Spanish teckels please check in

[Marcia from MI]

Are you near the place where the earthquake was in Spain?  CNN says it was a 5.3 near Lorca.

[Dr. Beau Leaky]

Altea is about 120 miles north of Lorca along the east coast of Spain. Let's hope they're o.k. and we'll wait - impatiently!!

Auntie Keren 

[Barb]

Yes oh yes !   Rayz and prayers on the way to the area.....

[auntydoxzz]

This year is really frightening!! So many weather disasters in so many different places!!  I pray everyone here is OK, whether its earthquakes, tornado, high winds, or flooding!!

[Dr. Beau Leaky]

I just sent Andrea an e-mail. Let's hope we hear good news soon!

AUntie Keren 

[Spanish Teckels]

Thank you so much, all of you, for being worried about us. 

We are all absolutely fine and only noticed one of our bronze sculptures in the lounge swaying and wriggling around a bit because it is suspended from steel cables in the air and acts rather like a primitive early warning system!   Nothing to worry about at all.

As Aunty Keren so rightly said, we are around 120 miles North of Lorca, our distance from the epicentre was sufficient for us and all the Provincia of Alicante to be safe.  Unusually the quake was felt much more inland than on the coast.  This area is considered an moderately active seismic area and our building - and all the others Miguel has done - comply with the structural requirements needed, plus some extra too.  The additional coefficient used for calculating the basic seismic acceleration of the structure here in Altea is 0,08 and in Lorca (Murcia) - where the earthquake was - it is 0,12, not much difference.  There are areas in Granada (Andalucia, much further South) where it is double, 0,24.

The poor people in Murcia are suffering terribly with around 15.000 sleeping outside their homes last night until all buildings are inspected and ten dead at the last report.  We have offered help through College of Architects in Alicante especially as inspecting and evaluating structural damage is urgent.  What a horrible mess.

We are only on the second floor and directly on the seafront and have major structural pillars supporting our home and can, at a pinch, throw ourselves onto the nearest palm tree or lower Red and Islay down in their crates and then shin down rope from our terrace pillars.  The staircase is also structurally safe for earthquakes....we lay in bed last night planning how we would get out if we had to and praying for those unfortunate souls in Murcia.

Nature can be so frightening.  Poor people near the Mississippi too.

[sollysmom]

So glad to hear you all are safe and sound.  Will be praying for those in need and hoping all will be safe again, soon.

Darcel

[Brekkesmom]

We are glad you are safe!  What a cool sculpture!  I did not realize Miguel was an architect - how wonderful of him to offer inspections!