A massive earthquake hit Lima Peru which registered an estimated 7.9 on the Richter scale. This is potentially a worst case scenario that will devastate the areas surrounding the city of Lima Peru when the damage reports come. The epicenter was only 100 miles from the South American nation’s capitol city.
Several aftershocks have also hit the country measuring 5.8 and 5.9 on the Richter scale. See the map. The devastating Lima Peru earthquake is thought to be between 7.5 and 7.9. The main quake shook homes and buildings in Lima Peru for more than a minute as houses toppled. At least 17 people have been killed in preliminary data as buildings collapsed in the city center and people fled the debris in panic, a reaction clearly visible in the video. The historic church of Ica Peru caved in on the parishioners seeking refuge.
“Terremoto en Peru” scream the headlines as the evening papers are printed.
A tsunami warning has been issued for the entire south and central American continents, and as far away as Hawaii. Let us hope that the earthquake damage remains localized, although that damage will be extensive. The Tsunami warning is still in effect.
A 7.7 magnitude earthquake would be one of the largest ever registered near a populated area, and one of the largest ever measured by modern instruments.
This will become known as the great Lima Peru earthquake of 2007. See the earthquake video on NBC news.
August 16th, 2007 at 5:18 am
The death toll is up to 337. This earthquake is along the lines of the feared “Big One” that could happen along the San Andreas. I dread that day, and hope it doesn’t happen in my time. But if it does, how prepared is California for such devastation? Would FEMA and our DHS step up and manage the crisis the way Americans would expect in the post-9/11 era?
August 16th, 2007 at 7:36 am
Let’s hope not! The federal government’s role isn’t to protect and nurture us from every act of God we can imagine. Boy would that be an expensive pork-barrel and ultimately wasteful and ineffective. So I say no thanks and accept that bad things happen in life. Self-reliance is one of the primary aspects of our unique American culture and we need to keep that edge over, say, a European nanny state.
But you will be happy to know that California is really prepared seismically. The building codes smother businesses even down to the detail of paying for wheelchair ramps in every building so the lowest common denominator can escape in an emergency. Sprinklers are mandatory on every floor as is construction techniques to cushion either rolling or jolts. And for the irresponsible residents who don’t bother to stash a food and water supply, the private churches are ready to spring into action. So I think your concern is covered more than any reasonable American should expect, and much more than makes me comfortable.
August 16th, 2007 at 7:59 am
Erik, do you live in CA? I know McCain does, so I know this is personal for anyone that lives there.
A big concern too, is the midwest – along the Mississippi and Ohio river areas where the fault line (New Madrid fault) is there, but doen’t have the periodic movement that the San Andreas has, and when it moves, it will be devastating. THe movement in 1811 and 1812 caused the rivers to flow backward and chaned the course of the Mississippi. If it happens today, many lives will be lost, as buidlings have not been built to accomodate earthquakes.
http://www.scchealth.org/docs/ems/docs/prepare/newMadrid.html
http://quake.ualr.edu/public/nmfz.htm
August 16th, 2007 at 9:39 am
That’s right, and theoretically Chicago is vulnerable to an earthquake fault. That city is entirely brick and hollow underneath from underground expressways. And once every 100 years, I hear that a tornado hits Manhattan. HA!
Whether or not earthquakes are personal, I guess my point was that there is a cost-benefit to preparation and response services that makes a once-a-blue-moon event like the San Francisco earthquake, Galveston Hurricane, or New Orleans flood something that grownups have to accept as a reasonable risk of participating in the human race. Where you personally choose to live should not become everyone else’s problem, and we sure can’t expect the federal government’s lethargic bureacrats, 3000 miles away in Washington DC, to baby us when local disasters strike.
August 16th, 2007 at 10:23 am
McCain: Check out http://www.hocogop.com and look at “quotes.” I think you might find a quaote that fits nicely!
August 16th, 2007 at 10:26 am
that is: http://www.hocogop.org
August 16th, 2007 at 11:48 am
HA! I looked for a quote and discovered that Heather L. Mitchell is cute!
Are you talking about the David Frum article about Karl Rove’s formula for poor governance? That is an interesting take and explains why I loathe Bush’s big-government domestic policies so much: the federal government has the answer for every voter.
I know you care deeply about the New Orleans disaster and have personally helped the families there through your church outreach. After the disaster, I found myself getting angrier and angrier everytime I heard someone blame the federal government (FEMA) for their miserable condition. What did the locals do to prepare? What did Nagin do from a mile away to help people in the Superdome? Why is this the federal government’s problem? Why did they build a city below sea level? Why are they repeating the same error now?
Arghhh, and to hear Bush blame FEMA himself for a hurricane problem is part of what David Frum is talking about. Reagan would have handled it differently because overall conservative principles guided him rather than mothering local political interests.
August 17th, 2007 at 5:43 am
McCain – I have to agree with you in part, especially with regards to N.O. – a corrupt govt. that did nothing then blamed it all on the Feds. ALso, folks who now live along the coasts have to accept the risks…..
The quote (on the .org site) was from Ronald Reagan, who said something like “Be afraid when someone walks up to you and says: “I’m from the government and I’m here to help!”"
As for Heather Mitchell, I will tell her that you think she’s cute. Her mother, Trent Kittleman, is the current chair of the Central committee and former head of the MD Transportation Authority. Heather is an attorney and would probably whip your butt – but she’s a sweetheart and one of my favorite people….
August 17th, 2007 at 11:23 am
McCain – Heather was flattered, but blushed…
August 17th, 2007 at 11:24 am
McCAin Heather also checked out our site, so word is out now!
August 17th, 2007 at 11:48 am
Ok, we won’t hold the lawyer thing against her. Heather can help us sue the Blog-hole reader.
HI HEATHER !!! What’s the L stand for? Looker? Lover? Leather?