My Bally slot machine vs 7.3 earthquake

[David Walz]

OK this is what happened, on the morning on November 30th a 7.3 earthquake hit my home in Meadow Lakes Alaska. Were close to where it started and everyone didn't panic, Alaskans can handle disasters. It only lasted for less than a minute however it was like the house was lifted up then dropped. A lot was on the floor, my pryor experience in California was to bolt everything down. Even with the preparation it was bad, however it could have been much worse if I didn't prepare for the disaster.

Mostly everything was in good shape some broken antiques, however the majority of everything was in good shape. The five china hutches made it through without damage, 99% of my antique clocks were in great condition, I felt fortunate to have the house in such good condition. Only one wall was dented, and a large piece of furniture fell over.


So the slot machine didn't move a inch, the jukebox rolled around, and I checked everything out, no problems, I was butt puckering wondering what was damaged and found nothing. The point is the slot machine had to have been built like a tank to withstand that kind of force internally and externally, same with the jukebox.


Afterwards (three days of cleaning), when the mess was cleaned up, I started to install cables to some of the furniture securing them to the wall. I painted the walls, and vacuumed the carpet several times to get the broken glass.
   
Still, were going to have a great Christmas, we have each other, the house is in excellent condition, and overall we did better than others. I  always try and be proactive, I have my medical bag for emergencies,  food storage, and firearms.

[Sunrise Side]

Glad to hear your OK  !!!!

[smoothgrh]

A happy ending to your story. Great to hear!

 

[David Walz]

A happy ending to your story. Great to hear!

 

I am fortunate for earthquake preparation on my home, others were not prepared, which is sad, very sad.

[shortrackskater]

Thank you for your story David and glad you're ok and, more importantly, that your slot machine came out unscathed! 

On a serious note, I don't think that "we" (those of us in So Cal) are ready. I keep putting it off too. All my machines are bolted to stands but the stands can easily move around. I should bolt them directly to the floor but it's concrete. And I "don't have time" to do all that, which is really a lame excuse. Some are against the wall but others are just in two small rows in one room.
I did buy a generator though! And my 2 meter radios are ready.
Of course, my machines might crush me before I get to anything. 

[rdaniel]

So how is your famous ex-mayor and es-governor doing these days?

[shortrackskater]

So how is your famous ex-mayor and es-governor doing these days?

Ugh!
Well we're still all waiting for that wonderful bullet train to nowhere... 
This is how I feel about Southern California


The SECOND I can, I'm moving away. Maybe I should join David in Alaska? It sounds like they've got there shit together there.

[David Walz]

I'm from San Diego where I learned to secure everything to a stud or mollies, when putting up a picture, with heavier stuff like the old payphone I put it on a stud. All of my shelves in the house are secured to a stud, and the shelves have a lip to stop things from vibrating off. The china hutches, cabinets, bookcases, are tethered to the wall. The slot machine has a tether to the wall.


What we are trying to do is keep the furniture from rocking back and forth. My walls have scraps on them from the furniture rubbing on it from the earthquake. Painted the walls and it looks great.


Being said even with my preparation things did get broken, dumped, and flown across the room. I was able to minimise the damage. a 7.3 earthquake will cause damage no matter what you do and we were close to where the earthquake started. Also its important to have a good solid proactive plan; I have my medical first aid bag, a disaster go bag, and a shit load of firearms for defense and for food gathering.That's where firearm magazines come into play, the more you have the better protection you have from looters arriving in packs.

[David Walz]

So how is your famous ex-mayor and es-governor doing these days?

She reared her head up for the earthquake.


We have a serious disaster where everyone's needs are important, some have lost everything, some are people who are opportunistic when a disaster happens. Others like myself get up, dust ourselves off and move on without crying for help. One of my heavy pieces of furniture fell over, I lifted it up by myself and spend three days cleaning up without asking for help. I have been through worse so I don't need any help. I do like to inform others about how important it is to be prepared for the worse case disaster, so when shit hits the fan you are ready for anything that mother nature can dish out.😁

[rdaniel]

One good quake and that silly high speed rail boondoggle will be useless, especially if trapped in the tunnels. Such a waste of money!

[David Walz]

One good quake and that silly high speed rail boondoggle will be useless, especially if trapped in the tunnels. Such a waste of money!

I'm from California where I was born. I've seen California go from paridise to a dump. The immigration to California has destroyed the state, having people in office in California who are unable to run California and pass laws that are stupid is crazy. The government of California is not doing anything for the people, they are stumbling around in the dark.


 

[rdaniel]

While I live in So Cal, I believe that the state has become far too liberal. A great example is that ridiculous "sanctuary state" crap. Honestly I fail to understand why people still come to California. Besides the weather there are few attractions.

[shortrackskater]

While I live in So Cal, I believe that the state has become far too liberal. A great example is that ridiculous "sanctuary state" crap. Honestly I fail to understand why people still come to California. Besides the weather there are few attractions.

Disneyland!

I live 20 minutes from it, and I can't afford to go. Well I can but I refuse to pay over $100 for ONE person, and $20 for parking. Then theres food... 

[David Walz]

While I live in So Cal, I believe that the state has become far too liberal. A great example is that ridiculous "sanctuary state" crap. Honestly I fail to understand why people still come to California. Besides the weather there are few attractions.

Disneyland!

I live 20 minutes from it, and I can't afford to go. Well I can but I refuse to pay over $100 for ONE person, and $20 for parking. Then theres food... 

I went to Disneyland from the 1960-1980 no more I've seen the decline and I'm not happy with it. I'll keep my memories of Disneyland.


Living in Alaska is like Disneyland, clean air, animals, wide open freedom, it's dangerous here anything can and will happen, you must act alone and think on the fly, no overcrowding, it's excellent for me. Others don't like the short daylight in winter, long cold winters, long days in the summer, it tends to drive most normal people buggy, crazy, 5150, etc. I came here abbie-normal so I fit right in with the others here. 😜

[rdaniel]

My wife and I did a driving tour of Alaska year ago last June. put on around 2000 miles and saw a lot of country. Very pretty, especially Denali. While in Fairbanks I was really impressed with how long it was daylight. It was 11 PM and I am taking a daytime walk.

I thought Anchorage was a nice city. The suburbs were  clean and just looked like any other well maintained town in the lower 48, AND the prices seemed actually affordable! Winter would be another story I would presume.

rdaniel

[David Walz]

My wife and I did a driving tour of Alaska year ago last June. put on around 2000 miles and saw a lot of country. Very pretty, especially Denali. While in Fairbanks I was really impressed with how long it was daylight. It was 11 PM and I am taking a daytime walk.

I thought Anchorage was a nice city. The suburbs were  clean and just looked like any other well maintained town in the lower 48, AND the prices seemed actually affordable! Winter would be another story I would presume.

rdaniel

You don't know how bad it is until you live here in the winter, each person reacts differently to the freezing cold, darkness, unable to go out due to the weather, ice is a another factor, people falling, cars going into a ditch, sliding down the road, butt puckering if the truck won't start. Working on vehicles in the winter, it's not going to happen unless you have a garage set up for it. We wait for spring to work on vehicles, unless it can't wait.


See how much enjoyment Alaska is, not!
The only reason I live here is for the freedom, the small population, and the friendly people.

[David Walz]

I hope no one has to go through a earthquake/disaster, however be prepared it can happen and if you're ready the damage won't be a s bad. The Bally 1090 slot machines weigh in at 300+ pounds not including the base, and thats very dangerous in a disaster same for the Rowe jukebox. Using cables to secure furniture against the walls helps them from tipping over.


A 7.3 (registered in Wasilla) is not a small earthquake, the aftershocks are just as serious as the first earthquake. I was fortunate, and I've assessed the suitation by putting more cables on the furniture, and other security in place.


The interesting thing about a earthquake, a lot of fish tanks ended up in the landfill here in Alaska. When I built my aquarium I used a piano from 1900, restoring it into a aquarium, then I fabricated a tank to fit permanently into the piano with the top sealed up except for two hinged covers. The piano has been bolted to the studs, flooring, when the earthquake hit, the aquarium didn't move. I only lost a small cup of water and the aquarium, aquarium plumbing, is in great condition.

[off-track]

I can understand aquariums being easily trashed but wouldn't have thought of that problem.  That's a great idea for an old piano!  Some have really nice carving/detailing and quality hardwood.  I see them given away all the time at auctions because no one wants to move them.

[David Walz]

I can understand aquariums being easily trashed but wouldn't have thought of that problem.  That's a great idea for an old piano!  Some have really nice carving/detailing and quality hardwood.  I see them given away all the time at auctions because no one wants to move them.

My piano aquarium was taken apart, gutted, then I rebuilt the piano fitting the acrylic to the piano.

[rdaniel]

Impressive! You must be good working with wood.