"It happened just 40 seconds after a foreshock"

With any luck, lots of people got outside of their buildings in those 40 seconds.

When the 7.9 hit Seattle, once I realized what was happening which took three seconds, I was out of the building in six seconds. It's burned permanently into my memory. There's fourteen steps down, I did it in four strides. Fortunate that I didn't miscalculate and break a leg, but that's what the adrenaline is for.

Also fortunately I wasn't at work that day. I did go in after, just to check on things, and talked to a guy in the building elevator when it hit. Oh and the Russians completely lost their ---- they had absolutely no idea what an earthquake is or what to do about it.

Clearly, the important story here is Snoofy.
--Snoofy