Earthquake!
An 5.2 earthquake happened about 3:21 pm. west of Petrolia.
News, nature, and community throughout the Emerald Triangle
News, nature, and community throughout the Emerald Triangle
An 5.2 earthquake happened about 3:21 pm. west of Petrolia.
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Shook pretty good up here on Tompkins Hill Rd. Fortuna.
Imagine us getting a bad earthquake once the hospitals are overrun.
… and then a tornado happens and a wildfire starts ?.
In my opinion all the panic that’s happening by imagining things is worse than the stupid fucking virus
I don’t know how old you are but I assure you, if you were an older citizen you would not think it a ‘stupid virus’.
“Preparedness is a state of mind. Survival is of the fittest. Mother Nature doesn’t care either way.”
(Me)
Adequate civilization beats the fittest individuals every time. (Me)
…and the fires and death tolls of 2019. People are suing for what MN did, not PG&E.
Oh and quakes…
better a bunch of 2.0’s~4.2’s closely spaced = Tectonic reliefing, nicely.
“Super Bowl Swarm” ? i don’t care. Good thing to happen. But, Quite some time has trailed by with no jiggles. And we’re near a major binding fault area. A big/medium bump was pending.
Also, Point Mendicino might just be a big ten thousand year old bottle cork, given the activity in that area.
Panic more, bro.
Wait for hurricane season on east coast. I keep calling fema and governors no response. When hurricane season hits look out. Where and how will they evacuate? They wont… simply put they are screwed
Any update on tsunami warnings?
Yep. There are none
It was only a 5.2 quake… probably not.
According to the USGS there is no risk. Thankfully!
Wow. That was a significant shaker! I really thought to myself, “this is the big one!” My dog ran downstairs with me behind him. My hands were shaking at least 9. 0! Whew! Utah had a big one today too.
It was so brief, that it didn’t rate high on the scale, but it had a huge punch. It was the strongest but shortest I have felt, A minute or two of that and we would have had a major quake.
USGS says no tsunami
Well, the triple 7’s were back in the early 1990’s.
In Eureka, power was out for about a day, but I don’t recall any damage or problem with hospitals.
That isn’t to say a 7 quake ‘under’ Eureka… or a bigger quake offshore might be an issue.
Those were ‘nasty’ quakes. Difficulty standing or moving, huge noises (both inside and out),
earthquake lights on the last quake. (Blue flashes in time with the shaking.)
Horrible grinding and shuddering on the last quake, kinda scared the crap out of me ! (Like what the hell is going on ?)
We live in potentially ‘violent’ country.
What got me was how big they were and how close together. Took me weeks to really calm back down.
A Cascadia subduction event, like Fukushima, will likely be a 9 and last for up to 30 seconds or more. ALL FALL DOWN
Magnitude is based upon duration. A 9.0 is very unlikely to be 30 seconds. It will be 2 minutes plus.
Magnitude is not based on duration, but a very high magnitude local earthquake would likely last longer. There are so few reliable news sources in Humboldt. Please consider the ramifications of your uninformed misinformation before posting.
I’m going out on a limb here, but I’ve been watching the patterns of earthquakes in this area for 40 years.
THAT one was generated by pressures from the San Andreas.
If you look at the USGS shake map of the event you can see that most of the ‘shove’ went to the north-east. Eureka got more of it that the areas due east.
The few things swinging in Weott were swinging North East to South West.
With this in mind, my “worst case scenario” has a bigger one hitting somewhat south of here. The larger shake we had a month ago was making room for this pressure release.
Now that the stress is relieved all along the northern coast (Oregon coast has had a couple, too) there is room for the stresses in the south to unlock.
Mobius, I have to disagree. All of the earthquakes we have experienced in the last 50 years have put pressure on the lock point of the Mendocino triple junction, and not visa versa. This most recent quake is still basically along the Gorda escarpment and therefore pushing energy into the locked point, creating greater stress. If anything, because it was so close to shore, this latest quake tells me that the big one may not be far off, geologically speaking.
The Gorda Plate and Juan de Fuca Plate are remnants of the original seabed, the Farallon Plate, the oldest seabed on earth, which is slowly sliding east under the North American PLate. The direction of the San Andreas is a north to south movement, while the Gorda moves to the east. More concerning to me is the Utah quake, which is in line with the Gorda Escarpment. I don’t know if it means anything but worth considering,
When the big one hits, then the pressure will be released. Unfortunately the North Coast will be toast.
The tensor solution indicates stress relief in a north-south direction, which can be along a northeast-trending high angle fault in the Gorda Plate. In other words, a fairly typical Gorda Plate quake. And, yes, that north-south crunching of the Gorda Plate does transfer stress to the San Andreas, although a piddly 5.2 doesn’t change the big picture significantly.
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/nc73355700/moment-tensor
The local quake is not related to the Magna, Utah quakes.
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/uu60363602/executive
No, I’m not talking about stress to the San Andreas. If you look at this map of 5.5 or greater EQs over the last 119 years, all of the major earthquakes in our area are along the Gorda Escarpment, offshore Humboldt Co. These quakes release energy to the east into the Mendocino Triple Junction (MTJ) locked point. I doubt these quakes have much effect on the SA. Thats not saying the SA couldn’t have a major quake, only that the interaction along the SA fault is more dependent on the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate. The Gorda Plate and JDF are a whole different ball game.
My point is that EQs in our area do not relieve stress on the triple junction. Stress there has been intense and getting intenser for a long time. EQs in our area most likely just increase that stress level.
map of EQs
https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/sim3446
I should also add no one knows for sure when an EQ affects another EQ. We know that EQs can trigger other EQs thousands of miles away. Plate tectonics are chaotic.
“If you look at this map of 5.5 or greater EQs over the last 119 years, all of the major earthquakes in our area are along the Gorda Escarpment, offshore Humboldt Co.”
That is absolutely not true! Blow the map up to 100% and you will see that the largest events are within the Gorda Plate. They reflect the internal deformation of the Gorda Plate as the triple junction migrates north, pushing it against the backstop of the Blanco Fracture Zone. There are also a lot of smaller earthquakes along the Mendocino Fault, but they’re not the ones where the major action is.
“My point is that EQs in our area do not relieve stress on the triple junction.”
Also not true.
“Stress there has been intense and getting intenser for a long time.”
Depends on the time scale.
“EQs in our area most likely just increase that stress level.”
Also not true. When the Gorda Plate deforms internally to contract north-south, it relieves normal stress across the Mendocino Fault (“Gorda Escarpment”). That has two effects on the Mendocino Fault and the San Andreas system. The normal stress relief along the Mendocino Fault has the effect of 1) decreasing resistance along the fault in a strike-slip direction, i.e. it increases the probability of movement along the fault, and 2) decreasing resistance to northward movement of the Pacific Plate. When north-south resistance (stress) is decreased across the Gorda/Pacific boundary it increases stress along the adjacent North America/Pacific boundary, AKA the San Andreas. Conversely, when the northern San Andreas moves, it increases the compressive stress on the Gorda Plate.
There is a plate boundary between the Gorda quakes and the Magna quakes. They are not part of the same system.
Please select a less misleading handle. I do not think it is appropriate for you to refer to yourself as a researcher.
Wow, I have no idea what you are talking about. Whether it’s on the escarpment or a bit north makes no difference, that’s the general vicinity. The locked point from my estimations is east of Trinidad (once again, a general area). Anything that pushes energy towards the locked point is increasing stress. You have to picture the locked point, the Gorda Plate underneath and pushing hard against the NA Plate with the Pacific Plate adding energy. An EQ west of this locked point will send energy into it. It’s not rocket science.
The rest of what you wrote is meaningless to the discussion.
And the only reason I referenced Utah is because underneath it and the North American Plate is what is left of the already subducted Farallon Plate which the Gorda Plate is a part of. And it made me curious, that’s all. Whether or not there is a connection I have no idea.
But concerning EQs on one plate affecting EQs on a far different plate, this has been known for years to occur. And as far as research goes, you need to learn to google deeper. There’s a wealth of information out there.
Anyway, that’s my two cents. If you’re looking for a net war I don’t play that game. I have more important things to do.
“These quakes release energy to the east into the Mendocino Triple Junction (MTJ) locked point.”
“The locked point from my estimations is east of Trinidad (once again, a general area).”
“An EQ west of this locked point will send energy into it.”
You obviously don’t know where the MTJ is located. Also, the entire North America/Gorda-Juan de Fuca boundary is locked. The internal deformation of the Gorda Plate under north-south compression is a minor player in that context.
The Magna earthquake is a completely different mechanism from a subduction zone earthquake, per the link I provided above. Its mechanism is textbook basin and range.
Yes. That Utah quake is still releasing with little quakes after, but while the “north coast will be toast” may apply, it will be farther north or it will happen south of us.
Still toast, if you rely on anything that has to be shipped in from the outside…
And we’ll notice it just like we noticed the Loma Prieta. Well, I noticed Loma Prieta — made the trees dance when there was no wind.
But it was the direction of the shake that I noticed… That shove was from the south.
Rest assured, the Cascadia event will shake Humboldt hard.
I think that the direction that you feel the motion in depends on which subsidiary faults and fractures are activated, and your relationship to them. For example, I live east of Myers Flat and the fault that affects us is the Salmon Creek fault (not named after our local creek, but rather, the Salmon Creek located north of CR… that whole beautiful valley is likely related to the Salmon Creek fault. Different faults react differently depending on the type, location, depth and violence of the originating quake. Anyhow, for us, when our fault moves in reaction to the Triple Junction, we generally move due N- due S. Probably Weott, moving NE -SW, is responding to a different accomodation fault or fracture.
Did you look at the shake map at USGS? The areas with the greatest impact are north east of the epicenter. This is borne out by the swinging earthquake detectors in my home.
The Salmon Creek fault is a disaster waiting to happen. Took a class with L Dengler back in the 90s and I still can’t drive the lowlands past CR without a thought to that. Have spent many hours in the past researching ways to get from South County to Eureka without going this route. 101 won’t be a functional road through that stretch when the Salmon lets go.
Very strong, really shaking, Myrtle town.
Felt like one quake here that built up, faded a bit, then built up again. 10-12 seconds total, which is a long time. I am in the flood plain in Myers Flat. We shake like jello here☺
Nothing fell, lots rattled
My mom said her cell phone alerted her at 2:00 pm With a text, to prepare for a earth quake.
Cover and drop to the ground. She has US cellular
I have Verizon I received nothing.
Whether you get the ShakeAlert depends on where you are. See ShakeAlert.org for more info.
I can’t find any place to sign up for these alerts on their website. Any suggestions?
Right now, the MyShake, QuakeAlertUSA, and ShakeAlertLA apps for your phone are available in the app stores. Also many people will get them through FEMA’s Wireless Emergency Alert system (e.g. what delivers Amber Alerts). All of this is in a testing phase as announced by the Governor last October.
Verizon hates you.
I felt it out here at the cove,and it scared my 4 cats off the couch. Big ones on the way someday.
I was walking the dog in Benbow when my U.S. Cellular phone alerted me that an earthquake was coming. ( it said to drop and cover) I didn’t feel anything, but I did move out from under the trees into the open.
I don’t trust trees. I used to work in the woods and trees like to throw limbs at you.
Felt it in benbow..?
My US cellular phone gave me an emergency alert about 30 seconds before I felt it at Standish Hickey. I’m enabled in settings for public alerts on it
??I got my alert at the same time it was happening. Then I had to spend about an half hour putting things back in place. ????
Felt it in Arcata just off Janes Road – a good shake for about 5 seconds. Nothing fell down but the shaking sure got my attention.
If US Cellular customers received an advance alert and didn’t sign up, your cell numbers were opted in to the state Early Earthquake Warning system. Anyone can register! Do a web search for California Earthquake Early Warning, administered by Cal OES.
I find it amazing that they sent out an advanced alert. I would think that would be big news.
My alert went off when I was already dropped, covered and holding on. I said “must be really close.” And it was.
Haven’t had a really big earth quake sence 92.
I got the earth shaking take cover about 1 min b 4 it hit.
What location?
Felt it in Arcata. I’m originally from the Midwest (Chicago) and this was the third time I have ever felt an earthquake in my life! I believe it was about 2 weeks ago, I felt 2 in one day. Today felt very strong, my children and I ran to a doorframe and toddler was scared. An earthquake is absolutely terrifying sounding to me.
From State web site- “DO NOT stand in a doorway: An enduring earthquake image of California is a collapsed adobe home with the door frame as the only standing part. From this came our belief that a doorway is the safest place to be during an earthquake. True- if you live in an old, unreinforced adobe house or some older woodframe houses. In modern houses, doorways are no stronger than any other part of the house, and the doorway does not protect you from the most likely source of injury- falling or flying objects. You also may not be able to brace yourself in the door during strong shaking. You are safer under a table.”
https://www.earthquakecountry.org/dropcoverholdon/#notrecommended
An important thing is to prepare your space before an earthquake so stuff does not fall on your and your kids.
Do you have earthquake insurance also need that wildlife insurance can’t forget the flood insurance can you afford dental insurance if you lucky you will have medical insurance I’m thinking about life insurance how about you