In California's 'Earthquake Country', 7.0 Magnitude Earthquake Sparks Confusion and Tsunami Warning

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Valerie Starkey was driving through Northern California to visit relatives when she suddenly felt shaking and feared her car had broken down, only to later realize it was an earthquake so strong that it triggered a tsunami warning for hundreds of residents. Miles from the west coast of the United States.

The epicenter of Thursday's 7.0 magnitude quake occurred in what is known as “earthquake country” in California because it is where three tectonic plates meet. The quake was the strongest to shake the state since a 7.1-magnitude quake struck Ridgecrest in 2019.

Its severity shocked Starkey and many of the 5.3 million other people along the nearly 500 miles (805 kilometers) of California and Oregon coasts who had been under a tsunami warning for about an hour. It was lifted after no large waves arrived.

“I thought my axes had collapsed,” said Starkey, a Del Norte County supervisor who represents Crescent City, a town of less than 6,000 near the Oregon border. “That's what I was feeling… 'My axle is broken now.' I didn't realize it was an earthquake.”

The US Geological Survey said the quake struck at 10:44 a.m. west of Ferndale, a small city in coastal Humboldt County, about 130 miles (209 kilometers) from the Oregon border. The shaking has knocked items off grocery store shelves and sent children scrambling under desks in schools.

The quake was felt as far south as San Francisco, about 270 miles (435 kilometers) away, where residents described rolling motion for several seconds. This was followed by several smaller aftershocks. There were no immediate reports of serious damage or injuries as a result of the earthquake.

The tsunami warning issued shortly after the quake extended from the edge of Monterey Bay in California north to Oregon.

“It was a strong earthquake. Our building shook. We're fine, but I have a mess to clean up now,” said Julie Kretzer, owner of Golden Gait Mercantile, which is packed with food, merchandise and souvenirs. The main attraction in Ferndale.

“I have to go. I have to try to save something for the holidays because it's going to be a tough year,” Kretzer said before hanging up the call.

The region — known for its redwood forests, scenic mountains and the legendary Emerald Triangle County marijuana crop — was hit by a 6.4-magnitude earthquake in 2022, leaving thousands of people without power and water. The northwest corner of California is the most seismically active part of the state because it's where three tectonic plates meet, seismologist Lucy Jones said on the social media platform BlueSky.

Shortly after the quake, phones in Northern California rang with a tsunami warning from the National Weather Service that said: “A series of strong waves and strong rip currents may affect shorelines near you. You are in danger. Stay out of coastal waters. Go to High ground or inland Now, stay away from the coast until local officials say it's safe to return.

Many cities urged people to evacuate to higher ground as a precaution.

In Santa Cruz, authorities cleared the main beach and closed the entrances with police tape. Aerial footage showed cars heading bumper-to-bumper to higher ground on California Highways 1 and 92 in the Half Moon Bay area south of San Francisco.

Cindy Vosburg, executive director of the Crescent-del Norte County Chamber of Commerce, said she heard alarms go off just before the tremors started, and the downtown cultural center began creaking.

“When the building starts to collapse, the building will roll again,” Vosburg said.

White House spokesman Jeremy Edwards said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the quake and that Federal Emergency Management Agency officials are in contact with their state and local counterparts in California and Oregon.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed an emergency declaration to quickly move state resources to affected areas along the coast. Newsom said state officials are concerned about damage in the northern part of the state.

Crews in Eureka, the largest city in the area, are assessing whether there is any damage. Eureka Mayor Kim Bergel, who works at a middle school, said the lights were swaying and everyone sat under desks.

“The kids were so adorable and terrified. It seemed like it was going back and forth for a long time,” she said. Some children asked: “Can I call my mother?”

The students were later sent home.

Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said residents experienced cracks in the foundations of their homes, in addition to broken glass and windows, but nothing serious.

Honsal said he was in his office at the 75-year-old courthouse in downtown Eureka when he felt the quake.

“We are used to it,” he said. “It is known here as ‘earthquake country.’ “It was not a severe tremor. “It's been slow, but important.”

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, known as BART, halted traffic in all directions through the underwater tunnel between San Francisco and Oakland, and visitors to the San Francisco Zoo were also evacuated.

Corinna Allen, tsunami program manager for the National Weather Service in Washington state, said this was the type of earthquake that moves more horizontally and is less likely to cause tsunamis, unlike vertical types.

——

Dazio reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers Christopher Weber, Jimmy Ding and Durrani Pineda in Los Angeles; Martha Mendoza in Santa Cruz, California; Sophie Austin and Tran Nguyen in Sacramento, California; Seth Bornstein in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

FILE – An earthquake-damaged home can be seen in Rio Del, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File) Broken bottles litter the floor inside E&J Liquors after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, in Rio Del , California (Savana Robinson via AP) People watch waves come in after an earthquake that was widely felt across Northern California at Ocean Beach in San Francisco, Thursday, December 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Haven Daley) Students walk in line as they are evacuated from Laurel Tree Charter School to Arcata High School after an earthquake Thursday, December 12, December 5, 2024, in Arcata, Calif. (Sage Alexander/The Times-Standard Via AP) A firefighter patrols Ocean Beach in San Francisco during a tsunami warning on Thursday, December 5, 2024. November 5 2024. (AP Photo/Emily Steinberger) Smoking paraphernalia is scattered on the floor following a 7.0 magnitude earthquake inside E&J Liquors, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, in Rio Dell, Calif. (Savannah Robinson via AP) FILE – Ron Mikolakou, right, and his nephew, Brad Fernandez examines a crack caused by an earthquake on Interstate 178, on July 6, 2019, outside RIDGECREST, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) FILE – Wine bottles are scattered in the middle of an aisle as Victor Abdellatif, in the background, surveys the inside of Eastridge Market, his family's store, on July 6, 2019, in Ridgecrest, Calif., after… The earthquake shook the area from Sacramento to Las Vegas to Mexico. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) California Geological Survey engineering geologists John Oswald, right, and Spencer Watkins assess road damage after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Humboldt County, Calif. (AP Photo/ Godofredo A. Vasquez)

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: cgurgu@internetmarketingcompany.BizWebsite: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos