The worst I experienced was when I lived on the big Island of Hawaii. Often quakes are felt there , as that whole shelf is in constant movement , a lot like the Aleutians, and in particular, Adak and the Sandpoint shelf off the beginning of that chain.
One of them, was so strong the house I was in seemed to begin to break timbers, and I hastened outside to ride it out. That was a 6 something scale, close to 7. The condos next door , made of concrete and not wood, had long fissures from bottom to top along the sides after that. The next biggest was when I was in a tent in Volcanoes Natl. Park. The ground was almost liquid and the trees swayed , though the air was still. That one I actually liked, and marveled in the sounds and power of the earth , in full focus , not distracted in something falling on me.
There have been several since I lived in the Rockies , but none such as those in HI. One I heard, late at night in summer , my window open. I thought it was a roll of thunder at first, but the pitch and echo was wrong. I didn't think of a quake right then, as it was only the sound I heard, with not a vibration felt. The rumble continued for a bit, then stopped abruptly. All was completely still , until it stopped the noise. Then I felt a fast, quick jolt. That was it. There was no echo after it quit, as thunder is. Then I realized what it was. The morning news confirmed it, with origins in the range along the big lake in N. Idaho . Amazing that rumble was heard all the way into Montana , ending with that soft jolt as soon as the sound stopped. Like the slight jerk of a truck coming to halt.
I remember seeing photos and reading of some experiences of AK folks during the big one of the 60's. Wish there were on the spot videos of that event . Would have been something to see.
She looked at me funny when I ran to the window after that big jolt.
