This story has been updated to add additional information.
A 5.6 magnitude earthquake rattled parts of Northern California early Wednesday, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The about 5-mile deep quake hit at about 8:10 a.m. PST, about 7 miles southeast of Willits in Mendocino County. The Willits area is in a seismically active part of Northern California impacted by fault systems, including the nearby Maacama Fault and tectonic activity near the Mendocino Triple Junction, where several major plates meet.
The National Tsunami Warning Center said scientists assessed the event at about 8:15 a.m. and determined there is no tsunami danger from the earthquake.
More than 3,000 people in Santa Cruz and Redding reported feeling the tremor to the USGS as of 8:40 a.m.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or major damage as of Wednesday morning. It was not immediately clear how widely the shaking was felt across the North Coast or into surrounding regions such as Humboldt, Lake, or Sonoma counties.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said he had been briefed on the Mendocino County earthquake.
“The Governor’s Office is closely coordinating with emergency officials and assessing potential impacts and damage,” the officer wrote in a post on X about 10 minutes after the tremor hit.
Earthquakes of this magnitude can produce moderate shaking that can knock items off shelves and cause minor structural damage, particularly near the epicenter.
Why do earthquakes happen?
The Earth has four layers: the inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust. The crust and top of the mantle make up another area called the “lithosphere,” which acts like a skin surrounding the Earth’s surface, USA TODAY reported.
The lithosphere, however, is not a single piece but rather a puzzle of fragments, according to the United States Geological Survey. These parts of the lithosphere are not stationary and move slowly. These are called “tectonic plates.”
As tectonic plates move past one another, they occasionally bump or collide. This places stress on the plates’ edges. When the stress becomes too great, it creates cracks called “faults.” The point where these faults move against each other is called the “fault line.”
When there is too much friction between the fault lines, energy is suddenly released, triggering seismic waves that lead to an earthquake.
When is the next earthquake in California?
It is not currently possible to predict an earthquake, though USGS scientists can calculate “the probability that a significant earthquake will occur in a specific area within a certain number of years,” according to USGS.
While earthquake forecasts and probabilities can be determined, USGS says those reports are “comparable to climate probabilities and weather forecasts” and not the same as predictions.
A USGS map of America reveals that portions of California face a greater than 95% chance of experiencing a slight or greater damaging earthquake shaking in 100 years. In other words, a strong earthquake on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale that will be “felt by all” will move some heavy furniture and cause slight damage.
When was the last big earthquake in California?
The most recent significant earthquake in the state — either a magnitude of 6.5 or greater or that caused loss of life or more than $200,000 damage — was the 6.4-magnitude earthquake that occurred in the Pacific Ocean near Ferndale in 2022, according to the State Department of Conservation, which tracks “big” earthquakes in California.
That earthquake struck in the early morning hours, multiple miles west of Ferndale on Dec. 20, 2022, USA TODAY reported. It indirectly caused two deaths and damaged homes and roads in Humboldt County.
You can track earthquakes recorded within the last 30 days in America and internationally through the USGS’s latest earthquakes map, though the USGS cautions that it should not be considered a complete list of earthquakes.
Those searching for information on recent earthquakes in California and Nevada can visit the Southern California Earthquake Data Center’s website.
What have been the biggest earthquakes in recorded California history?
California’s largest recorded earthquakes since 1800, ranked by magnitude, according to the California Department of Conservation.
What am I supposed to do during an earthquake?
It depends on where you are at.
Here’s what to do in the following situations, according to Ready.gov:
To protect yourself during an earthquake, drop down to your hands and knees and hold onto something sturdy. Cover your head and neck with your arms and crawl underneath a sturdy table or desk to shelter. If that’s not available to you, then crawl next to an interior wall to get away from windows. If you are under a table or desk, hold onto it with one hand so that if it moves, you can move with it.
What if I’m driving during an earthquake?
Slow down and pull over as soon as it’s safe, according to the California Highway Patrol. Remain in the vehicle with your seat belt fastened, engine off, and parking brake set. Once the shaking stops, check your vehicle for damage and its occupants for injuries. Only begin driving when it is safe to do so. Once you can start moving again, do so slowly and cautiously, avoiding any areas of the road that appear to be damaged or obstructed, and continue to avoid bridges and ramps.
How to prepare for an earthquake
Jon Gudel, the senior emergency services coordinator for Earthquake Early Warning at CalOES, told The Desert Sun in April that people should not “wait until you feel the shaking” to start preparing for an earthquake.
“It’s going to be chaotic if there’s an earthquake, especially a significant earthquake,” Gudel said. “So, take these days now to get prepared and have a plan.”
As we can’t predict when an earthquake will hit, Gudel said, “One of the best tools that we have available to us right now is the MyShake App,” which is part of Earthquake Warning California.
The free smartphone application — developed by the University of California, Berkeley, and available in six different languages — provides early earthquake warnings. The app works by utilizing a network of ground-motion sensors, coupled with phone data.
If an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.5 or higher is detected, users who have installed the app will be sent audio and visual alerts, notifying users to “drop, cover and hold on,” Gudel said.
The app also allows users “to crowdsource valuable information about how much shaking people felt and to share information about damage following an earthquake,” according to CalOES.
The MyShake App is available on Apple or Google Play, as well as on Chromebook and MacOS platforms.
Aside from downloading the MyShake App, Gudel said residents can prepare by having an earthquake bag ready.
“If there’s a significant earthquake, there’s really two rules of thumb here,” Gudel said. “You could maybe ask to evacuate from your local authorities. More likely, though, you’re going to be staying at home.”
For an earthquake bag, plan for at least 72 hours without emergency services and pack water and food. You’ll also want to stock your bag with any medications you or a loved one may need.
Gudel said phone chargers and personal information are also good to include in an earthquake bag. Other items to pack include cash and a first aid kit, CalOES recommends.
Before an earthquake hits, Gudel said, “You also want to talk to your family to have a plan.”
“Earthquakes really don’t care about our schedules. They don’t have a timeline,” Gudel said. “They will occur at any moment. And it could be on a Friday afternoon as you’re getting ready for the weekend. It could be in the middle of the night. It could be when you’re driving on your way to work. And so, it’s important that you know what to do.”
People should be sure they have a plan on what to do if they are separated from family and consider things like what if the kids are at school or someone is at the office.
“Where are you going to meet up if there is an earthquake?” Gudel said.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 5.6 magnitude earthquake rattles Northern California. What to know
Reporting by Daniella Segura and Paris Barraza, USA TODAY NETWORK / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Daniella Segura and Paris Barraza, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
