Reference

LOS ANGELES (CBS) ― A magnitude 5.4 quake centered near Chino was felt across the Southland Tuesday morning. Send us your quake experience for the following list: 

I was at a sushi bar with a friend. We both felt a sudden sharp jolt, and then as if on a sailboat, a few moments of random rolling. I looked down at my little soy sauce bowl and saw a miniature, rapidly oscillating soy sauce tsunami which produced before my eyes an exclamation point shaped spill on the sushi bar. - Max, Los Angeles

Well my friend and I were enjoying our summer vacation playing rockband when it hit. I didn't even realize a 5.4 earthquake hit us, and I was convinced that it was just myself rocking on my base pedal. That was before I watched the news. - Jacques, South Pasadena

Our Geology Professor was explaining Plate Tectonics when I felt the quake. He has taught Geology for over 35 years and this is the first time he has ever had an example of his teachings for his class to experience. It was quite an ironic and scary feeling all at the same time. Professor Wutkee even predicted the earthquake to be a 5.3-he simply said "that was a good one." We continued our lecture minutes later. - Jennifer, Valencia

My mom was cooking in the kitchen and i was on the bed with my dog, I thought my dog was scratching himself hard and his foot patting hard on the bed until my bed was shaking violently my computer almost fell and my stuff fell I ran to my mom if she was ok the kitchen was shaking and my heartbeat going like crazy I was so scared. -Brian, Los Angeles

At first I thought I was dizzy and then coming around the corner of my work area I saw the bartender holding onto the bar, then I knew it was an earthquake! I thought it was over and then it started again! Most everybody shrugged and Ordered more beer and more Tacos! - Julie, Moreno Valley

The earthquake got our Grandfather clock working again! -Rob, Victorville

My wife was in the operating room undergoing a C-section and delivering our triplets. The doctor was in the middle of removing the third child from the womb when the OR shook from the quake. Cedars-Sinai is on rollers so there was a continual rolling that lasted what seemed like a few minutes...then it was back to the miracle of life. -Jesse, Los Angeles

I live in the Inland Empire. My 14-year-old son Benny was in San Pedro with his niece and nephews when he realized we were having an earthquake. He gathered the children and placed them under the table at the spur of the moment...without panicking! He applied what he learned in school. Although I was not with him, I am proud to say 'Job well done, Benny! Love, Mom'. - L. Ritchie, Victorville

I was going down in the elevator (we're in a 3 story building) and I was alone. I felt a moderately strong up and down and side to side motion as the elevator continued down passed the floors as the building around it was shaking. I could also here a loud rattling noise. I was in the elevator the entire time the earthquake was happening--scariest stuff of my life...nightmare come true really! - Alicia, Stevenson Ranch

I felt it VERY strongly all the way up here! - Bob, Santa Barbara

I felt shaking while watching the movie Dark Knight, and thought it was part of the movie's special effects and thought "cool~" - Lucas, Korea Town

I was sleeping but my mom was running down the hall to get me. my mom looked outside and our pool was shaking. stuff fell in every room. I had luckily learned about earthquakes in science this recent school year so I knew what to do. We ran to a doorway and made sure everyone we knew was safe. We're still pretty shooken up, but we're okay now. - Lauren, Azusa

Ahhh I was laying in my bed, my 4 month old had just fallen asleep, I fell asleep with him, and my cat was on the bed...out of NOWHERE it sounded like a freight train coming through my building, the bed was shaking with such force the head board was clanking against the wall, books were shaking in the bookshelf. My cat FLEW off the bed and was on the ground, which I had gotten off the bed to feel 'waves' on the floor. I grabbed my baby and ran to a doorway! Im glad I just moved here, thanks for welcoming me California!!!! - Michelle, San Clemente


We felt a rolling sensation that lasted for a while. When it stopped, a few more small tremors followed. Unfortunately, our old decrepit office was still standing. We were hoping for full evacuation......  - Anonymous, Riverside

Felt jolt and shaking hard. My son was in summer school in Chino, CA and school was fine but pulled him out. - Tiffany, Chino

My husband and I are on vacation from the West Coast of Florida. This was our first earthquake. We are renting a vacation condo. The entire building shook for at least 10 seconds. Needless to say we were scared. Our California friends tease us about our summmer storms but at least we get ample warning. - Stacie and Jeff, Laguna Beach

I was asleep with my kids in my bed and it woke us up and all the kids around here since it summer so if you at work and you live on ruddock street in covina we are ok it was a long jot. - Tiffany, Covina

We felt it and have items that fell and broke in our house. - Erinlynn, Placentia

I felt shaking then i heard cracking in my house it was scary. - Oscar, Gardena

My chair in my desk moved from side to side. - Rosario, Chula Vista

Yes, I was working and I started to feel my desk moving side to side and the first thing I did was duck under the desk. -Marisol, South El Monte

I felt shaking. It was pretty scary. -Eric, San Diego

Yes, I felt it. I was at a restaurant in China Town. No damage. Mosr of us are old L.A. and went back to our menus. Unable to Text message when I couldn't get a phone call out (AT&T) - Yoyocharly, Downtown L.A.

Very strong rolling for at least 20-30 seconds. - Linda, Valencia

I felt a long rolling effect. My husband works in Valencia/Castaic and he felt it there also. - Elizabeth, Canyon Country

It was very hard second jolt then just rolled for 15-30 seconds, I was 8 miles from center but my wife was at VPI Pet Insurance in Brea they had windows that broke and things fell of shelves etc. - Derek, Orange

Thought it was a truck goin by but then felt movement on the floor (rolling). saw windows/blinds and lamps move (rattle)..... OMG! - Jane, Gardena

It felt pretty big and a bunch of picture frames fell down. -Anthony, Glendora

It was a long rolling quake. After my husband and I realized it was a quake we headed to the front door of our apartment near Chino High School. No damage. Only a few books on a shelf fell over. We knew right away that it was a big quake. - Kerry, Chino

I heard a sound like a trash truck coming down the street, however it is not trash day. That made me curious. I looked at the biinds and they were vibrating real soft. Then the blinds started to shake real hard. I then relized it was an earthquake. No damage to my house, nothing fell, no damage in our area as far as I can see. - Sandra, Apple Valley

I was in my apt. and it was shaking hard and knocking stuff off the bookshelves. This was my first earthquake experience, I was in shock. - Alina, Beverly Hills

In touch with cousin in Anaheim. Almost a corkscrew motion. Flung mantel antique clock into center of room. Knicknacks didn't fall but were flung into center of room. Husband working outside was unfooted and went down. No local phone or service nor ipo. - Donna, Exeter

Very strong shakes. felt like if I was on a boat. got scared I stood still for about 5 sec. then I run outside the store to the parking lots. saw my car moving side to side pretty bad. - Ecli, Anaheim

I was standing up at the time. I heard a bang then the whole apartment building started shaking quite badly. My son and I ran to the doorway. It was my son's first earthquake and he was upset. I'm from New Zealand and have been through Longer quakes but this one was the strongest one. - Janine, Highland Park

i was sleeping and was waken up by the shaking of my bedroom walls. then i got up and was on the 2nd floor of my house; as the floor started rolling back and fourth. - Crystal, Lake Elsinore

I was in the Doctors office and it shook twice like crazy. I lived in Arleta when the 1971 Sylmar quake hit. Sure don't like these things. Surprised it shook as hard as it did here, being so far away. It can stop anytime please!!!! - Carol, Santa Paula

This Earthquake was a rough shaker. I think it was the strongest quake that I have felt in my 17 years of living in California. I moved to the doorway leading out of my condo. Other neighbors were standing in their doorway as well. We all thought this was the big one. This was not a rolling feeling at all. - Angela, Corona

Just moved to SoCal and this scared me to death. At first a heard a rumble and thought it was the refrigerator. Then I heard glasses clinking together and then felt a jolt that I actually felt in my feet and made me sway. Wow! If this is a moderate quake don't want to be in a big one. - Sherri, Laguna Niguel

Rumbling, major swaying (only 1 story building) - Sharon, Poway

It was pretty big and caught me off guard. Several things fell off our shelves and our dogs went crazy. It seemed to last a long time and left everyone in our neighborhood jittery and a bit scared. - Amy Simon, Riverside

A very strong jolt follwed by strong rolling. I was close to the epicenter of the 1994 earthquake, lost my home. This one was very strong to be so far from Chino Hills. - Dolores, Canyon Country

A very strong jolt follwed by strong rolling. I was close to the epicenter of the 1994 earthquake,lost my home. This one was very strong to be so far from Chino Hills. - Nick, Rancho Cucamonga

We felt a bit of a roll then a jolt! This was a bit of a nerve wrecker since I haven't felt a quake in about 10 years! - Stephanie, Temecula

it started out small then went harder. My 2 yr old son was quite scared and ran into the wall, while i grabbed my 8 month old daughter. glasses fell off the counter and broke. - Rebecca, San Jacinto

I long rolling motion. It was scarey. My light fixtures really went back and forth alot! - Jack, Encino

It was shaking like crazy. My sister was panicking and we left the house. We came back and everything was out of their place. - Martin, Glendale

i live across from the san bernardino airport and it was a rolling feeling and it was the longest i have ever felt. - Kelly, San Bernardino

strongest jolt of an earthquake i've felt in all earthquakes i've been through and im a native of 31 years. - Jason, Riverside

It feel like someone gave my bed a big shake. It woke me and my brother up. - Bryan, Laguna Hills

I was working in the 4th floor in a medical building. it was shaking i felt the building was coming down its very scary being here in the top. - Jedith, Downey

It felt so strong! I've lived in Calif. my whole life, and I haven't felt one that strong in awhile! I was home alone with my 19 month old son, but thankfully we are okay! - Cathleen, Fullerton

I felt a large jolt and then a rolling motion. Also I saw my house as I was facing the living room windows tilt to the right. That was the scarriest, but my two parakeets and I are good. Plus our phones are not working at this point. - Melissa, Seal Beach

I was in Moorpark on the phone with my daughter who was in Simi. She started screaming about 3 seconds before I could feel it. It was rolling and shaking and seemed to get harder right at the end. - Cheryl, Moorpark

I went to the movies with my father and we were watching the new step brothers movie and all of a sudden the whole movie theater started to shake of course i had thought it was from the Batman Dark Knight movie because it's in IMAX but it wasn't from the Batman movie it was from the E.Q. the screen was moving and the seats even the popcorn on the floors were moving it was very scary at first but after it was over with everyone had a good laugh. No one was injured at the theater. (neither were my dog and cat when my father and i returned home ;) )  - Anita, Ontario

An up and down jolt motion for about 10 seconds. Subsequently followed by a rocking and swaying motion for about another 10 seconds. The Mercalli Intensity was about a V. This was minor in comparison to January 17, 1994. January 17, 1994 was a giant jackhammer which had a catastrophic violent shaking for about 30 seconds. The hypocenter of this earthquake was about 6.5 mi deep in the Puente Hills fault zone. - a dangerous fault which is capable of a magnitude 7.0. Be prepared and stay calm! - Mark, North Hills

It was a big powerful shake, then another big powerful shake almost knocking my t.v. over. - Rashida, Moreno Valley

boy it sure rocked and rolled out this way. it lasted 22 seconds here.i was getting ready to watch you guys at the noon hour on my pc , when it hit...thanks for the great job reporting it guys. - Nascarshelby, Colton

When the quake hit it was approx. 11:50am and my 87 year old mom tried to stay under door but it kept getting stronger and we ran under the dining table...later my upstairs neighbor and her two babies in her hand were in the middle of the parking lot and she was scare to go back in to her apartment above us. It was certainly the strongest and very similar to the one i lived through in 1971 and Reseda one. - Yolanda, Aliso Viejo

We felt it pretty good here in Ventura. Initially a strong jolt followed by a rolling and back and forth shaking. Seemed to last about 20 seconds. - Shaun, Ventura

I was reading something on the computer when the screen started moving. It didn't take me long to figure out what was going on. I've felt a few strong quakes. Though this one seemed to go on and on, it was a rolling feeling -- not unlike being on a boat. I remember the one in the early 90's and the 1971 quake as well. This didn't measure up to either of those, but it was still nerve-wracking. Thank you. - Mike, Ventura 

I felt a terrible jolt and the movement caused me to fall against the cubicle wall back and forth like a pin ball. There are several large cracks in our stairwells. - Martha, Diamond Bar

A strong jolt woke me up from my nap. It felt like a strong forward rolling motion not unlike your car feels when you put in Drive. Cell phone service was down for a while, as was land line, but both have recently returned. I was able to get a text message sent after what seemed like at least an hour or a half-hour. - Jason, Garden Grove

I LIVE UPSTAIRS IN AN APT AND IT SHOOK LIKE CRAZY AND THE WINDOWS RATTLED REALLY BAD. AND PICTURES WERE CROOKED ON THE WALL. WE HEARD A BIG THUMP AND IT LASTED ABOUT 20 SECONDS.THEIR HAVE BEEN ABOUT 15 TO 20 AFTER SHOCKS. - Karen, Upland

i heard it more than felt it, by the time i realized it was a quake , i jumped to get my 7 month old who was playing in the living room. Soon after i got him i realized the DVDs were falling off the rack. - Priscilla, Lancaster

like a rolling wave. - Angie, Bakersfield

Strong shaking & swaying. Very unusual, for us as we live on a granite rock foundation & very seldom feel any earthquake movement. - Kim, Perris

I felt the building shaking. I was in the conference room in a meeting with my boss and colegues. I did not see any damage in the building and we all went outside taking stairs. the neighbouring buildings are OK too. - Chetan, Glendale

Very abrupt shaking that built over a period of 20 sec.Lost art glass on shelves. All drawers and cabinet doors opened if they faced west. Ran to door frame after 10 sec. Then I just heard all my art glass fall, hoping it was the less expensive. Four pieces broken and fell off shelf, many fell over - Julie, La Verne

It shook for a good 5 seconds, what I learned from this quake is that cell phones are useless when it comes to an emergency like this one. Thank you. - Rick, Downey

wow! it was pretty strong. i swear i thought my house gonna fall. my portraits n mirror were just swinging side to side scary. - Lily, Bell Gardens

I felt like taking a hold of my wife and puppy dog and getting the heck out of danger. The 3 floor where we live did have a Good Rumble and a Sharp Shock to finish - Evan, Orange

felt quite a jolt here in Simi Valley! My Dresser shook very hard and bottles fell. - Lia, Simi Valley

It was the biggest earthquake I felt, and I had no idea I was at the epicenter! I work at a tutoring center, and I couldnt even think when it happened, I just RAN outdoors without thinking of my poor students who are six and seven years old! When I feel an earthquake I immediately think it will be the worst thing ever, so I try to get away from any buildings. But I feel pretty terrible for not watching after the kids! Luckily everyone was fine. - Naureen, Chino Hills

Lots of shaking, and moving. Felt like a 6.5. - Simi, Chino Hills

my husband and i live in our rv. and we felt it, to us it felt more like a 6. we grabed the cat and dog and went out side. - Sue, Oxnard

FELT A EAST WEST SWAYING MOTION STARTED WITH A STRONG SWAY AND STOOD STRONG AND TAPERED DOWN LASTED ABOUT 90 SECONDS OUR DOG STARTED BARKING ABOUT 20 MIN BEFORE THE QUAKE - Glen, San Dimas

My boyfriend and I were sitting in the bedroom, he on the bed watching tv. and I at my computer when it snuck up on us...my first reaction was to grab my pc that was bobbling pretty hard, while my boyfriend said "whoo hoo...I'm bed surfing". LOL. - Jamie, San Bernardino

I felt alot this is my first time and the house was shaking but nothing fell down except for a few magnets but a couple of helicopters flew overhead but thank goodness no inquires here. - Shawn Parker, Monrovia

Most definitely felt it. Ironically, I was watching that show "Seconds From Disaster" via TiVo about the Asian earthquake that caused that catastrophic tsunami. At first, I thought it was a figment of my imagination! - Chaya, Brentwood

I'M 5 MONTHS PREGNANT! I WAS LAYING DOWN WATCHING THE NEWS WHEN MY MIRROR WAS GOING BACK AND FORTH AND MY FAN FELL I WENT TO GET MY THREE CHILDREN WHO WERE IN THE LIVING ROOM I GRAB THEM AND WENT TO ARE DOOR WAYS. THE APARTMENTS THAT WE LIVE IN WERE MOVING SIDE TO SIDE. IT LASTED ABOUT 10 SEC. I HAVE BEEN IN MANY EARTH QUAKES BUT THIS IS ONE THAT I HAVE NOT FELT IN A LONG TIME. - Rosalynn, Chino

This was a very strong earthquake At 11:42am my mom ,brother and sister and myself we were coming out of Edwards 14 cinema and the ground started to shake from side to side everyone remained calm because there were children in the cinema. As I am writing this email there are smaller aftershocks that one can feel. - Yareth, Riverside

I was in summer school and my entire class room started to shake pretty violently. This was my first earthquake i could feel and remember because i was only a baby when the northridge quake happened. - Jake, Silbereich

I was at chino hills High school in my classroom trying to fix some computers. There was a rolling motion and I got under my desk. then ther was a jerk. When I thought it was over there was another jerk. then it started to let up. There was a TV that fell off a table next to me during the quake but I just stayed under the desk. - Jon, Chino Hills

well i was in my uncles room with my little cousin mayra and we were on the computer and at that time i was day dreaming looking at the wall then i just see stuff shaking and i just thought i was feeling dizzy but then i realize it was an earthquake so we ran out with my grandma and she was falling cause she couldn't keep her balance and we help her up then we went to the hall way asap and stood the till it was over .i thank god nothing bad happened. - Desiree, Lawndale

I felt dizzy and I thought I was going to throw up! I was working in the teller line and I saw all the computers moving back and forth. - Art T., Washington Mutual

I was watching TV and all of a sudden it felt like someone was walking on the roof. I knew right away it was an earthquake. It started out small but then it got really violent. I was really shaking. I never felt one like this before. And I have lived here for 10 years. Very scary! -Juli O., Reseda

The house started shaking and I moved away from the windows. And I could see the room sway from side to side. Many things fell off dressers and shelves but fortunately nothing was broken. It definitely was a heart-pounding experience. And I've been through many earthquakes before. -Linda, Chino Hills

I was babysitting my 14-month-old niece. At first we heard a small little rattle. My niece looked at me. Then we felt the quake start to roll and her eyes widened. She didn't know what was causing the jolt! I grabbed her and we went under a table. As a former Northridge resident who was there in 1994, this one wasn't so bad. But it was my niece's first quake, and based on the look on her face, she was definitely startled! -Gina, Simi Valley

I was taking a shower, and the shower doors started shaking I felt like if the floor was rolling. My 6 yr old daughter was in the living room watching t.v. and said everything in the kitchen was shaking. she came into the bathroom a little scared. This was her first earthqauke. -Theresa, Redondo Beach

I was watching "Golden Girls" with my mom and Blanche was going to get plastic surgery and then the room started to shake and roll. Then it stopped and I took a nap. -Oliver, Los Angeles

I was watching TV in my brother's room and then all of a sudden, I heard this rumbling noise. I thought it was my parents backing up the car into the backyard, until I felt the house shaking. I was quite scared. -Lydia, Los Angeles

IT FELT LIKE IT WAS THE BIG ONE MY DOG KEVIN STARTING BARKING AND THAT WAS WHEN I KNEW THE EARTHQUAKE Had Hit Los Angeles. -Nicholas, Los Angeles

Me And My Two Friends Feel Pretty Good. - Bobby, Anaheim

I was awakened to my tv flying off my dresser, everything in my closet falling out and basically everything was flying. This was the strongest one I have ever felt and hopefully won't again. Scared me to death. - Arlene, Anaheim Hills

I live by Qualcom stadium, 3rd floor of an large apartment complex, La Mirage. Really felt the quake, strong rolling motion. I was on my computer working, the quake shook the table & walls & floor.. felt like it was "rolling" right thru my place. Was over in about 5 seconds. Very wild.... I move to San Diego from Chicago 3.5 years ago... never felt anything like this before! - Julie, San Diego

I WAS IN CLASS WHEN MY SCIENCE TEACHER YELLED "DUCK AND COVER!" IT WAS VERY HEART POUNDING TO SEE ALL THE KIDS SREAMING. BUT THIS EARTHQUAKE WILL PREPARE US FOR THE DAYS OF TOMORROW. - Nathan, Menifee

I was at home washing dishes while my mom sitting dowm near me telling me about her calamity dreams.I felt the shook under and I got dizzy right away.I ran to grabbed my son and stay put with my family.After the shake stops abit we went outside. - Jeaques, Hawaiian Gardens

My chihuahua would not sleep the morning before the quake ...I was outside walking him at 3am and I thought this is so still...earthquake weather. When it struck my home I was at my pc and my dogs were caught off guard. I jumped up immediately as I heard many items falling off the walls. I had just made Jello and when i opened my refrigerator the jello was thrown all over my refrigerator. I stayed in the door jam for nearly an hour as the aftershocks rolled by. It felt like the epia center was San Dimas. - Vera, San Dimas

OMG!!!!!! IT WAS CRAZY! I WAS HOME ALONE AND MY MOM ALWAYS WARNED ME IF THERE WAS A EARTHQUAKE. AT FIRST MY DOG STARED BARKING LIKE CRAZY!THEN BOOOOMMMMMM!! MY CAT RAN .. THE FIRST THING I DID I RAN TO THE DORR WAY AND PATIO AND STARTED SCEAMING 'HELP'!! I TRIED CALLING EVERYONE BUT MY PHONE DID NOT WORK IT WAS HORRIFING LIKE IF THE WORLD WAS ENDING!!! - Tommy, Whittier

So i was asleepin' and it was like the most extreme alarm clock cause I looked up and and everything was dancing in their place then it stopped and all the calls being made stopped me from calling my family. - Dr. Jack Shephard, Covina

I FELT THE EARTHQUAKE MOVING FAST LIKE A BIG JELLO. - Luis, Santa Ana

I was just getting to sit in my recliner when all of a sudden it felt like I was floating on a waterbed down the river. - Bruni, Hemet

i was playing xbox 360 with my friends online at the time, then all of a sudden my dogs start to run towards me and the house started to shake. I ran outside and the ground kept shaking. Once it was over my friends were saying their books fell off the shelf. I looked back on the tv and my friend's character was running into a wall and it did not stop, i tried talking to him on the microphone and he didnt respond. He came back and said everything is fine and the reason he left was because he was trying to get a connection on the phone lines to contact his family. This was nothing what i had felt before and this was a great earthquake drill practice. - Michelle, Gardena

Everyone says that pets can feeling a sesmic event...well that's excatly what happened. I have Chinchillas and they started "barking" moments before the initial rock. I saw the blinds quiver before the second roll hit.
- Richard, Long Beach

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