Community Chat

[gertrudecloset]

USA Today Reports:

At least two people died and 12 were injured after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake rocked Northern California early Tuesday, local authorities said.

The temblor, which is the strongest earthquake the area has seen in years, also damaged infrastructure and cut off power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses around Humboldt County, about 250 miles north of San Francisco.

The Humboldt County Sheriff's office said two people "died as a result of medical emergencies occurring during and/or just following the earthquake."

Tuesday's fatalities mark the first deaths stemming from an earthquake in California since one person died in 2019 during a 7.1 magnitude quake that rocked the city of Ridgecrest in California's Northern Mojave Desert region.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck at 2:34 a.m. PT in Pacific Ocean waters about 7½ miles west of Ferndale at a depth of just over 16 miles. The city is about 19 miles south of Eureka, near the California and Oregon state line.

State officials said they closed one bridge into Ferndale that was damaged.

The USGS warned of "many" aftershocks, including some that could reach magnitude 4. More than two dozen aftershocks were recorded on the USGS website, most of which were less than magnitude 4.

'It could happen tomorrow': Experts know disaster upon disaster looms for West Coast

Two deaths were elderly residents

The two area residents whose deaths were linked to Tuesday morning's quake were 72 and 83 years old, according to Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal.

Honsal said the deaths likely occurred because “their medical emergency happened at the moment of the earthquake and EMS could not get there in time to deliver them to the proper medical facility.”

One death happened in Rio Dell, and the location of the other death was still unclear, Hondal said.

A total of 12 people have reported injuries so far, and the number is expected to rise, Honsal said.

How far was the earthquake felt?

The quake was felt as far east as Redding, California, roughly 160 miles east of Ferndale, and as far south as the Bay Area, according to Mark Ghilarducci, director of the state’s office of emergency services.

Roads, homes damaged around Humboldt County, California

The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office announced reports of damage to homes and roads throughout the county, which has a population of about 136,000 people.

Officials identified one bridge, the Fernbridge, connecting Ferndale to U.S. 101, that sustained enough damage to prompt a closure, according to Tony Tavares, director of the state's transportation agency.

In addition to Ferndale, most of the destruction took place in Rio Dell, Fortuna and Scotia in the Eel River Valley, state officials said.

[On It]

Such devastating news. My heart hurts for those affected.

[shoekitty]

I am in NoCal but  far from quake. Whew!  I have been through many quakes last big one for me was 1989. We have had a couple big b  I feel for all those affected. It is awful. And this time of year it is cold, especially atnight. For California anyway. We have had 36 nights. And 42 days. Without electricity. And with damage , and so close to Christmas this is very tragic.  I also think of those all over the US dealing with cold, freezes, blizzards tornado you name it. Bless you all! And I wish you all Peace. 

[patbz]

I lived in Ridgecrest for 22 years and fortunately left before the twin quakes (6.9 and 7.1) Independent day weekend 2 years ago.  I recently returned to pick up Grand kids and many old buildings have been rebuilt to much higher quake standards. I feel for those in N.CA going through this one.