Earthquake advise

My son and his wife live in an apartment on the 23rd floor. A few hours ago, he posted on facebook that there was a 4. something earthquake. I commented he should invest on a parachute or 2. Was it a stupid suggestion? What would you have said? I was not being funny but thinking about it, my son might think I did not really care.

I don't live in an earthquake area, and I've never been to one either!

However, I do know that a 4 is not a serious one and most buildings, especially the newer high rise ones, are built to withstand much stronger quakes than that. They simply bend and flex.

That being said, I'm sure your son is used to feeling the earth move under his feet, and probably makes light of the situation too.

That sounds like something I would say.

Is he located in a high-earthquake area where the buildings are built with earthquakes in mind?

If so, I think the parachute comment was funny. I hope he did, too.

Buildings shaking in earthquake

Umm...living in the middle of an earthquake zone...a parachute won't make any difference.

And a 4.something is nothing.

I have lived in California all my life. A 4.something is small. I have never been in a big quake, just some that were a few jolts.

The biggest I felt was the Northridge Quake. While that was a big one, we lived far away from it. It did wake us up as we had a waterbed, and that was moving. DH just said "Sweetie, we are having an earthquake" I just said "I think you're right" and went back to sleep. I found out later how bad it was.

But I think it was ok... Where does your son live? In California, all buildings have to be up to code and older buildings have to be retrofitted to withstand a quake.