Institute For The Future

Ophelia Chong on After Shock

Los Angeles-based writer and designer Ophelia Chong (one of a handful of people who've made me think more positively about Southern California) writes about After Shock in her 404 City blog.

 

 

I am sitting at my desk listening to my latest French pop downloads, my hand reaches for the coffee mug. I feel the hot liquid splash across my arm as the mug is knocked out of my hand by a falling picture frame. The dogs are yelping and running under my desk. Dust fills the air as the plaster wall crumbles. The lights go out, or did the music stop first?

 

I lurch forward grabbing the heavy desk. The windows shake and two windows shatter in the other room. Shrill sounds comes from the wooden house frame as we sway to and fro. The fish bowl is on the floor, and my little red beta flops gasping. Has it stopped yet? Am I still moving? I can't tell, all the circuits in my brain are blown. I reach down with a shaking hand and grab the fish and step over what was left of my windows to a glass of water that miraculously stayed upright. I throw in my poor little beta. I look around and think "what where who why?"

 

Please remain seated, this was just a simulation of a 7.8 earthquake. On Thursday Nov. 13th at 10:00 am you will be able to participate online in "The Largest Earthquake Drill in the History of the Nation". After Shock is a collaborative project from Jason Tester of the Institute for the Future and Mariana Amatullo of Design Matters/ACCD with the Interface designed by Ryan D’Orazi, a student of Art Center College of Design.