An Irwin Allen Disaster Film?

I really don’t mean to make light of the earthquake here, because there are many people in a bad way, but this IS the first earthquake I have ever experienced, so allow me some latitude here …

We were at work and I was in a meeting in a conference room at 02:00 PM local time when it hit. At first, there was subtle sound and since it had been very windy, I looked out the window thinking there was a big gust. It was clear moments later that this was NOT wind, but something I didn’t recognize. I felt the floor shake under me – and since I was in the front of the conference room (and no surprise to some who know me - while holding the dry erase marker and scribbling on the board) I stepped into the door frame and asked “Do you guys have earthquakes, in Chengdu?” As the words are coming from my mouth, the building began to really shake. One of our local team began to really freak out and yelling “Earthquake” he sprints for the door. I am trying to maintain a calm – but quickly – retreat for the front door and nearly got stampeded by everybody else scrambling to get out. By this time, ceiling tiles are falling from the second floor roof and I got hit by one on the shoe (my personal shrapnel hit).
It was all over in one or two minutes, but everyone was really scared. Me? I was pumped. Ok, maybe stupid, too. But pumped nonetheless. I thought it very cool. It was like being on a rocking ship while on dry land. If you have never experienced this before, it gets your heart racing, but I wasn’t concerned. Amid all the people chaos around me, I was calm and smiling and as the quake subsided, I saw two of our female Associates with very scared looks on their faces, so I walked up and said “Hey, Mom, can I have some more money for another ticket, I wanna go on that ride again!” Of course, you know they thought I was nuts, but at least they laughed and relaxed a bit.
After everything settled, we counted heads, and our facility people secured the building and shutdown the boilers, air compressors, etc, etc, and eventually we decided to call it a day and sent everyone home. Cell phones are dead.
Turns out, as you know by now, that it was a 7.8 quake centered 57 miles west of Chengdu.
As we arrived at the apartment, there is a sea of people outside and we learn that the buildings are closed and until the government men inspect your building, you can’t go in. Fortunately, ours has been inspected because we get to go in. Of course the elevator is shut down, so we had to walk up 11 flights of stairs (and you know how I love that). No damage in the apartment other than a few things knocked off shelves and a few decorative crystals fallen from the chandelier. But as we go out to eat dinner (hey, we were hungry), we find that the Dancing Square has been turned into an impromptu refugee camp as it is jammed with people with some tents, blankets, etc. They are expecting a long night in the park waiting for the all clear to get in their homes.
There have been a few small aftershocks, but nothing very significant.
As I write this, there have been some reported fatalities and the airport has been closed (diverting a flight for one of our people, so who knows when he will get here), and I truly hope that there is very little damage and pray for very few fatalities. It will be several days before we really know the full impact here, but as I watch CNN, they are painting a picture of destruction that I have not seen and I have been from the northwest side of the city to the south but I cannot confirm or deny what they are reporting. I hope they are exaggerating, but time will tell.

In the end, our team is OK and I want you to rest easily knowing that. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

For “Jane in Texas” – it may have been an unusually exciting day, but I hope you and husband are coming here anyway.