6.4 magnitude earthquake shakes Northern California: Live Updates | CNN (2024)

Some cities in Northern California are asking people to boil their water as clean up and recovery efforts continue in the wake of a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that hit the region early Tuesday.

The Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services put out boil water advisories for the cities of Rio Dell and Fortuna, specifically the Forest Hills subdivision. The advisories were in conjunction with several other county agencies, including the health department.

County officials are asking everyone in those areas boil water for at least one minute before drinking it or using it to cook.

Potable water is available at the following locations, officials said in the post:

Some background: There have been at least 80 aftershocks reported Tuesday following the main earthquake — the largest one was in Rio Dell, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci said earlier today.

He described Rio Dell as one of the “hardest hit areas.” The director also said water main breaks and other damage had been reported in the city of Fortuna.

Darren Gallagher looks at the collapsed second story porch of his house after an earthquake struck off the coast of northern California, in Rio Dell on December 20.

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More than 68%of customers are without power in Humboldt County, California, following a6.4 magnitudeearthquake earlier Tuesday.

According topoweroutage.us, 67,777 customers are still experiencing an outage as of just before 2:00 p.m. PT.

This is slightly down from the more than 71,000 customers who were in the dark earlier Tuesday morning following the earthquake.

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) which services much of that area said its crews have completed their initial transmission inspections as of around 2:25 p.m. PT.

In a statement, the company said conducting inspections is the first step of its emergency response plan to address gas and electric issues caused by the earthquake. After inspections, crews will work to repair damaged infrastructure, then once polls are safe, restore power.

PG&E also said it is conducting a survey of gas leaks, and according to the statement, additional crews are on their way to Humboldt County.

At least two people are dead after Tuesday’s 6.4 magnitude quake that shook the northern California, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff’sOffice.

Officials are expected to give an update later Tuesday.

Scientists are warning people in Northern California to prepare for the possibility of strong aftershocks into next week, said Cynthia Pridmore of the California Geological Survey Department of Conservation.

It comes after state officials said there have been up to 80 aftershocks already reported in the wake of a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that shook Northern California early Tuesday.

The US Geological Survey’s most recent aftershock forecast adds that in addition to a chance for a magnitude 5 quake, “there is a more than 99% chance of magnitude 3 and above aftershocks within the next week,and it is most likely that 5 to 24 of these will occur.”

Aftershocks that are magnitude 3 and higher aftershocks are large enough to be felt nearby, the USGA said, adding that magnitude 5 is enough to do damage.

Pridmore suggested those living in the area make sure their emergency kit is ready and plans are in place if there is another earthquake.

As officials assess the damage that has already been done, Pridmore said the California Geological Survey Department of Conservation is sending scientists and engineers to document the earthquake and its characteristics.

Damage from an earthquake is seen in a kitchen in Rio Dell, California, on December 20.

Up to 80 aftershocks rattled parts of Northern California after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit the area early Tuesday, according to California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci.

The largest aftershock was a 4.6 magnitude quake which happened in Rio Dell, which he described as one of the “hardest hit areas.”

The director said that assessment is still ongoing. He said specifically water main breaks and other damage has been reported in the city of Fortuna.

The state’s operational center will stay working until at least tonight to help people navigate through damage from the earthquake and aftershocks, Ghilarducci said.

There were some injuries reported following the 6.4 magnitude earthquake in Humboldt County, California, according to California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci.

“We have had some injuries associated with this particular event. We’re still assessing the total numbers,” he said, adding that the injuries ranged from minor to moderate.

There have been “no confirmed numbers of fatalities as of yet,” he noted.

California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) Director Mark Ghilarducci said the state’s new earthquake early warning system worked as expected when a 6.4 magnitudeearthquake hit regions in the northern part of the state.

Ghilarducci said the system sent out alerts 10 seconds before the earthquake was felt. That alert reached nearly 3 million people in the state, he said at a news conference Tuesday.

That 10-second warning gave people a chance to get to a safe place, he said.

“The system did operate as we had hoped and as we’ve been working to design,” the director added, saying the earthquake was “felt widely.”

Some background: The Earthquake Warning California system uses ground motion sensors to detect earthquakes before people can feel them, according to its website.

Once those sensors have the data, a warning is then pushed to people’s phones via an app, as well as on Government Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA).

Take a look at how Tuesday’s 6.4 magnitude earthquake affected different parts of Northern California — and its varying levels of intensity.

More than three dozen smaller earthquakes have been reported around the in Northern California territory where a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck early Tuesday, the US Geological Survey reported.

These smaller movements are known as aftershocks. Here’s what to know about them as the area continues to assess damage.

What is an aftershock? An aftershock is a smaller earthquake that happens in the same general area as the larger activity, according to the US Geological Survey (UGS). These smaller earthquakes are caused by the fault readjusting from the big earthquake, USGS says on its website.

The seismology lab at UC Berkley puts it like this:

USGS says the frequency of these aftershocks decrease with time.

What is the difference between and aftershock and a “swarm?” What is happening in Northern California Tuesday has been defined as an earthquake and aftershocks because there was a main, larger, identifiable “mainshock,” or main earthquake.

“A swarm, on the other hand, is a sequence of mostly small earthquakes with no identifiable mainshock. Swarms are usually short-lived, but they can continue for days, weeks, or sometimes even months. They often recur at the same locations. Most swarms are associated with geothermal activity,” USGS says.

More than 72%of customers are without power in Humboldt County, California, following a6.4 magnitudeearthquake earlier Tuesday.

According topoweroutage.us, 71,763 customers have been without power as of 8:39 a.m. PT. This is significantly increase from 55,176 customers who had lost power as of 3:15 a.m. PT.

Damaged storefronts are seen in Fortuna, California, on December 20.

After the 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Northern California’s Eureka area early Tuesday, more than three dozen smaller quakes impacted the territory afterward, the US Geological Survey reported.

Some were as powerful as a 4.6 magnitude earthquake.

The main quake also produced at least some shaking from coastal Oregon to south of San Jose, California, publicreportscollected by the survey show. It poses no tsunami threat, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.

Tuesday’s temblorcomes a yearafter a 6.2 magnitude quake struck just off Humboldt County’s Cape Mendocino on Dec. 20, 2021, and caused minor damage to buildings in the area.

Damage is seen inside a house after an earthquake was detected near Ferndale on December 20.

The epicenter of Tuesday’s quake was in the Pacific about 9 miles from the city of Ferndale, the US Geological Surveysaid.

Ferndale is a city of about 1,400 people in Humboldt County, known for its Victorian homes and storefronts.

The dairy town near Eureka is considered a gateway to California’s Lost Coast and deems itself a “destination for a fun family vacation, rugged outdoor adventure or romantic weekend getaway” on its website.

Ferndale has been in or near the site of earthquakes in the last few years. A 6.2-magnitude tremor shook the town in December 2021.

At least two people were injured after a magnitude 6.4 quake rattled Northern California early Tuesday, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office is still collecting information from local dispatch centers, sheriff’s spokesperson Samantha Karges told CNN.

Earthquake damage is seen outside a building in Rio Dell, California, on December 20.

The California Governor’s office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) shared an update, saying the damage assessment work continues after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Humboldt County.

The quake was centered in the Pacific just off the coast, about 7.5 miles from Ferndale in Humboldt County, the US Geological Survey said. That’s about a 20-mile drive southwest of Eureka and a 280-mile drive northwest of Sacramento.

Here’s a list of safety steps to take after an earthquake happens, according to theDepartment of Homeland Security,Earthquake Country AllianceandRed Cross.

Wait out the aftershocks:Quakes of smaller magnitude nearly always follow the most severe shocks of an earthquake sequence, so be aware in the hours following the initial earthquake.

Get out:If you’re in a damaged building, get outside and move far away to avoid falling debris.

If you’re stuck, close your mouth:You could inhale fumes or debris, so it’s best to send a text, bang on a nearby object or whistle so rescuers can locate you.

Monitor the news:The government will likely alert the public with emergency instructions via TV, social media and radio, so look to your devices for updates.

Avoid making phone calls:Call volume has exceeded the capacity of mobile carriers’ networks after earthquakes in the past, so some calls were blocked to allow others. It’s best not to call unless it’s an emergency, so text or instant message instead.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office warned residents to be prepared for aftershocks following the 6.4 magnitude quake that jolted the county at 2:34 a.m. PT Tuesday.

“Due to a large earthquake, widespread damages to roads and homes are reported throughout Humboldt County. Be prepared for aftershocks. Check gas and water lines for damages or leaks. Exercise caution if traveling,” the sheriff’s officetweeted.

The earthquake damaged a bridge that connects to Ferndale with a population of 1,387.

“State Route 211 at Fernbridge, Humboldt County is CLOSED. The bridge is closed while we conduct safety inspections due to possible seismic damage,”Caltrans District 1 tweeted.

Smaller quakes continue to rattle the area, according to the US Geological Survey.

Earthquakes are measuredusing seismographs, which monitor the seismic waves that travel through the Earth after an earthquake strikes.

Scientists used the Richter Scale for many years but now largely follow the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) Scale, which the US Geological Survey says is a more accurate measure of size.

The Richter scale measures magnitude, whereas theMMI scale measures intensity.

Here’s how each range of magnitude would feel according to the US Geological Survey, which follows the MMI scale:

California Highway Patrol (CHP) and local law enforcement are responding to a bridge in Ferndale, California, where Tuesday morning’s 6.4 magnitude earthquake caused cracks to the structure, according to CHP and Ferndale Police.

The bridge cracked in four places, there is debris in the roadway, and law enforcement are on scene to facilitate a road closure, according to CHP’sincident information page.

If the crack in the bridge “gets any bigger” the roadway may slide, CHP said, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.

More than 55%of customers are without power in Humboldt County, California, following a6.4 magnitudeearthquake7.5 miles west-southwest of Ferndale.

According topoweroutage.us, 55,176 customers had lost power as of 3:15 a.m. PT.

Electric provider Pacific Gas & Electricadvisedcustomers to avoid turning gas without a clear sign that it is leaking, evacuate if a gas line may be broken and check for downed or damaged electric lines.

Eureka, California, resident Wendy Pickett Monolias was sleeping when she was woken up by theearthquake that hit California’s Humboldt County on Tuesday morning.

“Once the shaking finally stopped, we got our flashlights and phones and looked around. Everything was in shambles,” Pickett Monolias said.

Several of her family heirlooms were also damaged, she said.

A 6.4 magnitudeearthquakewas detected about 7.5 miles west-southwest of Ferndale, California, in Humboldt County, according to theU.S. Geological Survey.

TheNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationsaid there is no current tsunami threat associated with the quake.