An earthquake originating in Chino Hills struck Long Beach and the surrounding Southland yesterday, measuring a 5.4 on the Richter scale and shaking spirits, but ultimately no injuries have been reported and no major damage seems to have been done to property.
The quake struck about 7.5 miles underneath the surface of Chino Hills around 11:45am, and produced about 27 aftershocks, the largest of which measured a 3.8 rating. Long Beach does lie near a fault (the Newport-Inglewood Fault) but not the one that likely caused the quake. See this graphic from the Los Angeles Times to view the city’s proximity to the epicenter.
All city buildings, high-rises, schools, hospitals and the airport reported no damage. Though it understandably made residents question their methods for dealing with the quake. The City of Long Beach website provides an extensive list of techniques to prepare for what to expect before, during and after an earthquake.
Perhaps most importantly, the guideline advises crawling under a table or standing in a doorway during the quake. Stay inside if you are already inside, and keep away from windows or glass. After it subsides, do not use the telephone unless there is an immediate emergency. Yesterday, phone lines were tied up all over Southern California for over an hour.
Instead, check your property for gas and water leaks, broken electrical wiring or sewage lines. Check the radio for news reports and prepare yourself for aftershocks.
Governor Schwarzenegger said in a press conference that the state of California is better prepared for a major earthquake than it has ever been before, and check-ups on roads, bridges, levees and other facilities were showing no damage. But, he added:
“We were very lucky with this one.”