SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL

So, I was awakened this morning at about 4:30 to the sound of my water heater banging against my closet door. Being that I was sound asleep, it took me a few seconds after jolting out of bed and running around my apartment in my underwear a few times before I realized what was happening. It's not like an earthquake in St. Louis is a regular occurance, so needless to say, it took me a minute to figure out what was going on. My first thought was to get under my table, which is all I remember from my grade school earthquake drils, but I don't think my $50 Ikea table would have protected me all that much. I was told this morning by my boss who lived in California that the recomended practice is to stand in a doorway. So, there you go. That's my bit of advice for the next one.
The earthquake wasn't just localized to us either. Apparently, the epicenter was in southern Illinois and people as far as 900 miles away felt the effects. It was a 5.4earthquake, which is the strongest earthquake we've had in ST. Louis since 1968, from what I've read. Pretty crazy. But I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later.