Oh my goodness, that sounds awful. Yes, cats will run with something like that happens. You are lucky your cat returned. I read a bit about Irene, name of my mother also and was shocked at the damage that it did. This is purely a reminder to fear God I am afraid.
In Islam we believe earthquakes are reminders for the people to become more religious. I guess you thanked God over and over you were alive as I saw there were several deaths.
Not having power is a way of life in Jordan. Due to high electricity usage the government will cut the electricity and of course we have the worse water in the world. It rains here rarely and when it does we are so blessed.
Well nice chatting with you and rest well. I have a bad problem with my foot and a calcified bone. I finally broke down and took an injection due to the intense pain, but the injection did not help at all. My only relief is to sit and as I sit with no exercise at all I gain weight. lol
Let me hear how the things improve with you often.