Remembering the 2021 and 2022 December 20th North Coast Earthquakes

Wednesday, 20 December 2023, 8:25 am Kym Kemp 4 comments

Slide on the Bluffs Between Garberville and Redway 2 views • Dec 20, 2021 • Video provided by Chelsea Rowton-Wade

Slide on the Bluffs Between Garberville and Redway in 2021. [Photo provided by Chelsea Rowton-Wade]

For two years in a row, large earthquakes rocked Humboldt County on December 20. In 2021, a 6.2 quake smacked the North Coast sending boulders rolling and breaking glass.

Photos of Shop Smart Damage, photos by Valerie Lillie

Redway’s Shop Smart grocery store experienced significant spillage. [Photos by Valerie Lillie]

But there wasn’t the devastating damage that occurred in 2022 when a 6.4 hit at 2:37 a.m. Our reporters were out on the streets and sending back photos of what happened.

Broken glass at Sport and Cycle in Broadway in Eureka. [Photo by Ryan Hutson]

Damage ranged from broken glass in Old Town Eureka…

to buckled bridges that closed for months:

Fernbridge closed after quake. [Photo from Caltrans]

to items thrown from shelves:

The Safeway in Fortuna needs a cleanup in the shampoo aisle… [Photo sent in]

Pacific Outfitters in Eureka looked like the earthquake was gunning for them:

Pacific Outfitters in Eureka. [Photo by Aaron Ostrom]

Old treasures such as the Loleta Creamery Building and the Lloyd building in Eureka received unrecoverable damage.

Vacant Loleta Creamery Building, Site of cult-classic film Halloween III Damaged During December Earthquake [photo credit Brad Getter]

And roughly 150 residences were damaged or destroyed.

The estimated cost of repair is $10,000. Photo from GoFUNDMe

Working to repair a home in the Rio Dell area.

If you value our detailed coverage during disasters, please consider donating to help cover the costs of our wonderful freelancers.

Handfuls of Home

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Iliketables

2 years ago

I went to town this morning and my dog came with as usual. What’s unusual is that she has been sitting in the car since I got home. It’s been almost two hours now. Hopefully it’s due to remembering what day it is rather than foretelling something that is going to occur today.

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dkh

Reply to Iliketables

I feel it too dog! My two dogs are behaving normal, but this is an unusual day for me, I am uneasy. There is no rational reason for me to think anything would occur for a third year in a row. But still…

tru matters

Only 10 1/2 hours to go.

fred krissman

I didn’t even remember to be worried till I saw this story at 4 pm… I don’t think I’m gonna sweat it now!