Ugh, earthquakes. Give me a nice tornado any day. One's house should not move unless entire said house is flying away.

Glad everyone in the quake zone seems to be fine. Skeery. Dudes, I'll take the tornados, okay?

Go, Shrift!

Also,

What if, say, you're a witness to something, but not a suspect? Or is it possible the cops might pretend that you're not a suspect, but you really are, so you still shouldn't talk to the police without a lawyer even if you're just a witness (as far as you know)?

If cops call you in as a witness, or talk to you at the scene, you should be as open and factual as possible about what happened. If they start asking more personal questions, you get quiet. Not disrespectful, and not suspicious, just, short, simple answers. If they press, you ask for a lawyer. If they say they're not charging you with anything, they're only asking questions about what happened, and continue to slant their questions toward the personal, you stop replying and ask for a lawyer.

They're supposed to shut up and back off at that point. No matter how innocent you are, the police really don't care. Their job is to close the case, and to the police as a body, anyone who isn't wearing blue is suspect. If they can make you fit, or make the known facts, or at least some of the known facts fit you as perpetrator, you're under suspicion.

Don't talk to cops without a lawyer is a very good rule.

I should be in a doorway or under something

Actually under things is not a great idea. It's best to be on the floor right next to something like a bed or a sofa. That's where safety pockets tend to be in a collapse. Things fall and form a triangle of safety next to large solid objects. Things like tables may stand, but if you are under them and they collapse you are done for.

Yes, yes, I know. I was short-handing. You taught me to get next to the bed, which I would have if I'd been thinking more clearly.

I've lived in KS most of my life and tornadoes should scare me but they don't. Give me access to a basement and I'm fine. Earthquakes, OTOH, I'm guessing would take me weeks to recover my nerves.

Oh, yeah, Austin, ITA.

I've lived in MO always, and the only time I ever even get halfway bothered if is a tornado is sighted under 5 miles away. And then I just think "Do I know where the cat carrier is? Eh, there's the pillowcase."

Exactly. Sometimes I locate my purse so I'll have my id with me...thats about it.

I am far more fearful and survival-modey about ice storms. HATE bad ice storms.

Ice storms are bad too. Especially for the trees and power lines. Yikes.

I've joined the buffistas group on facebook. Now I'm going through with invites so if you get one from a strange name in Kansas, that's me.

Nilly rules the facebook pages! Your profile page has so many fun games. I could play there for hours.

Whereabouts in Kansas?