They lived it ...

Wells residents describe experiencing Thursday's frightening wake-up call: "It felt like the end of the world." — Pat Notestine, who was beginning her shift at Stuart's Foodtown when the earthquake hit

"It would be lovely to still have."— Sara Ashby,describing a broken crystal vase her husband gave her their first Christmas together17 years ago

"It was scary, like a freight train coming through the house, like the gates of hell opening up. There was a sound like a big growl." — Andrea Woods

"It really shook. ... It was really scary." — LDS Bishop Robert Johnson

"I think everybody in town has been impacted." — Rusty Tybow Wells, Nev., mayor

"The whole building was shaking. It was a little bit strong, even for here."— Humburto Cervantes,owner of a local pawn shop, who lived in Los Angeles for several years and has experience with temblors

"It was loud, rumbling, sounded like a train coming through." — Peg Kaplan, owner of the El Rancho Hotel

"Our highest priority right now is knocking on every door in town. We want to make sure no one is trapped ... that the refrigerator hasn't fallen on someone and they can't move." — Daniel Burns Nevada Division of Emergency Management spokesman

"We was getting some gear ready to feed our cattle when the ground started shaking. The barn and house were banging. I'll tell you I figured something bad was happening. At first I thought my wife was banging the cupboards or something had fallen down. Then, I figured maybe it was one of them bombs. Well I just sat on my tractor. The barn shook bad. Broke two windows. After it stopped, we went back to working. Then my wife ran out and told me there had been an earthquake." — George (last name unavailable), a Wells, Nev., rancher posting on the Deseret Morning News Web site