Northern California residents got a real scare Tuesday morning when a 6.4-magnitude earthquake rocked the Eureka area at 2:34 a.m.
At least two people were injured, and while estimates of damage are still coming in, CNN reports the epicenter was determined to be about 15 miles outside of Fortuna. The strong quake was just the first of approximately three dozen more smaller quakes, the largest of which registered a 4.6 magnitude. The shaking knocked out the power to approximately 71,000 customers in the area.
The Humboldt County Sheriff's took to social media in the wake of the earthquakes and reported widespread damages to homes and roads throughout the county. They also urged residents not to call 911 unless they were experiencing an emergency.
"Be prepared for aftershocks. Check gas and water lines for damages or leaks. Exercise caution if traveling," a post on their Facebook page reads.
CNN also reports there was severe cracking and damage to the Fernbridge located northeast of Ferndale. As a precaution, the California Department of Transportation closed the bridge while inspections are done to determine the true scale of the damages.
Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
In an incredible coincidence, this quake hits the greater Eureka area exactly one year after a 6.2 magnitude quake hit the area on December 20, 2021. Fortunately, most damages to area buildings were mild after last year's event.
Tuesday's earthquake shook most people awake, which made for a terrifying experience in the early morning hours, as Wendy Pickett Monolias shared with CNN.
"Once the shaking finally stopped, we got our flashlights and phones and looked around. Everything was in shambles," Pickett Monolias told the station. "Things you wouldn't expect to have fallen over or broken did. An entire cabinet in the bathroom fell over and broke apart."
While there were originally concerns about the possibility of a tsunami on the coast, officials were quick to report that this quake did not trigger any of the usual tsunami warnings.
Natural disasters like this remind us of the importance of a good emergency kit and supplies, including food to keep on hand in case of earthquakes, floods, or tornadoes. .
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