Earthquake Rocks Northern California, Tsunami Warnings Issued
Shaking and Confusion
Items flew off shelves, cellphones blared with tsunami warnings, and some people struggled to stay on their feet as a magnitude 7 earthquake rocked Northern California on Thursday.
"I have fireplaces flying forward," said Olivia Cobian, the innkeeper at the Gingerbread Mansion, a bed-and-breakfast in the historic town of Ferndale, as sirens wailed in the background Thursday morning. "It’s insane."
Her building, built in 1895, "looked like a war zone" after the shaking stopped.
Tsunami Warnings and Evacuations
Centered under the Pacific Ocean about 70 miles southwest of Eureka, the quake frayed nerves across most of California’s North Coast. And as the shaking stopped, tsunami warnings began to blare from cellphones, with local officials worried that the strong tremor could spark a second threat.
San Francisco Zoo was evacuated and closed because of the tsunami warning, and the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District temporarily shut down the underwater Transbay Tube. By noon, the agency said on social media that it had resumed normal operations, but that riders should expect delays.
Community Reactions
In San Francisco, firefighters scanned the beaches and ordered people to evacuate, while dozens of people gathered at the waterfront to watch the waves roll in. One man was seen watching the crashing waves with his dog, while a lone surfer remained out in the water taking advantage of the large swell.
Tsunami evacuation orders and warnings were issued for residents along the coast in West Berkeley, the Mendocino County coast, and Pinole, among others. Before noon, the U.S. Tsunami Warning Center canceled the alert, informing residents there was no tsunami threat after all.
Businesses and Homes Affected
Objects were knocked off the shelves, and glass items shattered on the ground, said Kaitlin Graves, an employee at Petrolia General Store about 50 miles south of Eureka.
"It felt like the woozy feeling you get when you’re in an elevator," she said.
Jennifer Savage, who works at the Surfrider Foundation, said Pacific Gas & Electric workers were perched high in the air working on power lines when the lines began to sway during the quake. After the shaking stopped, the workers came down and drove away safe.
Residents Share Their Experiences
Renee Chappelle, a 77-year-old Eureka native, said she has lived through five quakes that were magnitude 7 or stronger.
"It’s pretty usual for us in Humboldt County to get earthquakes," said Chappelle, who is the innkeeper of Hydrangea Inn, which was built by her great-aunt in the 1930s.
The house was built from redwood and still has its original studs, so its sturdiness prevented it from sustaining any damage in the temblor, Chappelle said. It wasn’t the strongest earthquake she’s experienced, she said, but it felt like the longest.
Conclusion
No major damage or injuries have been reported as of Thursday afternoon, but the magnitude of the quake and series of alerts were a strong reminder about the possibility of a damaging earthquake striking California.
FAQs
Q: What was the magnitude of the earthquake?
A: The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.0.
Q: Where was the epicenter of the earthquake?
A: The epicenter of the earthquake was under the Pacific Ocean, about 70 miles southwest of Eureka.
Q: Were there any injuries or fatalities reported?
A: No, there were no major injuries or fatalities reported as of Thursday afternoon.
Q: Was there any major damage reported?
A: No, there was no major damage reported, but some buildings and homes sustained minor damage.
Q: What caused the tsunami warnings?
A: The strong tremor caused by the earthquake triggered tsunami warnings, which were later canceled after the U.S. Tsunami Warning Center determined there was no tsunami threat.
