The quake struck at 10:44 a.m. near Ferndale, a small coastal city in Humboldt County, about 130 miles from the Oregon border.
The region, known as “earthquake country” due to its position where three tectonic plates meet, is no stranger to seismic activity.
Valerie Starkey, a Del Norte County supervisor, initially thought her car had broken down. “I thought my axles had fallen apart,” she said. It wasn’t until later that she realized it was an earthquake.
The tremor was the strongest to hit California since the Ridgecrest earthquakes of 2019 and was felt as far south as San Francisco, 270 miles away. Residents reported a rolling motion lasting several seconds.
Tsunami Warning Sends Coastal Towns Scrambling
The National Weather Service issued a tsunami warning shortly after the quake, urging residents along the California and Oregon coasts to seek higher ground. Phones buzzed with alerts warning of “powerful waves and strong currents.”
In Santa Cruz, beaches were cleared, and police taped off entrances. Highways near Half Moon Bay saw bumper-to-bumper traffic as residents evacuated. The warning was lifted after about an hour when no significant waves materialized.
Impact on Local Communities
The quake caused items to tumble off store shelves and sent children scrambling under desks in schools. In Ferndale, Julie Kreitzer, owner of Golden Gait Mercantile, described the aftermath: “Our building shook. We’re fine, but I have a mess to clean up.”
Eureka Mayor Kim Bergel, who was working at a middle school during the quake, recalled swaying lights and frightened children. “The kids were so great and terrified. Some asked, ‘Can I call my mom?’” she said.
Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal reported cracked foundations and broken glass in homes but no severe damage. “It wasn’t a sharp jolt. It was a slow roller, but significant,” he said.
State and Federal Response
Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency, mobilizing resources to affected areas. President Joe Biden was briefed on the situation, and FEMA officials are coordinating with local agencies.
Seismic Activity and Past Quakes
The northwest corner of California is the state’s most seismically active area. In 2022, a 6.4-magnitude quake in Humboldt County caused widespread power and water outages.
Seismologist Lucy Jones noted that the recent quake was a strike-slip event, meaning horizontal shifting occurred. This type of quake is less likely to generate tsunamis compared to vertical motion quakes.
A Community Shaken but Resilient
Despite the chaos, communities in the quake-prone region are accustomed to seismic events. “We’re used to it,” Sheriff Honsal said. For now, residents are left to clean up the aftermath and reflect on the natural forces that define life in earthquake country.
