Earthquaaaake(s) (!)

This blog post actually started about two months when Penina's school did a two day earthquake training for the tenth graders (we think it's country-wide for that age, but, hey, like so many things in this country, we really have no idea), since Israel lies on a pretty major earthquake fault line and is supposed to get a "big one" every 100 years or so (and the last one was in 1927, so, yeah, eek).  She described the entire first day as being made up of terrifying videos of earthquakes and their effects, and was not particularly excited for school the next day, assuming it would be more of the same.  She came home totally energized and had had an amazing day learning how to do search-and-rescue, even getting certified as a first responder (with a laminated card that's supposed to actually get her across police barriers [should she so choose/should we so permit]).  The highlight of the day was learning how to use a sledgehammer, after having been taught by the (female) instructors who, with ease, smashed concrete blocks into smithereens.  The upshots were: 1) "using a sledgehammer is a lot of fun" and 2) "don't worry, Israel--if there's a giant earthquake, the tenth graders will save you"😱

Fast forward to last week, when our whole family was woken up smack in the middle of the night by a giant crashing sound.  Half-asleep, we tried to figure out if there was any reason to take action (like go to our "safe room").  Hearing nothing else, we all went back to sleep.  In the morning, I woke up to find this on our balcony:

Which was from the lintel of the doorway to our mirpeset

They sure do build buildings thick around here, eh?!  NOW you see why the tenth graders need to learn to use sledgehammers.

The following night, we were all together in the living/dining room when something odd started happening.  I looked down at my feet, trying to figure out why they were going up and down.  Penina figured it out first and yelled, "EARTHQUAAAAAKE!  EVERYBODY OUTSIDE!" So clearly the training did have its positive effects (and can I mention how proud Nurse Ellen is that her daughter is so safety-oriented?!).  We ran out into the street and discovered that......we were the only ones there.  Because of course the Anglo olim run into the street ;).  Some neighbors didn't even feel it.  Turns out it was only a 4.5 quake, so it counts as one that is felt but not big.

But here's the kicker.  The next day, Penina said, "I wonder if there was an earthquake the night before and THAT'S what made the concrete fall down on the mirpeset?" and Shalom Shachne said he had been wondering the same thing (oops.  Hadn't occurred to me.  I just figured it was shoddy construction).  So we snooped around and found out

Yup, a few minutes before 3 a.m. there had been a 2.7 earthquake.  Not strong enough to be felt, except by our house, I guess!

In sum, Penina seems to have a future as a seismologist.  Or perhaps a gold-medal sledgehammer-ist.  The possibilities are endless!