Earthquake Stories
1992 Landers, California 7.4 Quake
Gary Cliser's Story
During this particular time I was delivering newspapers in Ontario, California
during the early morning hours. This particular earthquake hit at 5:00 a.m.
Ontario is about 70 miles from Landers.
I was pulling into a residential driveway to toss the paper next to the
garage door, as I stopped my truck on the driveway, I felt my truck lurching
forward still (I thought my brakes were bad). Then I noticed the shrubs vibrating.
I stepped out of my truck and stood there on the driveway. Noticing that
this particular earthquake was strong (and still building momentum), the
ground shook in every direction. It shook side-by-side east and west then
shook north and south, then in circular motions. The size of the side-by-side
sway felt like it could have been 2 feet in every direction.
As it was building momentum, it sounded like a wind storm was approaching, however it turned out to be the large trees in the neighborhood wrenching and creeking. During the earthquake I was able to look to the north towards a grocery store and parking lot, I noticed at one point the entire horizon was tilted in one direction and then moments later tilted in another direction. This tilting of the landscape was independent to the shaking of the earth (almost 2 different effects of earth movement).
During this time, there were bright flashes of light. I would say probably 6 times. The duration of this earthquake was very close to a minute.
As it was building momentum, it sounded like a wind storm was approaching, however it turned out to be the large trees in the neighborhood wrenching and creeking. During the earthquake I was able to look to the north towards a grocery store and parking lot, I noticed at one point the entire horizon was tilted in one direction and then moments later tilted in another direction. This tilting of the landscape was independent to the shaking of the earth (almost 2 different effects of earth movement).
During this time, there were bright flashes of light. I would say probably 6 times. The duration of this earthquake was very close to a minute.