A 6.4 magnitude earthquake shook Northern California’s Eureka area early Tuesday, according to the US Geological Survey, and thousands were without power in its wake.
The quake, recorded at 2:34 am PT, was centered in the Pacific just off the coast, about 7.5 miles from the coastal Humboldt County city of Ferndale, the survey said. That’s about a 20-mile drive southwest of Eureka and a 280-mile drive northwest of Sacramento.
Thousands without power after 6.4 magnitude earthquake strikes Northern California, Humboldt County.
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Most homes and businesses in Humboldt County were without power early Tuesday. About 60,000 outages were reported, out of 99,000 customers tracked in the county, according to utility tracker PowerOutage.us.
The quake spilled a number of items onto the floor of Caroline Titus’ Ferndale-area home, video she posted to Twitterr shows. “This was a big one. Power is out now. House is a big mess,” wrote Titus.
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That was a big one. Power is now out in #ferndaleca. House is a mess. #earthquake pic.twitter.com/YEmcv1Urhp
— Caroline Titus (@caroline95536) December 20, 2022
More than a dozen smaller quakes — as powerful as a 4.6 magnitude — struck the area afterward, the survey reported.
No current tsunami threat is associated with the quake, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.
This story will be updated.
15 precautions to take to prepare for an earthquake
15 precautions to take to prepare for an earthquake
It might start as a disconcerting sensation of being slightly off-balance or the detection of an unusual rumbling. You might notice your pets acting erratically. Suddenly, it seems like the whole world is shaking: Books fall off shelves, furniture topples, windows shatter. Before you know it, the earthquake is over—leaving only destruction and devastation in its wake.
The lack of advance notice might be the scariest part about earthquakes: The United States Geological Survey’s early warning program can only alert you of an impending earthquake a few seconds to a minute ahead of time. Since you will have a brief instant to take cover (at most), it’s crucial to prepare your home and family for an earthquake ahead of time.
While taking these steps would be helpful for residents across the country, anyone who lives in one of the most earthquake-prone areas of the United States should pay particular notice to this plan. Seismologists and other scientists may not be able to predict when the “big one” will strike, but preparing yourself will give you some peace of mind. Stackers used resources from the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other experts to compile a list of 15 ways you can prepare for an earthquake.
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#1. Make an emergency plan
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#2. Prepare your emergency supply kit
Every household should also have an emergency supply kit and go bags prepared for each person. That way, no matter what happens, you’ll have everything you need to survive a disaster.
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#3. Practice taking cover
When you feel an earthquake, you immediately need to drop, cover, and hold. Drop down onto your hands and knees, crawl to shelter under a sturdy desk or table, and hold onto your shelter.
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#4. Teach everyone how to signal for help
Taking cover under a strong table or desk could prevent you from getting hurt, but you might still be trapped underneath all kinds of debris. Practice signaling for help by knocking loudly or whistling so you can call out to rescuers if you need assistance.
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#6. Get your home checked by a structural engineer
During an earthquake, your home could slide off its foundation or even collapse. That’s not only dangerous but could cause hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. A preventative retrofit, by contrast, can cost as little as $5,000 and potentially save your life.
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#7. Hire a contractor to check your gas connections
Earthquakes can rip rigid gas lines from the walls, causing a gas leak that could lead to fire or explosion. Have flexible connection pipes installed to mitigate the risk.
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#8. Learn how to shut off your gas manually
You might not be able to tell if your gas line breaks during an earthquake. Even if you can’t smell gas or see any exposed pipes, it’s best to shut off the gas immediately to be safe. Practice shutting off the line before an earthquake so you know exactly what you need to do in case of an emergency.
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#9. Get a fire extinguisher
Every home should have a fire extinguisher: You never know when you might need one. After an earthquake, you might have to put out a fire caused by a gas leak or downed power lines. Fire extinguishers should be in the kitchen and on every floor of the house.
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#10. Secure your appliances
Think about the size of your refrigerator. Would you be able to lift it up by yourself? Probably not. Prevent any large appliances or pieces of furniture from coming loose during an earthquake by attaching them to the walls with nylon straps, heavy duty hooks or bolts.
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#11. Install safety latches on kitchen cabinets
Child-safe latches will also keep you safe from falling dishes, pots and pans during an earthquake.
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#12. Secure all other loose objects
Search your home for anything else that could fall during an earthquake, such as artwork, light fixtures and vases. Attach them to walls or tables with museum wax or earthquake putty.
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#13. Move your bed away from windows
If possible, move your bed away from any windows. Earthquakes can break windows, causing a shower of broken glass to fall on top of you. It’s also not a good idea to hang heavy frames or shelves above your bed for this reason.
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#14. Download maps of your city for offline access
Powerful earthquakes can knock out both power and cell service for hours or days. If you usually rely on Google Maps to get around town, you’ll be out of luck. Download maps of your area for online access or purchase paper copies of local maps.
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#15. Consider earthquake insurance
Typical homeowner insurance policies don’t cover damage from earthquakes. If you live in a particularly earthquake-prone area, you might want to consider purchasing additional earthquake insurance to help you repair your home more quickly after a disaster.
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