REGION: Quake is powerful reminder of region's shakiness
Scientist says temblor may be harbinger of more active period to come
By DAVE DOWNEY - Staff Writer | ∞
A 5.4 magnitude earthquake that struck at 11:42 a.m. was felt throughout North County and Southwest Riverside County. The strongest Southern California earthquake in years jolted residents Tuesday, causing little damage but stirring memories of earlier quakes and underscoring the need to prepare for the massive temblor scientists say is coming.
"We had forgotten what a big earthquake felt like ---- at least I did," said Kate Hutton, a seismologist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. "We should probably look at it as an earthquake drill."
The rumble may be a sign the region is entering a more shaky period, said Lucy Jones, chief scientist for the U.S. Geological Survey in Pasadena, in a telephone interview Tuesday.
"I tend to think that Northridge and Landers removed so much energy from the crust that we had a lower level of earthquakes for a while," Jones said. "Maybe this means that we are going back to a higher level, and that we are going to have more earthquakes for a while."
Northridge was the magnitude 6.7 quake that rocked Los Angeles in 1994, toppling freeways and buildings and killing 60 people. Landers was much less deadly by comparison, killing three, but that was largely because it was centered in the desert rather than a populated area. That 1992 quake actually was quite a bit stronger, at magnitude 7.3.
Those giants tend to be relatively rare quakes. The type of quake that struck Tuesday tends to be more common, Jones said.
The magnitude 5.4 temblor rolled across the region at 11:42 a.m. and was centered at Chino Hills in San Bernardino County, about 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. It was widely felt across San Diego and Riverside counties, and noticed as far away as Las Vegas.
Only scattered damage was reported in the immediate vicinity of the epicenter, and no damage or injuries were reported in San Diego and Riverside counties, according to law enforcement and public safety officials.
But the quake did shake some people up.
Rides at Legoland California closed for 45 minutes so park employees could conduct a safety inspection, park spokeswoman Julie Estrada said.
Several park visitors asked for ticket refunds and headed north to check on the condition of their Los Angeles-area homes, Estrada said.
The shaking also prompted officials to inspect the condition of the Encina Power Station ---- the regional power plant that dominates Carlsbad's coastline ---- and the San Onofre nuclear power plant near the San Diego-Orange county line. But power plant owners Cabrillo Power and Southern California Edison officials said those inspections turned up no sign of damage.
Closer to the epicenter, buildings swayed in downtown Los Angeles, prompting the evacuation of offices and disrupting a Los Angeles City Council meeting. And power was cut to about 5,000 Edison customers in the vicinity of Chino Hills, said company spokesman Gil Alexander.
Alexander said the quake sparked a fire at the company's La Habra electric substation, but it was extinguished before major damage was caused.
Besides Legoland, the shaking triggered a temporary closure and inspection at Disneyland.
Clint Hendrickson, 32, a visitor from Texas, was in a Disneyland theater when the shaking started.
"We thought it was part of the show, until people started yelling, 'Get under the tables!' " he said.
Despite the excitement, Jones, the scientist, termed the earthquake "no big deal. It's an every-year sort of earthquake."
But that's only because much of California has been built to survive heavy shaking.
"This size of earthquake would have killed a lot of people in other parts of the world," Jones said.
Earthquake scientists are bracing for, and trying to get Southern Californians to prepare for, something much bigger on the San Andreas fault. That's the fracture in the earth that slices through California on the border of the Pacific and North American plates.
"This is 1 percent of the size of Northridge, and maybe it is one-hundredth of 1 percent of the size of a big earthquake on the San Andreas," Jones said.
She said quakes of roughly magnitude 7.8 hit the southern San Andreas once every 150 years ---- and it has been 151 years since the last such geologic twitch. The prospect of that type of quake prompted seismologists to schedule a Nov. 13 drill throughout the region. Jones said Tuesday's shaker turned out to be the best advertising possible for the event that scientists hope will draw at least 5 million participants.
Southern California is home to more than 20 million people.
Big or small, earthquakes tend to occur because over time stress builds up as the two continental plates grind against each other. The shaking can either relieve the stress ---- or shift it elsewhere and trigger more quakes.
Mark Benthien, spokesman for the Southern California Earthquake Center in Los Angeles, said it is unlikely the Chino Hills quake relieved any stress on the San Andreas.
Benthien said the quake occurred well south and west of the San Andreas. "And even if it had been close, it was too small to change anything," he said.
Scientists were still trying to answer questions about the quake.
"We're not even sure which fault it's on," said Jones. "It looks like it was on the Whittier fault, but that's not consistent with the aftershocks." About 30 aftershocks, the largest measuring magnitude 3.8, had been reported as of Tuesday night.
The Whittier fault, while far from communities in northern San Diego and southern Riverside counties, has a connection to the Elsinore fault system that runs under Lake Elsinore, Temecula and Julian.
"The Whittier and the Chino (faults) are sort of at the fraying end of the Elsinore," Jones said.
But she said it is unlikely that Tuesday's quake significantly increased or reduced the threat of a major quake on the Elsinore some day. The Elsinore fault is capable of generating a temblor as large as magnitude 7.5.
On Tuesday, the Chino Hills quake generated a lot of office conversation.
Jim Fagelson, a Riverside County planner, was working on the ninth floor of the 13-story county administration building in downtown Riverside when the high-rise swayed back and forth for about 45 seconds.
"The way you feel them up here is usually like a big truck rumbling down the street," Fagelson said. "This time the building was swaying a bit. When it was all over, a bunch of us came out of our offices and said, 'Well, that was a good one.' "
Farther south, a swaying 13-story City Hall building in downtown San Diego prompted the San Diego City Council to call a five-minute recess.
A few blocks away on the eighth floor of a 24-story office tower, Marney Cox, the San Diego Association of Governments' chief economist, recalled an initial rumble and a brief delay, followed by several seconds of robust shaking.
"I thought it was closer," Cox said. "It felt close."
Staff writers Barbara Henry and Dan Simmons and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Contact staff writer Dave Downey at (760) 745-6611, Ext. 2623, or ddowney@nctimes.com.
More Stories
Advertisement
Concerned One wrote on Jul 29, 2008 12:29 PM:Whew, that was a biggie! Best shaker I can remember for awhile. Hopefully that will be it. I hear they are evacuating Magic Mountain and closed all the rides. All's well in Southwest Riverside County! Regards, a rattled C-1.
lorie wrote on Jul 29, 2008 12:35 PM:i did feel that one in Vista.... scary
Proof for the Hospital Upgrade wrote on Jul 29, 2008 12:35 PM:All the more reason to vote yes on Prop A for the Tri-City Medical Center Upgrade to be seismically compliant with state standards!!
Floyd wrote on Jul 29, 2008 12:36 PM:Glad you're okay, Concerned One.
Concerned mom wrote on Jul 29, 2008 12:40 PM:My daughter works in San Diego high rise and felt the 11 story building sway for awhile, but no reported damages or injury. Just some well-rattled nerves (and windows).
The sky is falling wrote on Jul 29, 2008 12:41 PM:this is just the start! Oh beware Los Angeles, Sancutary City!
Rock and Roll wrote on Jul 29, 2008 12:46 PM:That was fun! First a gentle rolly and then a few seconds later a nice big spike!
Bobby wrote on Jul 29, 2008 12:56 PM:All is good here in Escondido, It was quite a shaker though.. The Warehouse was a bit on the scary side
Concerned One wrote on Jul 29, 2008 12:57 PM:Thanks Floyd. As a native, I've lived through a lot of big ones. I was home from college staying at my grandmother's in Santa Ana when the Sylmar quake hit. Now that was big. And the one in 91 was memorble. I have a feeling we're going to have another in the near future. We're about due. I work in an office building and it was funny how many people went running out. One guy, a Canadian, was heard saying "this isn't good, this isn't good," as he abruptly left a board meeting! The rest of us just laughed. Regards, C-1.
Randy wrote on Jul 29, 2008 12:57 PM:You have not experienced a real earthquake until you are near the epicenter of a 6.4 or 6.5, like the 1979 El Centro quake.
bankteller wrote on Jul 29, 2008 1:08 PM:i felt it in downtown vista.hopefully thats all we'll get today.
brodiane wrote on Jul 29, 2008 1:15 PM:vote YES on prop A. fix our hospital!
CITIZENS AT RISK wrote on Jul 29, 2008 1:17 PM:Failing to prepare is - preparing to fail. Dare to prepare!
Kadee wrote on Jul 29, 2008 1:23 PM:I felt it here in Rancho Bernardo (North San Diego County) The ground shook for a few seconds...glad everyone is okay.
Vivo wrote on Jul 29, 2008 1:29 PM:I work in Carlsbad. I felt the earthquake.It was really strong one.The building shook pretty hard.It was rocking and it lasted for a while. 've been here in this country for almost 4 years and i never felt scared like that before. It was pretty scary.
to the naysayers.... wrote on Jul 29, 2008 1:38 PM:It is only a matter of time before the 2 buildings at Tri-City come down because of an earthquake....the state mandates survivability of a 5.5 quake and todays quake is now reported at 5.8. It's time to upgrade TCMC. Yes on Prop A
Randy wrote on Jul 29, 2008 2:07 PM:I hope the earthquake does not slow the U.S. Mail. Today could be the day that I receive my ballot. Vote a resounding "YES!"
RockinRollin in Temec wrote on Jul 29, 2008 2:10 PM:Felt the first shakes, then went to check on my kids and all three of us met up in the hallway for the second set of shakes shortly after. Provided a good opportunity to talk to them about what to do in case of emergency, especially since the second thing they did was grab their cell phones to call their friends - and the cell phones were unusable! Talk to your children and tell them not to panic, just ride it out.
Schmalldoggies wrote on Jul 29, 2008 2:23 PM:You have not felt a real earthquake until you are falling down the crack in the earth caused by a big one.
Alf wrote on Jul 29, 2008 2:25 PM:No reported deaths and no reported injuries so far, whew!!
As "RockinRollin in Temec" noted, using a cell phone during or immediately after an earthquake should be for EMERGENCY use only.
As it was, people jammed the system with mostly frivolous calls, making any REAL emergency calls on cell phones impossible.
Regards, Alf.
Carly wrote on Jul 29, 2008 2:26 PM:I feel the earth move under my feet, I feel the sky tumble-in down, tumble-in down...Vote Yes on A!
The Sign wrote on Jul 29, 2008 2:27 PM:I saw the sign... Vote YES on Prop. A!!! The third time's the charm.
To Alf wrote on Jul 29, 2008 2:31 PM:"No cell activity during a earthquake?" OK Karnak the Magnificent, let us know when the next quake is so we can be sure to stay off our phones until it passes.
understandable wrote on Jul 29, 2008 2:40 PM:I understand the spirit of what Alf is saying. I also believe that after an emergency of this nature the cell system will be totally saturated. Thank heavens this was not a huge catastrophe.
Alf wrote on Jul 29, 2008 2:51 PM:Well, "To Alf" at 2:31PM, it's obvious that you did not read the post from "RockinRollin in Temec" at 2:10PM. If you had read it, you would have seen that person say "the second thing they did was grab their cell phones to call their friends - and the cell phones were unusable!".
Cell phones were unusable.
Why?
Did you just read the words "grab their cell phones to call their friends "?
I stated "using a cell phone during or immediately after an earthquake should be for EMERGENCY use only" for simple safety reasons.
Karnak I am not.
A voice of reason, common sense and safety, I am.
Regards, Alf.
No problem wrote on Jul 29, 2008 3:11 PM:I was in Frys in San Marcos..I felt it but looked around and no one else seemed to. Then my girlfriend call a few minutes later and ask me if I did feel the quake. I got home..no damage. My friends in LA had no damage either. Wonder if the tourists freaked out?????
NO on bond wrote on Jul 29, 2008 3:12 PM:Hey. If the hopsital at Tri City held up to this what's the problem? This bond is a non-starter. Vote NO.
Alf wrote on Jul 29, 2008 3:14 PM:Also "To Alf" at 2:31PM,
AP has an article on sfgate (San Francisco Chronicle) entitled
"SoCal residents urged to cut phone use after quake"
A quote within the article says -
"Spokesman Kelly Huston says phone lines have been jammed because of the volume of calls from people checking on their friends and relatives.
"The big message now is don't use telephones or cell phones in Southern California," Huston said. "The systems down there are maxed out, and that creates a really dangerous situation when it comes to people who need to call 911 for an emergency."".
That's pretty much the same thing as I said.
So much for your sarcastic "lip".
Regards, Alf.
Chicken Little wrote on Jul 29, 2008 3:25 PM:Was at Mira Costa College when I felt it.
Doors swayed, keys swayed, etc.
AWESOME!
bre wrote on Jul 29, 2008 3:43 PM:this is just the beginning southern california is gonna get a REAL big earthquake soon, and it wont be fun its gonna be at least a 7.0. get earthquake insurance now.
to bre wrote on Jul 29, 2008 4:03 PM:Does anyone even have earthquake insurance any more? I didn't think the insurance companies even offered it. This was not a big quake. Whittier Narrows, Northridge, El Centro....those were pretty good ones, but something really big has yet to come.
Alf wrote on Jul 29, 2008 4:14 PM:I gotta brag. It would take something over an 8.5 within a mile to do any structural damage to the house that I built, or should I say, massively overbuilt. Mine will be standing when all the new and old houses around me will be rubble.
Regards, Alf.
Bill One wrote on Jul 29, 2008 4:27 PM:I was in TJ on bussiness and I could feel it way down there...wow!!!
Bill One wrote on Jul 29, 2008 4:32 PM:I ussually don't agree with Alf on politics, but he is absolutely right about staying off your cell phone right after a quake. That way if some emergencies need reported the call will go through.
paradise wrote on Jul 29, 2008 4:40 PM:My chair on wheels took me across the room rockin' and rollin' but I wasn't scared. I did wonder where the epicenter was and felt it was a BIG one. Thankfully, no major injuries. I agree, the big one is around the corner, long overdue. Few homeowners have earthquake insurance (way too expensive?) so if the big one hits, along with the thousands of foreclosures, paradise will lay in ruins. Get out of CA!
Alf wrote on Jul 29, 2008 4:53 PM:Huzzah! "Bill One" and I have found at least one point of agreement!
There are more, of this I am certain, we just haven't found them.
Regards, Alf.
resident wrote on Jul 29, 2008 5:33 PM:To Alf and others: You are so right about staying off the cell phones. All of you parents who think giving your kids cells phones for "emergencies" are kidding yourselves. Especially if that emergency happens at school. People need to stop and think - but that rarely happens in an emergency.
Oh My... wrote on Jul 29, 2008 5:43 PM:Alf, Alf, Alf, you have way too much on your mind and time on your hands. Maybe you ought to go get a job or something. Build another house or take up drag racing!
Floyd wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:33 PM:Tri City Medical Center has a $10 million surplus, they should be starting their upgrades already. If it's not important enough for them to start the improvements with the money they have, they won't start when they get more money either.
Susan wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:35 PM:For all of you saying now to vote yes on A, get a grip! It doesn't change the fact that ONLY property owners are going to foot the bill for the Tri-City project. It doesn't change the fact that Tri-City mismanaged money (example:huge bonuses)and now they want US to pay, not any other group of citizens, just homeowners trying to make it in this terrible economic climate. I'm all for Tri-City being earthquake ready, but figure out another way to pay for it, not by singling out a particular group of people. EVERY CITIZEN should be made to contribute!
Linda wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:36 PM:We didn't feel anything. Why should only the property owners pay for a new hospital? Our property taxes are high enough.
stop exaggerating wrote on Jul 29, 2008 7:16 PM:People need to stop exaggerating. The quake was really nothing. I wa sin a 60 year old building the schools renovated and nothign happened but a bunch of dfistrict empolyees had to get on their cell phones like idiots. WHo in the world are you calling? Your friends and family are fine , the earthquake was nothign but a little shake. Go back do your job like I did and use the tax payer money wisely.
Dennis wrote on Jul 29, 2008 7:28 PM:The End is Near.
Flat Liner wrote on Jul 29, 2008 7:35 PM:why is the hospital not including the cost of the retro-fit into every billable patient? Because the illegal population gets all their services for free. Let the place fall and let a private hospital service the area.
Fire Mountain OSide wrote on Jul 29, 2008 8:03 PM:We got about a 2 second roll. Nothing to phone home about quite frankly.
Alf wrote on Jul 29, 2008 8:12 PM:Well, "Oh My..." at 5:43PM, as a photographer, my job IS using Photoshop on my computer after taking the shots.
I gotta do something while photos are being printed.
Regards, Alf.
J wrote on Jul 29, 2008 8:16 PM:I was wondering why the Sprinter stopped randomly. Now I understand it was the earthquake.
Oh My... Again.. wrote on Jul 29, 2008 8:25 PM:Alf - I must say you are pretty cool.
Albert wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:36 PM:To Rock and Roll - I think your post took this forum from being PG rated to being R rated. Was this your first?
Dennis wrote on Jul 29, 2008 11:39 PM:Woha!!! to thee! and a great feeling was felt, In The LORD, and they called it a fault.
Local wrote on Jul 30, 2008 1:36 AM:I was in my kitchen in Escondido and totally missed it. A wise man built his house upon a rock. A rock and 2 by 8's.
annoyed wrote on Jul 30, 2008 5:32 AM:people that say vote yes for the hospital. my question is why did they waste the money for have a special election now and not wait for November. so mad, makes me want to vote no.
Jim wrote on Jul 30, 2008 5:54 AM:Perhaps we will work something out with the mexicans maybe a trade with lots of cash (from them), California for mexico. They do have 3 to 4 times more coastline.
Jim wrote on Jul 30, 2008 6:32 AM:Growing up in San Clemente and now living in Oceanside, I have gone through every major quake since the sixties. I have to say, niether my wife, daughter or I felt this quake, or at least did not notice it. I feel cheated.
lady wrote on Jul 30, 2008 6:39 AM:Voting NO on prop. A,and so IS everyone I know!! Oceanside PROPERY owner!!! Like I have said before "people" need to pay their bills IF going there. I have!! NO special treatment here for this family,when needed to go to Tri-City!!!
You havent felt wrote on Jul 30, 2008 7:56 AM:What's with these people and the
'you haven't felt' garbage!!!! Yeah, it WAS an REAL earthquake - just so happens that in Esco or Vista we were on the tail end of the shaking. I guess I could say to 'those' people...YOU haven't been in a real tornadoe until your shorts have been ripped off and you're standing in the middle of a wheat field covering your private parts, crying like a baby....oh wait, did I just become 'one of them' too? NOT!
ShawnP wrote on Jul 30, 2008 8:45 AM:To Randy from yesterday --- I believe you were thinking about the big quake in October 1978 in the Imperial Valley; the first quake was 6.9 (4:21 pm), several small aftershocks then the biggest one was 7.1 (11 pm). I lived in Calipatria at the time....
BD wrote on Jul 30, 2008 8:56 AM:I'll take that over another fire!
JR wrote on Jul 30, 2008 9:30 AM:FYI, when this guy is comparing the 6.7 Magnitude E.Q. of 1994 (Northridge) and the 7.3 E.Q. of 1992 (Landers) and says that the 7.3 "was quite a bit stronger" he is completely wrong. going from a 6.0 to a 7.0 gives off 30 times more energy, so we can easily say that from 6.7 to 7.3 was about 20 times stronger!
These guys have no clue what they are talking about
I used this quake wrote on Jul 30, 2008 9:32 AM:to teach my kids duck and cover, a drill used at most schools. My oldest daughter did it without me saying a thing, my youngest came up the stairs fighting with me about getting under the table. Now she asks a lot of questions about "earthshakes". The house did shake a little, and it seemed to be long. I was a little nervous, but then it ended no big deal.
Dang wrote on Jul 30, 2008 10:08 AM:DANG.. I missed the fun ride as I was in my car! LOL! I have some different experiences.. I did felt several earthquakes! Sure, it scared me and puzzled me some.
Gonna have the big one coming! Be ready! But how can you tell to be ready when it does come when you expect it at least because you are dang too busy doing whatever until it hits! :-D Which is too true just like yesterday's quake that threw us all off!
Have a great day and be ready anytime!
Murrieta Resident wrote on Jul 30, 2008 10:19 AM:This morning's paper shows a photo with 3 children under a table. This gave me chills. This was not a solid table but appeared to be an aluminum folding table. Had anything heavy fallen on that table those children would have been crushed. Wake up people! Think about it. Getting under anything that is not solid or stable is not a good idea.
TK wrote on Jul 30, 2008 11:26 AM:Getting under a table is not a good idea? Just why not? Is the table going to impart additional crushing force? I think you are missing the point on getting under a table, Murrieta Resident. The table isn't going to protect you from large, or large amounts of falling debris. However, it will protect you from the smaller items, and sharp broken items. The intent is not to stop the 2 ton beam, because it can't. The intent is to stop the falling 2x4.
RockinRollin in Temec wrote on Jul 30, 2008 12:41 PM:Ha, some interesting posts which made me think (Alf&his friends). I think cell phones give us parents a false sense of security-that we can get in touch with our kids at any time. But yesterday's earthquake showed if a true emergency did happen, we can't. Families need to have a drill. Schools have disaster preparedness but what if your kids were at the mall? the sports park? I am not a doomsdayer, just a realist, and yesterday provided another chance to talk to my kids. Last year's fires were a wakeup call. Fwys could be closed, phone lines out. Tell your kids to stay put or evacuate as necessary but stay with the group, have i.d. and above all, don't panic.
Dumb Picture wrote on Jul 30, 2008 12:54 PM:I think getting under a spindly-legged aluminum table is not a good idea for small children. It was a stupid picture, reminiscent of the Atom Bomb drills of the 50s (not that I was there, just heard about it). How about some common sense? Sit down, cover your head and wait 'til the shaking stops!!!
To TK wrote on Jul 30, 2008 1:01 PM:OK, so the intent was to stop the 2 X 4 or small debris. My point re this photo is that the particular table in that photo would not protect anyone. Besides, why take a chance.
To Flat Liner wrote on Jul 30, 2008 1:07 PM:Just let the place fall? What about the patients that happen to be in the hospital if a large earthquake should occur in this area? What about the employees taking care of the patients? Are they all expendable just to save some people a couple of hundred dollars a year?
I Think wrote on Jul 30, 2008 1:53 PM:we will have a 5.0 within the next 50 years. OK, give me $1,000,000 Grant to study it!
KLUGKLUG wrote on Jul 30, 2008 4:51 PM:I have a feeling that southern California will experience a magnitude 10.0+ quake within the next few years. That will totally obliterate the entire State and then some. This will be followed by tsunami waves at least 2500 feet high, sweeping inland in a great gush, carrying the debris from the quake with it and smashing up against the surrounding mountains. TOTAL DESTRUCTION. Go to church and pray! Better yet, move. Move AS FAR AWAY AS YOU CAN. The best place would be IRAQ. OH KAY
lillie wrote on Jul 30, 2008 5:55 PM:well alf they thought the titantic couldn't go under but it did. don't be overconfident. thank God, be obedient and keep the faith IN HIM not the house you builded. give God His props!
Water Heater wrote on Jul 30, 2008 7:24 PM:Don't get those tankless water heaters!
Standard water heaters store water you might need in an earthquake emergency.
To Lilie wrote on Jul 30, 2008 7:50 PM:But the Titanic fell because of faulty engineering. They believed too much of their own "unsinkable" hype.
I don't know who Alf is, but I have a funny feeling I'd have more confidence in his house than most.
esteban wrote on Aug 1, 2008 10:33 AM:Why the big fuss? This is California not Nebraska. People talk as if this was their first earthquake. Wake up people. Im going to have beachfront property soon when the big one hits. Thats how I see it.
First name only. Comments including last names, contact addresses, e-mail addresses or phone numbers will be deleted. Attempts to misrepresent your identity or impersonate any person will not be approved. All comments are screened before they appear online, so please keep them brief. Comments reflect the views of those commenting and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff writers. Click here to view additional comment policies.
Today's Stories
Advertisement