Earthquake Shakes Northern California

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck three miles offshore in Northern California on Tuesday, December 20, at 2:34 a.m. local time. The earthquake occurred about 10 miles southwest of Ferndale, California, and prompted California Gov. Gavin Newsom to proclaim a state of emergency for the area. 

Two people died as a result of medical emergencies occurring during and/or just following the earthquake. AP News also reported that approximately 12 people were injured.

Ferndale is located in Humboldt County on the Redwood Coast of Northern California, about 60 miles south of the Oregon border and 200 miles north of the San Francisco Bay Area. The earthquake’s strong shaking near the epicenter caused widespread damage to roads and homes, according to the Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services.

According to AP News, more than 72,000 Pacific Gas & Electric customers had lost power due to the event, including two Humboldt County hospitals, both of which were relying on generators during the outage. By late Tuesday, power had been restored to roughly 40,000 customers.

In a Tweet that same day, the USGS warned of the high probability of aftershocks, most likely around the magnitude of 4.0.

An Area With a History of Seismic Activity

This region has a history of abundant seismic activity. In fact, a sequence of overlapping earthquakes of magnitude 6.2 and 5.7 occurred nearby exactly a year ago on December 20, 2021. Earthquakes are common in this area because of its proximity to where the Pacific, North America, and Juan de Fuca plates meet, a spot known as the Mendocino Triple Junction. In the past century, there have been at least 40 other earthquakes of magnitude 6 or larger, including six earthquakes magnitude 7 or larger, within roughly 150 miles of Tuesday’s earthquake.

“This area is the most seismically active part of California,” said Keith Knudsen, deputy director of the USGS Earthquake Science Center. “Long-time residents have likely experienced many local earthquakes and the associated intense shaking.”

Being Prepared and Staying Safe in Case of an Earthquake

While it’s easy to feel helpless in the event of an earthquake, there are things facility managers and building inhabitants can do to be more prepared and stay safe. According to ready.gov, the following actions can help in preparing for an earthquake:

• Secure heavy items, such as bookcases, refrigerators, water heaters, televisions, and objects that hang on walls. Store heavy and breakable objects on low shelves.
• Consider making improvements to your building to fix structural issues that could cause your building to collapse during an earthquake.
• Consider obtaining an earthquake insurance policy. A standard insurance policy might not cover earthquake damage.

Furthermore, everyone in the building should be aware of the Drop, Cover, and Hold On technique to protect themselves during an earthquake:

• Drop/Lock. Wherever you are, drop down to your hands and knees and hold onto something sturdy. If you’re using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking stops.
• Cover. Cover your head and neck with your arms. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter. If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall (away from windows). Crawl only if you can reach better cover without going through an area with more debris. Stay on your knees or bent over to protect vital organs.
• Hold on. If you are under a table or desk, hold on with one hand and be ready to move with it if it moves. If seated and unable to drop to the floor, bend forward, cover your head with your arms and hold on to your neck with both hands.

You can also practice earthquake drills at your facility. Check out shakeout.org for ways to practice earthquake safety and prepare for International ShakeOut Day, a day set aside specifically for global participation in earthquake drills.

For more information about being prepared during disasters, also read Strategize for the Future: Create a Disaster Plan.