictures of Calexico, my hometown which I draw maps to, because apparently no one in California had heard of the Imperial Valley. Two hours east of San Diego, is the common direction given, and now this, a 7.2 earthquake.
Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that the small ‘quake I felt in Anaheim would have had its’ epicenter just outside of Mexicali.
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