California earthquake: Your experiences

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Governor of California, has visited the historic town of Paso Robles where two women died in an earthquake on Monday.

The women, one aged 55 and the other aged 19, were killed by falling debris when the town's clock tower collapsed.

Power supplies to about 40,000 people were also cut and more than 80 buildings were damaged in the quake, which had a magnitude of 6.5.

California is one of the most quake-prone regions of the world, being criss-crossed by the San Andreas Fault System and experts have warned of severe aftershocks in the next few days.

Were you affected by the earthquake? Send us your experiences.

This debate is closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received:

I live right by the Hayward fault. It's usual for me to experience earth quakes of 1 - 2 Richter scale magnitude almost on a weekly basis. When this one hit I slept through it. I was in India when the later earth quake happened in 1993. I was asleep then too, that one woke me up this one did not.
Ven, Fremont, California, USA

I was Christmas shopping in a Salinas mall when it hit. At first I thought I was having a bout of vertigo. It gave one good jolt which almost made me lose my balance. The rolling continued long enough to produce a bit of nausea. No one seemed to care much that the plants and light fixtures were all swaying, they were too wrapped up in their Christmas shopping frenzy. My heart breaks for the folks down the county in Paso Robles. The old section that was hit so hard was very pretty. It was mostly brick buildings built around the late 1800's I believe. My sincere condolences to the quake victims families.
Jim Perkins, Monterey, USA

I was at work when it hit and the building shook so hard we ran out into the parking lot. We had a big mess to clean up. I work on the coast about 45 miles from Paso Robles where the major damage hit. It was sad to see a building I grew up around, playing at the park and looking up at the big tall clock as a child, destroyed. My family lives in Paso Robles and they were without power for hours and had damage from breaking dishes, glass and other falling objects. The aftershocks have left me wary and I keep extra supplies in my car now just in case. I've lived through a number of earthquakes being a Californian born and raised but this was really unnerving.
Elizabeth, San Luis Obispo, CA USA

I live in Paso Robles and was in Templeton (about five miles closer to the epicentre) during the quake. I've never seen tidal waves in a pool before! I was separated from my children (who were home alone), and could not get through on any phone line to make sure they were safe. It took me about ten minutes to get home, and they were safe with my brother's family. We didn't sustain any substantial damage (just minor breakage and other problems), but we have friends who may not be able to keep their homes.

We camped as a family on the family room floor last night, as our children were too afraid to sleep upstairs in their own beds. None of us slept very well because of after-shocks and fear of another big one. We went downtown to see the damage to the historical buildings. It was unbelievable. All in all, we feel overwhelmingly blessed and our prayers go out to those in worse shape than we are.
Heather L., U.S.A.

Hearing the building walls creak, groan and grind against each other was one of the most terrifying moments of my life Kate Ullrich, USA

I live about 320km south from the epicentre, and was working on the 10th floor of a high rise. We swayed back and forth for two minutes while I watched the high rise buildings outside my window do the same. I have been through many earthquakes, and I must say, hearing the building walls creak, groan and grind against each other was one of the most terrifying moments of my life!
Kate Ullrich, USA

I live about ten miles from the site of these photos. It was a devastating experience for the people in this area, but it's comforting and reassuring to have our new governor visit the site and show such concern. We can only hope that he will pull through with his promises, and I am more than confident that he will.
Tiffany Leasburg, Atascadero, CA, USA

I work in a high rise in Irvine which is about 60 miles south of Los Angeles and we felt our building roll ever so slightly (like the motion of being on a boat) - fortunately the epicentre was not as densely populated as southern and Northern CA or things could have been a lot more tragic than they already are.
Martin Bonaccorsi, Irvine, CA (Formerly East Kilbride)

Earthquakes are part of California culture, as odd as that may seem. My grandparents were in the '06 earthquake and they talked about in for years. I was in the Loma Prieta 'quake and that one is the stuff of legend for my generation. One learns to live with them, because there is no such thing as earthquake prevention, only earthquake preparedness. Fatalism is part of the California mindset because of it.
John, California

Trees and street signs rocked back and forth Reg, San Francisco, USA

I was in Monterey California when this 6.5 quake shook. Trees and street signs rocked back and forth. However I was in Japan a few years ago and a mere 4.5 quake shook the daylights out of us. Parked cars bounced clear off the ground! When you realise you are in an earthquake, you suddenly understand how helpless you are.
Reg, San Francisco, USA

It was the most terrifying 30 seconds of Mother Nature I've ever experienced! The shaking is one thing - the rolling motion that accompanies is like being on a boat in an angry sea but you're standing in your house on 'solid ground'. I'm thankful indeed.
Pamela, San Luis Obispo County, USA

We were all sleeping when it occurred. We woke up to the walls shaking and dogs barking on the bed. Since I grew up in the Bay Area, I was used to riding these things out, but there's always that question of when it will end. After about 20 or more seconds of shaking it finally stopped. Then came the aftershocks. We were one of the lucky ones to still have power, although many of the downtown stores were closed unless they had a generator.
Monica, San Luis Obispo, CA

I work in San Bernardino, CA, about 260 miles from Paso Robles. I was on the top floor of our local court house when the quake hit; the building swayed back and forth for a couple minutes before coming to rest again. This was a powerful quake to have shook us all the way out here.
Randall, San Bernardino, CA

Our town is inland from Paso Robles about 100 km by car. When the earthquake hit, my wife and I both thought that we were experiencing dizziness. I stood up and moved to an outside doorway. Then I watched the power lines dance, fences wobble, and trees shaking. The motion of the quake was entirely horizontal at our location. There was no damage to any of the houses in our community, probably because it didn't shake up and down. The USGS rated my observations equal to a level IV. Thank you for allowing me to send my comments to you, as I think the BBC is the best news service in the world.
Phillip Potter, Coalinga, CA, USA

I work in a modern 22 story building in Los Angeles. The earthquake felt like a slowly rolling wave. Our building swayed for over a minute. No damage here.
Paul A. de Lorimier, Los Angeles, USA

Later in the flight we were advised what had happened Manny, Toronto, Canada

I was seated on an Air Canada flight bound for Toronto from San Francisco. We were waiting to take off when the plane starting shaking and we all just looked at each other. Finally after 15 seconds we rolled down the runway. Later in the flight we were advised what had happened.
Manny, Toronto, Canada

I'm a resident in Paso Robles and everything has been really exciting, but sometimes I get nervous from the aftershocks. I have already felt one since I woke up less than an hour ago.
Mark W, Paso Robles, California

I felt the quake very clearly here in Mountain View (SF Bay Area), so it is a shock to think of how much stronger it was 180 miles south. My wife and I have visited Paso Robles. It is a nice town with many small wineries in the area. The "clock tower" was actually an ornate clock in a round housing on the corner of the building's second floor, above the entrance to the jewellery store you can see in the picture. It looks like the whole second floor collapsed, dropping a wall of bricks on the sidewalk and parked cars, and the roof followed the wall. My sympathies to the people of Paso Robles.
Tom, USA

Too close for comfort Drew, USA

As usual, I was in a parking lot when this one struck (as in the 1989 San Francisco quake). As my car began to shake, I looked around expecting to find some kids just having fun. Realising it was a quake, I got out and stood on the ground, completely mesmerised at how visible the surface waves were traversing the asphalt. I was in San Luis Obispo. My wife was in Paso Robles, and was only 15 minutes from going into the buildings that collapsed. Too close for comfort.
Drew, USA

I used to live in Paso Robles and owned a business two blocks from where the building collapsed. It is sad to see the damage to downtown as Paso Robles has spent about 10 years revitalising it. It has become a wonderful place. I now live in Lompoc, Ca about 75 miles from San Simeon. I was at my computer when the earthquake hit. I got all my employees out in the parking lot away from the building. It was the strongest earthquake I have felt. My daughter lives in Morro Bay, CA about 20 miles from the epicentre. It took a while to get through to her by phone but she was ok. She works in a gift shop and a lot of the items in the store were damaged and broken.
Mark Davis, USA

I was on the golf course in Ventura and I was wondering why the tall palm trees were waving around without any wind blowing! It's all part of the California lifestyle, some aftershocks as usual but nothing to write home about!
John, ex-Brit, California, USA

We live nearly 15 miles from the epicentre. The quake shook our coastal home with violent force. It was aggressive, loud and caused "sea legs" for most here. We couldn't get to a doorway frame fast enough. As soon as we felt it was safe to secure gas lines, water heaters etc...along came an immediate aftershock. Powerful. Lesson learned: Take good care of your neighbours...you never know when you will need them and/or they will need you.
Julie Gall, Cayucos, USA

I live all the way down in Ramona, CA which is in the eastern foothills of San Diego and I felt the quake. It was quite noticeable even down here, although it felt more like someone was beating on the doors and walls more than anything. There were aftershocks that could be felt here all day long.
Catryna White, USA

The entire experience lasted about 20 very long seconds Frank Svatos, USA

I live in Los Angeles County, near Northridge, about 190 miles from the epicentre of the quake. For me it began with a rolling sensation that hesitated, then grew into a brief period of substantial shaking, and then was followed by a slowly decreasing roll. The entire experience lasted about 20 very long seconds. While I didn't feel I was in danger, I knew there must have been a sizable quake somewhere based on the nature of what I felt here in LA.
Frank Svatos, USA

I was on the 34th floor of my office building in San Francisco, and the whole building swayed about 4-6ft! It was my first one.
Christian, USA

I was sitting in my office, at an insurance company, in Hollywood, when I suddenly felt dizzy. I looked around and saw the Christmas ornaments shaking. The rolling of the earth seemed to go on for a while. I was expecting the shaking to become more intense. Then it stopped, my co-workers and I were all waiting for more to come. My phone then starting ringing with customers wanting to file claims for earthquake damage.
Carlos, USA

They say the hills in that area are now 12 inches taller John Moorvartian, USA

I was sitting on the second floor of a doctor's office with my wife in Visalia, CA (halfway between San Francisco and LA, but inland) when the floor began roll in that familiar way many Californians are used too. My wife told me to stop shaking the table she was sitting on, and I told her, "No, it's an earthquake". When it was over she said "That wasn't too bad" to which I replied, "Not here it wasn't, but now I have to wonder if San Francisco or LA are still in one piece". People forget we are still waiting for the "Big One" out here and it's overdue. I was surprised to see that it hit Paso, a place I've been a hundred times, but not surprised at the damage. Most of the buildings there are brick and old. They say the hills in that area are now 12 inches taller.
John Moorvartian, USA

I am a Brit who has lived in San Francisco for last 10 years. I confess I did not feel the earthquake but have visited Paso Robles a few times and it's a great shame that a lovely charming and historic city should be damaged in this way but more importantly it took two lives and my heart goes out to their families.
Neal Goodwin, USA

Our Christmas tree was "dancing" and the bells were clinking before I realized it was an earthquake.
Biz, Santa Cruz, California

I live on a naval air station base in Lemoore which is about 1 hour and 15 minutes from the main point of the earthquake. I sent my family to the bathroom, because on the east coast that is how we prepare for a tornado. I wasn't thinking. I was getting ready to put my 6 month old son in the crib when we were moving back and forth in a rolling motion. It caught us off guard. My 3 year old daughter noticed it as well and was saying her window and bed were shaking.
Jaime, USA

I was on the 9th floor of my office in Los Angeles when we started to "rock 'n roll" for what seemed to be an eternity. It was quite amazing to find out that the epicentre was so far away.
Marion Felgenhauer, USA

I felt this quake as a rolling wave Robert, USA

I was at work in San Jose, more than 150 miles from the epicentre. My office is on the second floor. I felt this quake as a rolling wave. The lights in the building are suspended on cables from the ceiling, and all of the lights were swaying in unison. It was astounding. The energy of this quake must have been huge to rock my building more than 150 miles away from the epicentre. This felt much worse then the 1989 Loma Prieta quake, because it lasted so long.
Robert, USA

I was driving along the Pacific Coast Highway near Santa Barbara when my 4WD started swaying, as if caught in a gale. I looked at the ocean, which was calm and showed no sign of high winds, and then at the trees at the side of the road, their branches were not moving. I didn't realise there had been a 'quake until I arrived in Santa Barbara for a meeting and I saw people standing in the middle of the roads, away from buildings and trees. I experienced the last big 'quake four years ago, I'd just bought a small cabin in the mountains and it hit during my first night there. This latest 'quake was a "roller", it feels as if one is on a small boat.
Dave Rubin, USA

I have only just come back from San Francisco, but my brother lives there and he said he felt the house shake.
Lisa, England