Oh man - if the wonderful residents of California don't experience enough grief, anxiety, or terror already from the yearly dose of fires or mud slides, earthquakes are now in the mix.
Best of luck to everyone, especially the first responders, medical personnel and fire fighters who will no doubt be called in for help and assistance. I wish and hope for everyone's safety.
I love you guys!!!
196
@Marge Keller Earthquakes are ALWAYS in the mix, Marge. Live in California and its part of the landscape.
21
@Marge Keller Thanks, Marge. How refreshing to hear kind words, instead of a lecture about why we shouldn't live here. I've been through two major quakes, and am amazed how little damage this one caused. Rural versus urban. Regardless, we're prepared.
82
@Marge Keller
Marge thanks. We Calfiornians are always aware of the major quake possibility - The San Andreas literally goes off like a b o mb in the earth and you can feel it just by being near its fault line. I am older, and have lived through the most destructive quake to date, in SF and the Bay Area, and that was a NEW FAULT LINE, not the San Andreas.
I have to say, not having heat, heated water, transportation, (limited), and all things regular was a strain.
Things like the falling of the walls of brick facades - you can't have brick buildings in SF, but you can have decorative bricks. But those bricks came down like thunder and a single brick is 10 lbs or more. They are much heavier than one would imagine.
The newcomers, like FACEBOOK and his Troops, and most of Googlers, and the tech migrants from the East Coast are clueless about earth quake preparedness.
My shelves are only three feet high. I arrange everything for the shortest fall, and protection from falling. No mirrors near beds. No beds under glass windows. Park your car away from poles and trees that can fall. Tree branches fall during earthquakes or later.
21
Thanks for the good reporting on this serious earthquake activity.
I wish that everyone knew more about the Earth's seismic sensitive zones.
I suggest the development of a model of the underground geology of all populated areas that are likely to experience seismic activity and in areas that serve as underground storage for nuclear high level nuclear waste like the storage tanks at Hanford, Washington or where natural gas or oil pipelines carry product to serve population areas, or where there are plans for tunnels, bridges and nuclear power plants that would be vulnerable to seismic activity.
We know how to do these underground geologic models and they can be useful in land use planning, mineral discovery, infrastructure, and understanding thermal gradients for possible future electricity generation.
I suggest that models of the West Coast States and well as in other seismically active areas in North America be built. This will provide possible new jobs for the geologists who are currently working for the fossil fuel industry to use their skills as the oil, natural gas, coal industries begin to decline because of the shift away from fossil fuels progresses.
I also suggest taking a longer stride approach, like predicting the behavior of the underground for about 1,000 years. It would help us get a better handle on when fossil fuels will be depleted.
Publishing more maps in media like the NYTimes will focus the attention of policymakers on the important stuff.
18
The risk of quake damage is so great that earthquake insurance is prohibitively expensive here, so that the vast majority of buildings in the San Francisco bay area do not have this insurance. When the next really big quake hits, many will be financially devastated.
10
As a native Californian, I lived through many earthquakes, big and small. My high school 3rd floor fell down in the 1971 earthquake. Luckily that quake was at 6am, otherwise a lot of kids would have died. And I lived in San Francisco for the 1989 earthquake when a lot of people did die when the overpass collapsed. Yet I'll take the randomness of an earthquake any day over hurricanes and tornados. Now I live in grizzly bear country. I guess random unpredictability is just something I grew up accustomed to.
14
fabulous podcast from npr/kpcc Producer Misha Euceph earlier this year:
THE BIG ONE
https://www.npr.org/podcasts/674580962/the-big-one-your-survival-guide
@meuceph on tw
4
I grew up in Anchorage, AK. We had earthquakes very frequently. They were always terrifying. No matter how rational I tried to think during an earthquake, I always had the fear it would be the big one like the 9.2 Good Friday earthquake in 1964 that leveled Anchorage.
In an earthquake you realize really quickly how small and insignificant humans are. No amount of earthquake proofing or preparedness can do anything for you when the earth decides to throw a 9 pointer at you.
Glad we are pretty seismically safe in NYC. For now anyways.
14
No worries. When it has to happen it will happen. Can’t live in fear. You cannot predict earthquakes like weather forecast. No matter how much you know about it, it is of very little use when it hits you. Very little time to think about what to do. I experienced an earthquake, I was in a tall office building, by the time I realized it is earthquake, it is gone. Lasted few seconds. So, learning about earthquakes won’t save lives. But, advanced planning and design of building structures that could withstand earthquakes could help.
50
I was in the October 1989 earth quake in San Francisco. It is not a pleasant thing to be in. I was on my way to my apartment when the grounds started shaking and glass popping out of windows. I feel sorry for anyone who gets caught in a California earth quake. I wish the people in southern California a quick recovery in this current disaster.
40
I coincidentally just read a fictional book on this topic called "The Rift." The earthquakes were set in Missouri and the states around it instead of California. Most affected was the Mississippi River and everything on its banks, like nuclear power plants. Every chapter began with an excerpt from diaries and letters from the people who experienced the 1812 New Madrid, Missouri earthquake. It was interesting to see the differences with the time differential. I leaned of the book on a list of 50 classics in dystopian novels. I have no idea how accurate it was but it is clear that the stakes have mushroomed with dense populations, nuclear plants, anything with fuel in it, etc., The 1812 people had a simpler survival situation. Not easy by any means but less system upon system folding in on one another. I.M. Pei's St. Louis arch did well because he specifically built to withstand an earthquake of large proportion. Science is not my area so I enjoyed reading this in a simpler format. All in all, I am glad I do not live in earthquake or tsunami territory.
7
California, Oregon and Washington need to invest greater resources into hardening preparedness and infrastructure for the magnitude 8 - 9 Great quake whose odds of occurrence over the next 50 years is around 40 percent from the Cascadia subduction zone running off the northwest coastline. Coastlines will be severely damaged from both shaking and huge tsunamis. Cities like Portland will quickly find emergency services overloaded and transportation severely damaged.
There is great inertia in preparing for the big one and then it happens before you know it.
31
As a structural engineer in Southern California, I just want to say that we should all be thankful that we have a building code designed to keep us safe during these events. I rode out last night's quake without any worry (and actually some amusement!) because I know that the building I was in was designed to withstand these things.
228
@Matt As long as contractors really adhere to the code. Anyway, onward and upward with structural engineers and here's hoping everyone gets through the earth's restlessness with minimal impact.
33
@Matt I work in the public rural hospital a town over from Ridgecrest (20 miles) and was there last night during the earthquake, our building is NOT up to code, built in the 60s and no funds to renovate it. A tax proposal last year to renovate it didn’t pass unfortunately, good old conservative kern county. We rode out the earthquake in a lot of fear for ourselves and our patients, thankfully everyone was okay albeit shook up.
154
@Matt We have our 'Earthquake Lady', Dr. Lucy Jones, to thank for much of our improved building codes. She made a number of educational presentations directly to Southern California politicians (many at their request), and fortunately they listened. We, as a population, have listened to, and trusted Dr. Jones since 1983.
62
I used to prepare earthquake plans for chemical businesses in California and there is a definite threat from hazardous materials release that is ignored in planning for great earthquakes in Southern California. SCAQMD is well aware of the issue, but has not forced action to mitigate the danger. The many refineries in the region have large stocks, over 20,000 gallons per site, according to a recent SCAQMD report, and use highly concentrated hydrofluoric acid over 80% concentration. The processes using the concentrated HF are heated and under pressure. A great earthquake near any of the major refineries is likely to release a cloud of extremely toxic poison gas that could kill hundreds of thousands of people and injure many more. The refineries refuse to disclose information. They refuse to say if they have taken necessary steps to prevent accidental large scale releases in case of severe earthquake damage, citing the need to keep trade secrets and prevent terrorists from learning about vulnerabilities. All US refineries were built since the last great earthquake hit Southern California and the refinery corporations are unprepared.
90
We had been working late yesterday evening, installing some communications equipment in an electrical room. It was very hot in there and I sat down outside the room on a rickety bench to rest. A moment later I felt the bench move and I thought it was about to collapse under my weight, or I was having a dizzy spell. But the bench continued to sway under me and a rush of seasickness began to take hold.
I looked up and in front of me the heavy door to the room was half open. The door was swinging back and forth on its hinges, about one inch in total movement. It continued for an entire minute as we watched. It is very interesting to know the earth has a resonant frequency which in this case was about one cycle per second, and was amazing to see it moving an amount large enough to be observed.
The location was about 30 minutes driving northwest of San Francisco.
82
@Kevin
I’m a little confused, 30 minutes NW of San Francisco? I don’t think that was the earthquake in Los Angeles.
I’m glad you’re okay and survived the quake. Perhaps this is the ‘89 one along the San Andreas fault?
7
@BlueBird
I meant to write northeast, not northwest.
Frightfully sorry about the error. It was right about the time of the China Lake quake.
In any case, our location was Knightsen, CA
It was most surprising to me the movement could continue for so long. But I suppose the building itself could have been rocking as well as the earth.
5
@BlueBird
In addition to the big 7.1 quake, we've been having a lot of little quakes up and down the coast. Perhaps Keven felt one of the little ones that was closer to San Francisco?
5
Nearer, My God, to Thee.
7
We got notice from our rattling pictures on the wall, then a mild rolling quake (3.5?) several seconds later. Soon after, the quake graphic was at the USGS site, and the L.A. Times had an auto-generated text article. Then the calls from relatives came.
The ‘71 Sylmar quake woke us all up, and everyone in the dorm was at breakfast for a change. These are a fact of life here.
2
6.4 to 7.1 is an increase of 5.01 times bigger not 8 times as stated in the article.
6
@John I did the math too, got the same ratio you give, 5. But quake intensity at the surface also depends on the depth, so perhaps that factor was also considered, and the second large one was not only greater on the Richter scale, but also not as deep.
By the way, an article on another site quotes an expert from the Southern California Earthquake Center at USC, who said the later one was 11 times stronger than the earlier one.
5
So the 27 year old man fathered a child when he was 11? How is his son 16 and he’s 27!?
2
@SJ It says HER son
2
I was 16 (along time ago) when a 7.2 rattled along. will never forget how long it lasted (couldn't have been more than seconds), or how scary it was.
One story high house, built with earthquakes in mind.
I feel for Californians.
Good luck to all of you!
7
On Fox News website, the comments are appaling. For a party that claims to have a strong christian faith, many of their followers have zero concern for their fellow Americans, who may be experiencing challenging conditions.
America has been more divided and angry, since Trump became President.
19
After suggesting in 2018 in the wake of the Paradise Fire that California take forest fire prevention lessons (raking and cleaning) from Finland, which has many forests but comparatively few forest fires, President Trump today also suggested that California take earthquake prevention lessons from Finland, where they rarely occur.
9
Having lived in Japan and Alaska, where earthquakes are more common, I would hope that the people of California know enough to build within code. If not, please don't take my tax dollars for your incompetence in managing your communities.
8
I think the fact that there were no casualties for a 7.1 earthquake -- stronger than the one that killed more than 300,000 people in Haiti in 2010 -- shows that the local community is far from incompetent. If their houses and businesses weren't built to code, things would have been much, much worse.
15
Not to worry California, your Federal government is sending help. Ten boxcars of paper towel roles are on the way. Expect them to arrive sometime around 2024.
30
Because at any other point in history when there was a serious disaster the local community did better than the federal government. Locals always have the manpower and resources to protect everyone and, of course, never do wrong. Central Africa is a perfect example of this harmony.
Someone has been watching too many conspiracy theory movies.
3
@BS
Oh that is wonderful - do you expect him to throw the towels, one handed, to the gathering crowd?
5
It's impossible to prevent natural earthquakes (I'll soon get back to fracking), and early warning systems are in their infancy. Adequate building standards and public earthquake preparedness remain essential, but the risk of catastrophic earthquakes remain.
What if earthquake intensity could be reduced? Fracking breaks up deep rock formations and can induce earthquakes as has been noted in places like Oklahoma. But regular adjacent tectonic plates will continue to build up stress and periodically rupture.
I wonder if it's possible to use fracking essentially as a lubricant that allows fault stress to be relieved in far smaller, less dangerous increments. Ten or even a hundred magnitude 2-4 quakes would be far preferable to a single 7.0+ quake. Injuries and property damage would be minimal versus the tens of thousands who might die in an 8.0 quake, not to mention tens or hundreds of billions in property damage.
Fracking done for fossil fuel extraction does use potentially toxic compounds, but there may be no need for dangerous additives if petroleum recovery is the not the purpose. (I'm no expert here.)
A quick Google search only references fracking induced earthquakes from oil exploration. I'd be glad to hear from someone more knowledgeable about this, but, if it's not too crazy an idea, it seems like it might be worth researching.
13
The Seismograph at Lick Observatory was charting large red needle movement Thursday, Friday. Bay Area residents may not have felt the waves, yet they were present.
P Waves, S waves and their energy dissipation, time stamps of plate tectonics. Alfred Wegner and the theory of continents in living color.
6
Clearly this was caused by "Climate Change" or is it Trump's fault?
3
@Sparky Jones
Tired of all that winning, huh?
15
Earthquakes are a fact of life in much of the western US. Other areas have their own range of potentially catastrophic events like floods or fires or tornadoes. Civilian disaster training programs were started after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake showed the need for civilian assistance after what was just a moderate quake near San Francisco. In a big quake there will almost certainly not be enough firefighters or fire engines or first responders to respond to people and events in the early hours.
Personal safety begins with home preparedness. You need to do whatever reasonable structural earthquake mitigation your home might need. You need to stockpile at least some food, water, and other emergency supplies.
If you're prepared, trained, and fortunate to be safe in the immediate aftermath, then you are most capable of joining organized efforts to check your local community or supplement fire and police efforts.
These free programs are usually put on by local fire departments and last 4 hours for each of 6 different sessions. Safety and practical knowledge are emphasized. Graduates are entitled to be community members of Neighborhood Emergency Response Teams (NERT). Other locales substitute 'Community' for Neighborhood (CERT).
13
Most Californians do NOT "live in constant awareness" of a devastating earthquake. In fact, the so-called Big One seldom even crosses our minds. What Californians fear more than anything, what absolutely terrifies us, is the thought of having to spend a winter in Boston or a summer in Miami.
44
Don, what bothers me is that when the Big One comes, you will expect me to pay for it.
16
@PaulN
We've paid for hurricane, tornado and flooding disasters that routinely strike other areas of the country for decades. Plus California is a net contributor to the federal government, whereas many red states aren't.
So when our 'big one' comes, yes we'll request help.
96
@PaulN What is the alternative? Just tell our fellow citizens in California, "Oh well. Good luck picking up the pieces. My cash works only in my state!" We are one country, right?
28
Trump will claim that CA didn't adequately predict the earthquake, or caused it, so he won't approve emergency declaration and funding. We all know he doesn't want to do it. Maybe he'll say the windmills caused it?
20
It’s Congressman Kevin McCarthy’s District with the epicenter at China Lakes Naval Testing Grounds. He’ll approve emergency aid.
16
Miss the weather but don’t miss the earth quakes. I lived in Southern California for thirty seven years and still remember the first quake I felt in 1970. Fortunately no lives were lost in this one. I hope everyone will be okay and can rebuild.
12
As a geologist (PhD in structural geology and tectonics) I look at these events perhaps more with a scientific perspective, and as an educator, as teachable moments.
As some quoted experts have said, the timing of any earthquake is still not predictable, but enough observations over the past century provide some ideas of frequency for given magnitudes on many faults (by the way, "fault line" is misleading, since faults are actually surfaces or zones that extend down into the earth, sometimes near-vertical, and sometimes inclined).
In seismically active regions like California, those observations also provide robust constraints on where most future earthquakes will happen. Even ignoring the smallest earthquakes, there are enough events to define patterns, like on the maps hosted by Caltech here: http://scedc.caltech.edu/earthquake/seismicity.html
Geologists use these patterns, plus mapping surface and subsurface geology, to define and delineate fault planes. Studies of earthquakes on specific faults can help determine expected magnitudes and occurrence rates, and along with deep rock and shallow soil studies, define risk levels for structures.
13
@Bob Krantz
As you said, there are no models to predict the timing of the earthquakes to help the people. It is the responsibility of the government to invest more money to develop models that could predict timing of earthquakes to save the lives. Measurements of micro seismic activities on the ground as well as at the ocean bottoms could provide the information to predict the timings, albeit, a difficult task. But, investments to develop models is imperative to save lives.
1
@Kodali
I agree that more research into prediction is warranted. But it may never be possible to give more than a few minutes warning. Meanwhile, we should probably spend more on hardening important life-safety systems to make sure usable infrastructure survives. We should also encourage residents to do the simple things necessary to prepare for an earthquake and ride out the aftermath.
6
All I can say is that people sitting atop the San Andreas Fault felt the earthquake from the desert. It did not effect the
San Andreas? OK. Believe what you will.
3
Are you listening Governor Brown and Governor Inslee? THE BIG ONE IS COMING TO YOU. California is massively better prepared than Oregon or Washington ... or any of the places along the New Madrid Fault for that matter.
While California is worried about some mythic "big one", Oregon, Washington, and a large swath of the Mississippi basin is OVERDUE for massive earthquakes.
10
I was 15 miles from the Northridge quake, and let me tell you that I was awoken with my bed lifting off the ground, glass shattering, pitch black, and it took 5-10 seconds just to realize I wasn't dreaming and to dash under my desk (fortunately right next to my bed). Transformer explosions all over the place, in otherwise pure blackness. Seemed like 10 minutes of shaking (far less). When it initially stopped shaking we RAN, and I mean RAN, out the front door and into the streets. No one in CA knows their neighbors, but that day we came to meet every one of them, in pitch black with flares of light in the distance. We were all scared to death, and the #1 question was "where do you think the epicenter was?". You never forget it, but it's easy to forget the inevitability. It's one big plus to not living in CA anymore, as I think there will be an absolutely devastating one in the not too distant future, in a heavily populated area. It will no doubt dwarf all other US natural disasters.
24
Stay safe, California.
My little sister who studies at UC was scared.
I told her, "Well, if it makes you feel any better, the quake is not San Andreas fault. It is Trump's fault," and it gave her a chuckle.
Our prayers are with you all. This too shall pass.
21
Desperate for attention?
Yawn. Someone please, blame the earthquake on Trump so his followers can have their little meltdown for actual reason, not a made-up one.
Nancy Pelosi and Kamala Harris should go back to California to help California people immediately. They voted for you and now they need you there.
7
Well, this can’t be caused by climate change.
3
When I pulled up NYTimes.com home page just now, the cover photo was of a desolate detention center near the U.S. Southern Border. along side the story of what the Times reporters discovered there In Clint, TX.
Meanwhile, California is a State with 40,000 people, by iteself comprising the world's 6th largest economy, one on which the entire U.S. economy depends for much of its growth, and tt least half of whose residents were, according to your article, in striking distance of a 7.1 earthquake.
But, I suppose it's not a controversial enough story, doesn't involve partisan politics, and not enough people have been seriously injured or killed in the quake for it to merit top-line front page placement on the NYTimes.com, as stories about their own journalists, their own Op-Ed pieces, and photos of Op-Ed writers do.
Seriously!
And BTW, the story alleges that people in a large area ranging from Las Vegas to Sacramento to Los Angeles were "on edge," with rattled nerves and disrupted holiday plans. If the "large area" that the story describes were plotted on a map, it would include the San Francisco Bay area (including Silicon Valley. )But despite its lack of mention in this story, San Francisco bears the highest probability of a disasterous mega-earthquake of any major urban area in the U.S.
Also FYI, I live near Sacramento (about 400 mi. from Ridgecrest), and no one I know (including me) even felt the earthquake.
13
@Sachi G I meant 40 million people, not 40 thousand (obviously).
1
Most of the "non Californians" commenting sound ridiculous and uninformed. Those attributing California's unpreparedness to Democrats...hint-hint; we've been having nonpartisan earthquakes out here- a very long time. The "Big One" in 1906 was overseen by a Republican governor. Nothing like trying to turn Mother Nature into a partisan affair.
15
@Candlewick
"most .. non Californians .. sound ridiculous and uninformed."
Another commenter from CA asserts, "We Californians know how to take care of ourselves against a quake."
What's with the attitude? Must be the water. I should try some tap water next time I visit.
3
Such wit!
Earthquake or no earthquake, live goes on in California. I called my sister and cousin who lives in San Jose & LA respectively. They don't seem bothered by the quakes. The only outcome from these quakes is that my cell phone number was given to my niece and nephew in case folks in California cannot call to each other due to telephone lines dropped during earthquakes. Out of state calls may have a better chance to be connected. So it is not a total waste of opportunity.
3
@Usok
How does that help? Their cellular calls still go through nearest cell tower, even for out of state calls. The terrestrial towers could get damaged in a quake.
OTOH, satellite phone services are more reliable in these situations, barring no congestion with everyone making satellite calls in that event.
@Bhaskar
Phone service is likely to be severely constrained after a serious earthquake. Some cell towers are placed at fire or police stations where they have generators even if electricity fails. Of course bandwidth will be reduced, and for that reason experts suggest using texts to communicate if regular service appears not to work.
6
We recently visited Japan. Landlines, and pay phones everywhere: because of earthquakes.
Food for thought.
12
Could we non-Californians have a decent map plz?!
3
I was talking on the phone last night to my mother, who lives in Santa Monica, when the aftershock hit. "It's rolling! It's rolling!" she exclaimed nervously. We in Arizona also felt the ground move.
Even more astonishing is knowing that, as soon as the aftershocks subside, people will continue moving to California and life will return to normal... until the next big wildfire flares up.
3
Trump has not responded to Newsom's request for federal aid because he is trying to come up with some criticism why these earthquakes are our fault. So far, Trump's aides have discouraged him from re-using the criticism that we aren't keeping our forests swept clean.
26
@RunDog Why should he respond to Newsom at all?
3
@Jackson -- Gosh, where do I begin. Because we're still one of the 50 states? Because we are the most important state, at least economically, the World's fifth largest economy? Because we send the federal government more tax money than any other state? Because Trump has responded positively to other, red states? Because it's the moral, ethical and right thing to do? I could go on and on, but if you're not convinced by now, well I'm wasting my time, aren't I.
49
@Jackson
Because California is a state of the union and an important one at that. Trump is supposedly the president of the United States and it is his administration’s responsibility to respond to these kinds of requests whether they occur in a “red” or “blue” state. Someone who is petty and vindictive enough to withhold aide from a state because of political differences is absolutely unfit to be president. Honestly, this tit for tat attitude is so petulant, childish and, at its core, unpatriotic.
31
I was in Palm Springs in our very original / restored Donald Wexler designed townhome. This was the strongest quake yet we have felt here- and it felt like being at sea in a large boat...rolling rolling. Everyday, I say to myself how well built this place is ( 1980) and how the design withstands the punishment of the desert - however the floor to ceiling sliding glass doors are a bit worrisome. Being born and raised in Los Angeles, I have been through multiple quakes and hate to say, you just kind of expect them. You hope these are letting off steam..bu who really knows ? Dr Lucy is my go to as well - like an old friend. We had a pair of roadrunners that were eating a lizard in the front patio who did not miss a morsel and just rolled along with the 7.1 - nonplussed.
12
sorry to inform you - nonplussed means the opposite of what you think it means.
6
@Joshua Freeman
Like literally which, thanks to chronic misuse, now has a subordinate definition meaning the precise opposite, nonplussed 2d def is: (informal North American; (of a person) not disconcerted; unperturbed.
And for the not so squeamish the 2d def of literally is now:
: in effect : virtually —used in an exaggerated way to emphasize a statement or description that is not literally true or possible
"I was literally blown away by the response I got"
You thought Trump was the end of all reason on earth.
11
@Joshua Freeman sorry to inform you- I know the correct meaning of the word and I stand by my use of it. If you want to ask those roadrunners the exact nature of their emotions yourself- they are back out there right now. Feel free.
8
The comment seton is full of hope and humans tendency to believe they are smart enough to avoid the inevitable. If you survive the "big One" then the fires will be what is truly terrifying and uncontrollable.
How many readers know that the Owens valley was once flooded 35 feet deep and 700 miles long. What do you really know about where you live.
I suggest reading The Big One for a history not only of what happens in cities throughout history but an excellent presentation of why our human psychology prevents us from understanding and taking action to prevent destruction.
The comment from people in Oregon is sad, the Tsunamis will wipe out all roads, airports, railroads so that help will not be able to arrive. The ports will be destroyed but silly people we just live in the present and think a few hundred years is a long time.
Anyway Trumps insanity will probably kill us all first .
14
@Chelsea
"Anyway Trumps insanity will probably kill us all first."
Bravo! I knew someone would find a way to slam the President in this discussion.
Well done, Chelsea!
6
My only personal experience with an earthquake was in Ankara Turkey in the summer of 1999. I was there on a work assignmnet, staying on the 17th floor of a high rise hotel. At 3 am, while sound asleep, the bed moved and I thought a big dog had jumped into it. Then, I heard a loud groaning sound from down below. I thought maybe the boiler in the hotel was bursting. Then came the slow swaying. I could see my window curtains moving back and forth as my entire room moved.
The hotel did not sustain any damage. It was a Sheraton hotel and well built. Ankara was around 150 miles from the epicenter. Closer to the epicenter, damage and collapse of buildings was extensive. Building codes in Turkey at that time were poor, and enforcement often non existent. New concrete was so weak, in many cases, that it would crumble when rubbed with a stick. It was common to add additional floors to existing buildings without any engineering or architectural review.
Ridgecrest is the last town of any size on the road into Death Valley National Park. It is blazing hot there this time of year. The fires seen are likely due to broken natural gas lines
9
The big one is supposed to be long overdue.Will be nice when it's over and we don't have to worry about it anymore .
1
We from East cost and USA are with you. Stay strong.
We're going to pray to the God but will also work to make planet greener and safer.
10
the Big One will be the one that turns the Diablo Canyon reactors into radioactive rubble and sends an apocalyptic cloud into Los Angeles.
those reactors cannot withstand these kinds of quakes. the horror that would ensue can be seen on the HBO Chernobyl series.
we do not need the power from that nuke. nor will we survive the catastrophe they are sure to deliver. these reactors must shut NOW!
5
I would just pack and leave Southern California immediately what are we waiting for? Remember the great San Francisco earth quake? It was no joke. Just leave. Don't wait for miracles.
6
No, I don’t remember the great San Francisco earthquake since it was in 1906. I have lived through several major earthquakes and I’m not leaving because I love living here, and where in this country do you suppose I could move and not have to worry about hurricanes, blizzards, tornadoes, floods or some other natural disaster? I find tornadoes a lot more frightening than earthquakes and every year tornadoes kill dozens of Americans back East. Most years no one in the U.S. is killed by an earthquake. I will stay here and continue to enjoy my great job, apartment and family close by.
8
Of course that's happening after Trump left the Paris Agreement.
4
@areader
As much as I despise trump, leaving the Paris Agreement has absolutely nothing to do with this or any other earthquake.
12
@R.F.,
It means you don't despise him enough.
2
@areader In some bizarre way you probably think that’s relevant.
3
Yes, New Yorkers and the rest of the world, California is a dangerous place. For your own safety you should probably stay away. Can’t ever trust the ground beneath your feet. Yes, everyone is on edge here, on the cutting edge of cultural and technological influences that reverberate around the world.
11
@Anna Sorry, Annie, but we’ve seen the homeless lying in your streets. No one wants to go to California.
8
When the shaking reached Dodger stadium the organist began to play Carole King's "I feel the earth move".
49
If I needed to live in California I'd live in a single storey structure away from high rises and take my chances.
1
sounds like residents have been lucky so why is Newsom screaming for help?
3
Bring it on, Mother Nature.
Show those inflated human egos who's boss.
14
Lucky that such a strong quake happened to be centered in a remote, sparsely-populated desert area. California under Democrat leadership seems increasingly unprepared to provide public safety, sanitation, and services to its urban populations, much less plan ahead for their needs after the "BigOne".
4
They should aspire to the example set by Trump in Puerto Rico and the Florida panhandle!
5
Hope Californians get through this and the next days without another one of those! It's telling that Trump hasn't declared this a disaster, which would trigger federal relief for the affected area. This story also makes me think: what about earthquake safety on this side of the continent? Yes, New York hasn't had a larger quake in over 500 years, but our area (East Coast) is not "earthquake free"; we had a rumbler a few years ago, centered hundreds of miles south, but quite notable here. And, while the likelihood of anything close to this one in Kern County happening is lower, we're also really not prepared at all for earthquakes, at least as far as I know. I wonder how our buildings in New York City would hold up (or not) in anything 6.0 or higher?
3
@Pete in Downtown
Sometime in the 80s, maybe 1983, I was awoken by an earthquake centered in Ardsley, a Westchester Co. suburb of NYC. I lived a couple of towns south of there.
Sounded like the boiler was exploding (it wasn't).
It can happen anywhere.
2
My geology is a little rusty but I thought the Big One had very little, practically nothing, to do with the San Andreas Fault. The Fault is a relatively minor concern as far as these things go. Annoying, expensive, and sometimes dangerous. However, not catastrophic.
The Big One actually refers to the relationship between the Juan de Fuca plate and the Cascadia subduction zone. Basically, the entire North American continent is getting pushed under this giant rock plate on our Pacific coastline. Imagine two floating docks where one is overlapping the other. When one slips off the other, the two docks are going to move in opposite directions creating a splash as they go. One to the east, one to the west. That's the Big One.
However, the Cascadia trench doesn't really effect California directly. It's the Pacific Northwest who are most vulnerable. Unless you hit a full rupture, the Really Big One. In that case, everything west of I-5 is gone. Most of what is left on land will be destroyed by tsunami. I consider myself a pretty resourceful person. Flash lights and extra batteries aren't going to help much.
18
I’m moving to Los Angeles. I think I’ll be drinking more.
5
@Andy
Yep. And the Northwest earthquake is supposed to move 8 feet to the west: the trees, buildings' foundations, etc. Everything on the land will move 8 feet. All land west of I-5 will be gone.
I lived in Tokyo for three years so I have lots of experience with quakes. The Northwest "big one" will be so expansive citizens cannot expect any help for weeks. I am "prepared," but how do you prepare for the "big one" really?
7
"Dr. Heaton said it would be “pretty far-fetched” that an earthquake on the San Andreas would be triggered along this route." It was also "far fetched" that there would be a stronger quake right after Thursday's 5.4. They CANNOT predict quakes, only quote "odds". That these quakes, and the fault/s they're on won't interact with the San Andreas is wishful thinking. They just don't know.
I was really impressed with the response from all the emergency services. THIS is the country that we're proud of.
After Thursday's quake, people were upset their "quake alert" apps didn't go off. I haven't heard anything about that since yesterday's event.
1
@Slann 6.4, not 5.4 Operator error.
1
Trona,CA is where the epicenter of the quake is. Houses have reportedly been rocked off their foundations, and roads are blocked. Trona is a mining center of rare earth minerals, some of which can only be mined in US at Trona.
I also wonder if the Trona Pinnacles are still standing (The Pinnacle are a famous rock formation local to Ridgecrest and Trona)
PS. There is also supposed to be a volcano 600 feet below ground on the navy range north of Ridgecrest.
I'm sorry for the people there. I'm glad I'm gone and only watching from a distance.
2
I don't fear mother nature; I respect her and prepare for what scientists predict. California will be all right my friends.
5
Hope Californians get through this and the next days without another one of those! It's telling that Trump hasn't declared this a disaster, which would trigger federal relief for the affected area. This story also makes me think: what about earthquake safety on this side of the continent? Yes, New York hasn't had a larger quake in over 500 years, but our area (East Coast) is not "earthquake free"; we had a rumbler a few years ago, centered hundreds of miles south, but quite notable here. And, while the likelihood of anything close to this one in Kern County happening is lower, we're also really not prepared at all for earthquakes, at least as far as I know. I wonder how our buildings in New York City would hold up (or not) in anything 6.0 or higher?
2
Where I worked in downtown Los Angeles in the late 90s, all employees had to gear up with supplies at their desk that would last 72 hrs. One woman told us she had wine from Trader Joe's that she rotated every 6 months....party at Lisa's cube!
12
The QuakeFeed app provides locations, times and sizes of quakes around the world. The recent cluster in CA is impressive. Between 7/5 and 7/6 well over 400 instancs of seismic activity are recorded ranging between 7.1 to 2.0, primarily in a NW to SE line from Lake City to Trona CA.
3
The weaker quakes are easily dismissed but the big ones are scary for everyone. The series of quakes after a big quake are worrying, one fears some worse quake might occur. A week after it’s over, people forget it.
3
@Casual Observer really? I lived through the ‘89 quake. I haven’t forgotten it lol
1
@Mary
I remember the quakes and where I was, just like every other significant event in my life. But I forget the dread and worry that I felt during and for days after. Once I am secure that it’s past, it’s out of sight, out of mind for me.
There are lessons learned. Don’t run outside during the shaking. Why? In 1994, the morning after the big quake, I noticed that several shops in Santa Monica on Third Street had small piles of bricks that had plunged through torn canopies over the entrances. Walls on old apartment buildings on Fourth Street had fallen to the sidewalks revealing the interiors. During an earlier earthquake on the East side of Los Angeles, two sisters in a parking structure at Cal State Los Angeles ran out during the quake. A large cement panel fell upon one and took her life. The instructions given the public are based upon hard experience. I remember those things.
1
With empathy to those who suffered property damage near the epicenter, these quakes are a gift of sorts. A gift as a reminder to all of us in SoCal, a reminder to be prepared.
Have a plan and have supplies.
We shook a little bit all the way down here in Orange County, not bad. But a 7.0 plus quake along some parts of the San Andreas fault will cause significant and possibly massive destruction throughout heavily populated Southern California.
Be prepared.
16
The scientists tell us every earthquake teaches them something new - in other words, they still don't know a heck of a lot. Before Northridge, there was a series of small earthquakes in the Santa Monica bay. No one (scientists included) thought much of it. Then Northridge hit and the scientists were shocked that Santa Monica (about 20 miles away) was so hard hit. Later they said that they now believe the fault lines are connected and that the small quakes may have triggered the much larger earthquake centered in Northridge. This was not the first time (nor the last) they were surprised by something they learned post quake, which is why many Californians listen to the experts with a degree of skepticism.
7
They cannot examine the masses and forces directly, the phenomenon occurs miles below the surface of the Earth and is driven by the tectonic plates surrounding a molten core.
1
All Californians and frankly the entire Pacific Coast - Canada, Mexico,should actively use the USGS shake map on the internet, or have the webpage set up on their wireless devices.
It is not that there was a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Ridgecrest which is way out in the middle of the desert, fairly far from Bakersfield, but that there were 250 or more follow up "after shock" earthquakes, within minutes of eachother.
Please take a look at the shake map.
I follow, personally, all quakes around the world.
California is a land of interlaced fault lines. One quake can set off more quakes by "activating" the subterraine quartz in proximity to the fault lines.
What happens in the California Desert, effects me. However, I live in the safest metro area of California from possible devastating earth quakes. I did not feel this set of earthquakes.
But the larger and more damaging earthquakes will arise. There is no way around them, other than to prepare.
7
The power of earthquakes comes from the movement of the tectonic plates making up the crust about the Earth’s molten core. An earthquake like those we have experienced during our written history are due to little small shifts after some resistance in a small location in the movement of these vast masses of crust which have held up the smooth progression. We have no idea how strong these quakes might potentially be. We can only go by what we know has happened. He worst we have seen is about a 9 on the Richter scale and that is a terrible kind of event.
The kinds of preparations we can make are limited to what we can expect from previous experiences. But we have already found that precautions based upon one event may not suffice for subsequent events. In the end we must plan for rescue and recovery to be the most important preparations. Prevention of damage and injuries will probably be important but not sufficient.
2
I love Ca, it’s a 2nd home to me.
Can’t speak for anyone else but what it gives you as far as a lifestyle and nature is well worth the chance. I’d rather be there then play it safe somewhere less beautiful.
13
@Jay,
It is gorgeous, as is the entire west coast from Alaska to Mexico.
5
Meanwhile, construction continues throughout sunny California: skyscrapers and subway systems which were avoided for decades for this very reason. Of course the threat of the inevitable Big One may help deter the current influx of homeless if only because they'd have to fight for space with any number of natives losing the roofs over their own heads owing to a single faultline disaster.
3
@Hans Christian Brando
They are still building expensive developments in flood zones near the water here in south Louisiana.
4
I have a sister who lives in Anaheim. She only has a cheap cell phone which doesn't always work.
I am hoping either she or one of her friends are reading this article and comment section because I just want her to know that my husband and I hope she is okay and will continue to be okay. We tried calling but could not get an answer. I hope she knows that we will be there for her like we were in 1989 when that earthquake hit. She LOVES California and thinks it's the best place in the world to live, even in an earthquake. I guess after 40 years, her mind is made up in that she will NEVER return to Wisconsin to live.
Good luck everyone!!!
I love you Mary, a.k.a. Murray. Call collect. I need and want to hear your voice.
Your sister - Poncho.
16
@Marge Keller " a cheap cell phone which doesn't always work. " Ironically, the name of the device, "telephone", is the worst component. Voice communication on these devices is HORRIBLE. These days, there aren't anymore "land lines" where people have a modem installed, which rely on AC. It's a crippling liability in any emergency.
6
@Marge Keller "Call collect" Is there still such a thing nowadays? I haven't heard that phrase in years.
2
@Dante
I don't know what's available out there or what her situation is, I just want her to know that we are there for her - regardless.
I'm keeping a positive outlook and thoughts her way in hopes we will hear from her soon.
1
Having lived in California for over 30 years, my observation is the same as it was the day I arrived, having come from a damp, mosquito-infested part of the country. If you're wondering how it all ends in Calfornia, worry about fire.
16
As a former resident of SoCal, I did love living in the California desert, then Riverside, and then LA. I remember the Northridge quake and that was a big one. In Desert Hot Springs, we had over 300 earthquakes per year, but you couldn't feel them because with 30 feet of sand and then hot springs under the sand, it absorbed the force.
I recently read that the government of Sweden has sent a survival guide to all their citizens of what you need to have on hand in case of an economic collapse, war, or natural disaster. The Swedes are prepared to survive one year without government help or electricity. There must be hundreds of "preparation" websites with lots of advice. One thing they say is to identify a place in a foreign country were you could go for one month to wait out a crisis like a downed electrical grid. You're welcome to check into my B&B on the pacific coast of Colombia, in El Valle, Choco. Lots of free topical fruit and free fish, and it's a paradise of natural beauty.
20
I'm about 120 miles southwest of the epicenter and we had some pretty good shaking here last night, but I somehow missed the 6.4 on July 4th. What impressed me most about this series of events was the duration of the 7.1. I'd say it continued for 30 seconds at least and might have been as much as a full minute.
6
@Mike Edwards. Yes, it lasted a long time, at least 30-45 seconds.
For folks unfamiliar with the experience of feeling the earth rumble under your feet, a bit of a description. (Even though this is roughly akin to attempting to describe what a strawberry tastes like, to someone who's never had one. You've got to have been in an earthquake, to "get it.")
The 1994 Northridge earthquake was so violent; lots of intense jerks and twists - at around 5 AM. Terrifying!
The JUL 4 temblor felt relatively calmer, at least in Los Angeles - prolonged, rolling, yet still unnerving.
Last night's earthquake was frightening, too - a sustained, rolling sort of shaking. It felt absolutely more intense than the one a day earlier, and a lot longer than a "typical" earthquake, if there's even such a thing.
Its wave-like currents seemed to subside, then it gained intensity in a matter of a second or two. They always seem - to me, at least - to last for much longer than they apparently do. Last night's shaking felt like it was about 45-60 seconds; I'm probably way off - by about 40 seconds.
People's experiences are likely different, yet for me - in both instances of JUL 4 & 5 - I had been in a public place. Both the parking-garage validation kiosk, and a restaurant, were very busy. And then, as the ground began to sway - everyone got very, very quiet. People stopped talking - even ungluing their eyes from their phones. It's a strange experience, all of it. Many thanks to all first responders, ready to help - both in rural Ridgecrest, and dense urban areas.
17
Great description! I’d agree with your assessment here—felt the same for us down in OC watching the Dodger game and watching the foul poles sway on the tv.
1
I was on the redline subway when this hit. Nobody noticed. Well designed metro there
9
I lived in California since 1945. You get used to the threat. I’ve had to clean up twice in my life from two of them, 1971 and 1994. 1971 was the worst. I was emotionally disabled from it for about a year. I was terrified to live in my own house. I [credit it] for my divorce. Not all the consequences from earthquakes are bad.
7
I lived in California since 1945. You get used to the threat. I’ve had to clean up twice in my life from two of them, 1971 and 1994. 1971 was the worst. I has emotionally disabled from it for about a year. I was terrified to live in my own house. I [credit it] for my divorce. Not all the consequences from earthquakes are bad.
2
A member of a WhatsApp group of school friends, noted that 'she had got used to this', and 'even at 350 miles away, in No Cal, her family felt the jolt'.
First the periodic hurricanes in Florida and now the earthquakes in So Cal.
The headline and the story warn of the Big One. But the most knowledgeable of experts, Dr. Heaton, tells us that that is “pretty far-fetched”. Then, the article concludes, basically, by saying that anything can happen.
In sum, there is next to no reason to fear the Big One, but it makes a good headline and frightens readers for no good reason. So let's go with it.
5
Some folks recommend going under a hard, flat surface - a table, for instance - during the shaking.
Others believe that *angling* material above your crawl space increases the chances of survival. Meaning, dragging a mattress *halfway* off a boxspring, thus touching the floor adjacent to the bed - and then tucking oneself into that elongated pyramid of space.
The thinking goes that it could - depending on the severity of material falling down above you - help to maximize the possibility that chunks of ceiling might roll down that 45° angle, and not (as likely) crush you. Debris might plow straight through a flat surface (like a table), with no cushion potential whatsoever, then flattening you. A potential pocket of air might also be created, should a building partially collapse.
I'm not a physicist, but I was freaked out enough to be willing to try that. (I figured it might bolster my plan of bedside keys, flashlight, water, cash, wallet, and sturdy shoes.)
So last night before bed, I somewhat pushed out the mattress, in case I had to fully angle it and then get inside a potential breathing space.
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. Wishing safety and calm for our entire affected region.
12
@Mildred Pierce Hi Mildred, I think you might be referencing the 'Triangle of Life' theory which is unsubstantiated information that has been spread through unreliable, viral internet sources.
I encourage you to follow what the experts say: Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Ideally you're covered by - and holding onto - a table. Our modern construction standards make it very unlikely that the building will collapse. The table will help to protect you from other flying and falling objects (such as light fixtures, glass, etc.). Debris is unlikely to plow through and flatten the table. This is really your best bet.
Be safe! All the best...
4
Neil Young didn't call LA shakey town for nuthin... yesterday it truly was rockin & rolling... thankfully no serious injuries or damage around here. Ridge Crest unfortunately did have some significant damage. Be Prepared as the scout motto said.
4
Earthquake is a terrifying experience to every living species. It is disruptive. Sixty five millions years ago, an asteroid hit Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula creating a 110 mile crater called Chicxulub. Its tremendous produced energy ended the Cretacious Period and begun the Paleogene Period. Tyrannosaurus rex despite its ferocity would be utterly terrified. Its magnitude would be way off the Richter scale.
4
July 6, 2019
All the world is with prayers for this California seismic events and let's consider this author on this very subject.....
Seismic Quotes
Quotes tagged as "seismic" Showing 1-2 of 2
Christophe Galfard
“Everyone should be very grateful radioactivity exists at all. It can kill you, yes, but without it you wouldn't have been born in the first place. On Earth, deep under your feet, our planet happens to contain many atoms that do decay, all the time. Less so now than in the past, but still, Earth's mantle is radioactive. When atoms decay there, the particles they emit bump into their neighbours and generate heat, the very heat that contributes to keeping our planet warm. Without radioactivity, there would be no seismic or volcanic activity. The surface of the Earth would have been dead cold billions of yeras ago. Life as we know it would probably not exist at all.”
― Christophe Galfard, The Universe in Your Hand: A Journey Through Space, Time, and Beyond
4
First and foremost the people of California need to know that the country stands ready to help them if they need it, secondly how is the big idiot going to blame the state and it's people for this natural disaster like he did when they were having the forest fires.
Stay strong California.
49
When the first quake hit on Thursday, I was taking a walk and didn't feel a thing. I was surprised when my wife called me and told me what had happened.
Last night, however, was a different story. Our rocking chairs rocked, our curtains swayed, our cats woke up and looked around with expressions ranging from interest to annoyance. The whole house swayed, as though it had magically become a houseboat on a stormy lake.
Earthquakes of any size are terror-inducing and utterly humbling. They are a reminder that, as omnipotent as we may think we are, there are forces of nature that are so great we become completely insignificant. I was really frightened.
My wife and I have the necessary supplies to get through the aftermath of a big one, if we survive it, but we are praying it never comes.
37
You do the best you can during an earthquake.
Some simple things you can do, have cash in small bills stashed somewhere as ATM's might be down for days.
Water, batteries, flashlights, candles some canned and dry food.
I've been in a dozen or so earthquakes these items were very handy in one of them. Also small ma and pop stores were charging $10 for a single AA battery so best to have your own. Water was extremely expensive as well after the earthquake.
13
@Hal
Yes, on all of that, especially the cash and water. Most people don't use cash anymore, but we would need it. After Northridge, once I could stand, I gazed out our window looking down Sunset (we had a view to the ocean), and saw flashes and heard explosions. They were the transformers blowing up, all over the county.
No payment systems or ATMs will work, probably not for days. And, adjusting for inflation post 1994, you'll need $50 for a gallon of sealed Arrowhead.
8
If only they could generate power from those faults. Electrical faults would take on a new meaning.
I loved California in the 50's thru early 70's. Now there's just too many people to be compensated for by the fantastic climate.
5
There are isolated spots where geothermal energy might be retrieved but not like they have in Iceland. The entire Western half of the U.S. is mountainous due to the intersection of the Pacific tectonic plate with the North American tectonic plate. Throughout the region there are hot spots and great calderas which produce geothermal heat sources near the surface. The most famous being Yellowstone which is over a huge caldera.
13
@Casual Observer
Yes, thanks for that. And it must be said that, as wonderful as Iceland is, the country with the greatest potential for generating power from geothermal plants is, ding ding, the United States of America.
In terms of geothermal energy, we could truly practice American Exceptionalism. But of course we are not.
15
@Casual Observer
On NPR, or the Times, published the sounds of the rock quartz smashing into other rock quartz, way down below the surface of the earth in California. I could listen to it all day.
The LA Times or the USGS published findings on their discovery that crystal quartz forms a concave like structure which reflects the earthquake energy miles from the origin, epicenter. Apparently, this is what happened with the Northridge Earthquakes. The crystals are concentrated, enough so, and positioned so, that they collect kinentic energy of the quake and deflect it. Kind of like a concave mirror.
There is just one scientific fact for me as a Californian that matters. The fault lines are everywhere, and they are present in Oregon and Washington which are much less prepared.
1
I’m glad to see the L.A. police tweet the “drop, cover, hold on” advice. That is the tactic recommended by FEMA. Drives me crazy that people run outside. Maybe that’s OK in a rural area but in a city, power lines and falling building debris are a real danger. Plus people will fall over if the shaking is bad enough. Drop to the ground instead and see if you can crawl under a table or bed. Cover your neck with your hands. And as others have suggested, make sure large furniture pieces are bolted to the wall
56
@Sky
I moved to CA (Marin) a couple of years ago. Thanks for your advice, especially regarding large furniture pieces.
5
If a 7.1 were to occur near the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant it could cause a nuclear meltdown. The reactors are old and embrittleled, but as with the wildfires up North, PG&E keeps using them.
22
The DCNP seismic studies show that it can withstand up to a magnitude 7.5 earthquake, one that is almost 4 times stronger than the one felt on Friday, and one far stronger than the likely strongest quake that could occur on the nearby fault lines. It has seismic detectors that are designed to shut the reactor down if an earthquake occurs to prevent meltdown. Not only that, but it's high enough up that even a massive tsunami from a strong earthquake isn't likely ever to reach the plant. You shouldn't try to alarm people like this. You think the nuclear physicists don't consider seismic activity in plant design or safety mechanisms? Really?
18
@John Kirk Boyd
I agree, I believe federal and state governments just waiting that earthquake to decommission nuclear plant.
Until it breaks down, we will suck last drop from it.
Meanwhile something happens like Fukishima , then good luck.
What is your source of Diablo Canyon’s “brittleness”? If you have some specific insights, you may want to report them to the NRC.
6
My daughter and I are in L.A. on vacation. The quake on Friday night was frightening. We ran out of our hotel room to the roof exit. We keep asking ourselves, "Should we go home early?"
6
Please don’t! LA wants you to stay and enjoy all it has to offer!!
1
I appreciate te instinct to run, but in the event of an earthquake, do not run outside - drop and cover. You are more likely to get injured by flying debris if you run outside.
7
@Veronica
You’d be running in the wrong direction. I couldn’t run back home to California fast enough after seven years in Missouri. Earthquakes are a joy in comparison.
8
As some have mentioned, this 7.1 was far stronger and longer-lived even here in Las Vegas than the Fourth of July quake. Our chandeliers and ceiling fans were swaying around pretty good, and it didn't feel as much a roller as the 6.4 did. One word that works for me about these things: Disconcerting.
24
@DJ McConnell
A 7.1 is about 8 times more intense then a 6.4.. so yeah.. it was a much bigger quake... but also short duration. The stream of aftershocks are quite energetic though... smaller.
How bad an earthquake is felt at a distance as applies in your case has a lot to do with the depth, location, and duration.. as well as soil conditions between you and the quake.
2
Please be prepared for an earthquake. Building codes are great. Most people, however, are injured by falling furniture, so bolt them down. It’s easy and is also good for toddler-proofing. https://www.earthquakecountry.org/
22
I was at La Jolla Playhouse and watching a new play "The Luckiest" by Melissa Ross. The quake was a rolling, long shake. All around me, patrons whispered, "Earthquake. It's an Earthquake!" and looked about uncertainly.
I moved to the edge of my seat, wondering if I would be able to squeeze down into the narrow space between my seat and the seat in front of me if the shaking increased. The stage lights, visible through the metal grid above me, were swaying.
The actors did only the barest half-halt of a pause and kept speaking. As it became clear that the shaking was slowing, we in the audience sat back and returned our attention to the stage. Cables above me continued to sway for several minutes, but true to tradition, the show went on. (An excellent play, by the way.)
It's not easy living in earthquake country. You never know when the first shake hits if it will be a minor event or quickly intensify into something truly terrifying and disastrous. My heartfelt best wishes to everyone in Ridgecrest and the neighboring communities.
80
We live on the coast and felt this earthquake far more than the one the day before. Things were swinging around and the water in the fish pond slopped back and forth. Not only did our dog not warn us it was coming, he remained blissfully unaware even as his people started getting alarmed and going outside.
72
@Phill
Orange County here, in the San Joaquin Hills between Laguna Beach and Newport Beach. Our dog had the same non-reaction, he just continued to rest peacefully while the place was rocking. For me the Northridge quake is the benchmark. I thought I was going to die that morning. The one that concerns me is the Newport Inglewood fault, not that there's anything I can do about it.
7
@Phill - Hey, come on, a dog's rest is important. If he thought it was a serious incoming quake, he'll let you know. He doesn't want to "cry wolf", you know. ;-)
10
As a New Yorker, I’m rather clueless about earthquakes.
But I vividly recall being high up in a skyscraper in summer 2011, and feeling the building sway back and forth.
Since it was a hot summer day, I thought I was just a little dizzy from dehydration. But the swaying didn’t stop, and people came rushing out of their offices.
It turned out to be a 5.8 earthquake, low by California standards, but it was quite dismaying. I don’t know how Californians manage it; we just have blizzards to contend with!
18
@David G. Earthquakes are scary, no doubt about that. I've lived in California for 50 years and you actually, almost get used to them. It's rare that we get one like 7.1 in Ridgecrest. I live just over the mountains North of Santa Barbara. Hubby and I were watching tv when we began to feel the ground move. It was a rolling motion and we just sat in our chairs watching the blinds sway back and forth, wondering when it would be over. It was a long one. But from where we were sitting there was nothing close by that could hurt us.
I wouldn't leave the state because of earthquakes. In many ways Californians are more prepared with retrofitting and good placement of furniture. We have a landscape picture with a strong cardboard like backing over our bed so if it falls in the night it won't kill us.
That said, I did get out my emergency bag just in case last night. Power could always be cut off, even if we aren't at the epicenter. But I think once you are prepared, you don't worry so much.
But even if we weren't hit very hard here, my heart goes out to the people close to the epicenter. I know there was damage there. It had to be terrifying.
8
The tall buildings are built to sway and not break up but it’s not fun even if the sway amounts to a couple of inches. The real danger is on the street because windows can be shaken out and glide down a long ways to the ground.
5
We were vacationing on Mexico's west coast when a small tremor hit. Everything in the hotel room we where staying in rattled around for about 10 seconds then the whole building lurched about two feet and quickly settled back. It was so small it didn't even make it on the news. Hope to never experience another earth quake again.
Good luck and be safe.
20
This is a phenomenon of nature which we Californians live with on a daily basis. It’s scary, it’s destructive. We can prepare for it, but all the preparation in the world is still not enough. I could not help but think of another paradigm which our state confronts. And soon it will be rearing its ugly head. The wildfire. Both these forces are ever-present. One we have little power over. The other, however, can be prevented or assuaged. If only..
39
Sort of sad that some individuals indicate that there is "no one to take care of them"
Everyone needs to be prepared to take care of themselves for 48 hrs. minimum.
In the news, the State tells everyone to have a plan and be prepared. The office of emergency services can't take care of everyone immediately now can they ?
98
Lest anyone believe Los Angeles was leveled by last night's quake in Ridgecrest, no. We felt some gentle rolling for 20 seconds - enough to require picture frames on the wall be re-aligned.
And actually, a huge sense of relief after the rolling stopped. Los Angelenos feared it might be the "Big One" - the multi-meter slide of the Pacific Plate northward, predicted for the next decade, which indeed threatens to level much of Los Angeles, and beyond.
12
As a native San Franciscan who experienced the 1989 earthquake as well as having the misfortune to be in Napa in 2014 for that earthquake, let me say that you never get used them. Thinking of my fellow Californians in the South.
162
@TB
I was at a tech conference shortly after that quake. An electrical fault in the building caused fire alarms to sound, and emergency lighting to click on. There were several people who scambled under tables. The rest of us were baffled, until we learned they were from the Bay Area, and still traumatized.
Shortly after that I moved to Los Angeles. Six months later we had Northridge. I remember trying to stand up and being thrown to the ground, with my TV flying out about about two feet and nearly landing on me. I still remember vividly the sound of the girders in the building creaking (shrieking, really), cracks opening in the wall, and how the whole building continued to sway for long minutes after the quake finally stopped.
25
@TB: Very well stated. I’m terrified of them and the ‘implications’ for the East Bay alone as I live 1.5 km from the Hayward fault line. I have PTSD from both the ‘89 quake and the Napa quake. I have nightmares when I least expect them and wake up thinking the violent shaking I experienced in my dream/s was a real quake. If this quake ( either one ) was centered here in Berkeley / Oakland, the death toll alone would be staggering as per the population density. Some have said that California is a ‘Disaster Theme Park’ and unfortunately it is.
8
That was definitely a shaker! Our house rolled back and forth for what seemed like a minute, and our chandeliers were rocking back and forth afterwards. It was much more obvious than the Fourth of July foreshock, which I didn’t even notice (other than the movement of the chandeliers).
Having lived in California for over 20 years, this was definitely one I will remember. Blessings to our friends in Ridgecrest.
55
Yikes .... just before my 3 week vacation to LA!
7
So sorry you are going through this; fingers crossed that it ends soon and everyone is ok. We have a lively planet; the same processes that sustain life on this small blue ball also cause quakes and eruptions.
67