Earthquake

[tigger222]

We had an earthquake a couple of days ago.

No one was hurt and everyone got through it safely.

As soon as it was over we tried to evacuate the building. I say tried because about three different people tried to argue with us that they wanted to stay and shop even though we told them that they had to leave for safety reasons.

Then we had people arguing with us that they should be let back in right after it was over because they wanted the stuff that they had left and were shocked when we told them that we wouldn't be opening the store again that night.

We then had people wanting to come in and shop so we put up signs stating that we were closed and they wanted to argue that they should be aloud to come in and shop.

We ended up having to open the front door to help get rid of the smell of liquor so we put up a huge sign up saying we were closed and the argument turned to that if the door is open they should be aloud to shop because that was what the door being open meant.

All this just confirmed my belief that common sense is dead.

[AyreBiskits]

isn't that how looting starts?

sorry i live too close to new orleans and was having katrina flashbacks

[Magpie]

The door is open = you are open? This would explain why they started giving out stickers for stores to put on their door in the summer. It explains that, despite the door being closed to avoid trying to air-condition the great outdoors, that the store is, in fact, open. I'm sure it boggled the minds of many people. Hence the need for the radio campaign to explain the stickers... typing this out I'm even more depressed by it, and really wish I had made it up.

[tigger222]

We kept to close an eye on the door to have looting happening. We stopped people at the door whenever they tried to come in so I'm sure that nothing was stolen.

[ShadowTiger]

What happened if people had left their belongings in the store while fleeing? If some people can get in, then everyone would have to be let in, but ... ...



I remember the fire my store had back in the summer. We urged everyone to leave, but people insisted on staying and shopping. "I don't see a fire." No matter where we went, no matter how %!@^ING LOUD the alarm was, people remained entirely oblivious, and walking at a snail's pace, stopping to look at a drill or load a piece of sheetrock onto one of those huge carts. At least half the staff had to manually pull people out of the store due to the fire, because the fire was close to the entrance, and we didn't want anyone trapped.

[tigger222]

If someone had left their personal belongings in the store we would have gotten them for them and brought them out but it just wasn't safe to let anyone back in. The place was in shambles.

[Sheldonrs]

Reminds me of when i lived in CA. The day after the Northridge quake, I was working up on Universal City Walk at a cafe/book & gift shop.
We were still getting strong after shocks. Most people would panic and rush for the door. But then they would just stand there on our patio, not bothering to notice that they were now standing under a GLASS awning that covered the patio area. And the ones that stayed inside would not shut up about how strong it felt and asking us how big the tremor felt to us.

[bsaana]

Ahhhh, that just takes me back to the days I worked at the bowling center on an overseas military base. Once a month, always on a Monday we would have the kitchen closed, and ALL the equipment outside under cover so that we could do a deep cleaning on everything. A local company even came to clean the ventilation equipment. The grill and fryers are being cleaned - inside and out, even the bottom is being cleaned. People would walk right by and go to the register and try to order their lunch even though they could see nothing in the kitchen.

I have very little faith left. There is very little hope left that humans will get smarter.

[sprocket79]

Yeesh... I saw video of the quake by where I assume you are tigger. Some of the stores looked pretty bad with broken plate glass windows and all... I hope you didn't have that much damage!

I'm by where the smaller quakes have been happening at least once a day. I'm hoping this isn't a sign of a big one to come!!!

[Andara Bledin]

Cali has little quakes pretty constantly.

I keep the USGS site bookmarked. All of my co-workers know to come to me any time they feel the earth moving.

That's quite a quake, too. I imagine it engendered lots of stupidity.

^-.-^

[Sheldonrs]

[QUOTE=Andara Bledin;672118]... All of my co-workers know to come to me any time they feel the earth moving...[QUOTE]

Hmmmmm.....

[bainsidhe]

First let me say kudos to anyone living in a place where the earth moves. I'm from the midwest and don't bat an eye at tornadoes, but earthquakes are something else.

I remember reading a blog about a big box retail store (I think Walmart?) that lost power during a big storm. The store was being evacuated, yet one die-hard blogger was determined to keep shopping and to hell with safety. After all, it was her given right to keep shopping, blargle blarge blargle.

[Hyndis]

Generally unless its at least a 6.5, nothing really bad happens. Starting around a 6 you'll get stuff knocked off shelves. It can make a mess, particularly in grocery stores, but thats about it.

At a 7 is when structural damage starts.

I generally don't even bother to get up out of bed unless its at least a 6, then its just to put things back on shelves.

Also better safe than sorry to close the story if a quake worthy of mention happens. The store probably ought to be closed anyways just from the mess of things falling off shelves. If its a store and there are glass containers on the shelf its just going to be horrific.

IIRC, most stores will lose a very large percentage of their liquor should any significant quake happen. The salad dressing/condiments section is also very bad. All glass containers, which of course shatter on the floor. Dry goods like bread and pasta just needs to be put back onto the shelf.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

[QUOTE=Sheldonrs;672158][QUOTE=Andara Bledin;672118]... All of my co-workers know to come to me any time they feel the earth moving...

Hmmmmm.....

Is that with or without that K-Y for couples? 'Cause if that's without, could you imagine what would happen with that stuff?

[Ironclad Alibi]

We had an earthquake a couple of days ago.

Was it this earthquake? 6.5 is getting up there. I'm glad you didn't get hurt.