Patterico's Pontifications

1/9/2010

Northern California Earthquake

Filed under: General — DRJ @ 7:55 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

The USGS reports a magnitude 6.5 earthquake occurred at 4:27 PM PST off the coast of Northern California near Eureka and the Oregon border. The Eureka Times-Standard reported widespread damage and concerned residents:

“The quake, which lasted for around 30 seconds, had power poles waving back and forth along Eureka streets and brought panicked residents out of their homes.

The Bayshore Mall, as of 5:30 p.m., had been closed off to customers and employees. It was unclear how many people were injured there, but one employee reported that several people were picked up by ambulances.

Employees also reported light fixtures falling out of the ceiling and floor tiles popping up off the ground. Another employee reported seeing chunks of the ceiling fall onto customers.”

Take care, ada.

— DRJ

11 Responses to “Northern California Earthquake”

  1. I know you’re not supposed to have a favorite part but I always try to get to where I can see a swimming pool.

    happyfeet (e9e587)

  2. Shake Rattle and Roll

    The globe is moving around a bit I think..

    TC (0b9ca4)

  3. oops,,,

    I hope all who have friends and family in the effected areas that all is well with them.

    TC (0b9ca4)

  4. Follows up on the smaller quake 10 days ago at the southern end of the San Andreas Fault near the California-Mexico border. Given the current state of the economy, it’s scary to think what a major quake 200 miles further northwest or in the S.F. Bay Area would do just to the financial numbers, let alone the loss of life and property damage.

    John (d4490d)

  5. A 6.5 earthquake is a rough one. Glad to hear no serious injuries.

    In San Jose (40ish miles so of San Francisco), we had two earthquakes that I could feel: 4.1 on Thursday and 3.7 on Friday.

    I blame global warming.

    Pons Asinorum (68944a)

  6. Actually it’s because we haven’t drained the lubricant that is greasing the North American/Pacific ocean plate interface.

    If you believe there is something called a lie of ommission, then the failure to drill off the California coast must be a techtonic sin of ommission.
    Which means this was an anthropogenic earthquake.
    [Laura W has more details at Aceofspades]

    papertiger (3a3033)

  7. Somebody tell Lisa Jackson – we need techtonic justice for California!

    papertiger (3a3033)

  8. On the otherhand, the AGW pinheads would have you believe we are at risk of rising sea level. Three millimeters a year or so.
    How many millimeters did the Bayshore Mall’s floor tiles rise in 30 seconds?
    Probably 15 or 20 years worth.

    papertiger (3a3033)

  9. Pons Ansinorum — I felt one of those, but not the other.

    aphrael (73ebe9)

  10. My sister-in-law just north of Eureka said that they were without power for 8 hours or so and that she was cleaning up the mess. No injuries.

    I’ve been to that mall.

    kimsch (2ce939)

  11. @9 — aphrael, same with my neighbor. She did not feel the 3.7 quake at all.

    Odd how that works, but I prefer it rather than “OMG, yeah…!” 😉

    Pons Asinorum (68944a)


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