Ridgecrest earthquake: 4.9 temblor hits near epicenter of powerful quakes
RIDGECREST, Calif. -- The U.S. Geological Survey reports a preliminary 4.9-magnitude earthquake rattled the Ridgecrest area Friday morning, one week after two major temblors rocked the region.
The quake, which was upgraded from a 4.7, was recorded about five miles east-northeast of Ridgecrest around 6:11 a.m., according to the USGS.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said it was in earthquake emergency mode, with helicopters and fire department vehicles patrolling the area to identify any damage. So far, no injuries or damage have been reported.
People in Big Bear, Victorville, Santa Clarita, Palmdale and even some in the ABC7 newsroom in Glendale reported feeling the quake.
"This morning's aftershock was expected, and in the coming days, seismologists expect additional magnitude 4 or larger aftershocks," Caltech said in a written statement.
Palmdale resident Sandra Shields described the rumble she felt through her home.
"The first thing I did was get up and go to my chandelier over the dining room - that's the way I gauge earthquake - and sure enough, it was moving slightly," she said.
L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti is expected to be joined by Dr. Lucy Jones, Councilmembers Monica Rodriguez and David Ryu, LAFD Chief Ralph Terrazas and Emergency Management Department General Manager Aram Sahakian at a news conference Friday afternoon to announce a citywide effort to increase disaster preparedness and resilience in neighborhoods across L.A.
A powerful 7.1 earthquake shook Southern California, cracking buildings, breaking roads and causing power outages on July 5, just one day after a magnitude 6.4 hit the same general area. Seismologists warned at the time that large aftershocks were expected to continue for days, if not weeks. Several aftershocks were felt following Friday's quake.
Nearby Trona was among one of the hardest hit areas during last week's quakes, with crews working to restore sewer lines and running water, and the local library has been set up as a cooling center. A local assistance center and medical center was established Wednesday at the high school in Trona.
The Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake was also hit hard by the quakes. The station is still "not mission capable," officials say, though its weapons remain secure. The USGS confirmed the epicenter of the two previous quakes was on two faults located at the Naval site, the station said in a statement. A team from the USGS was on site studying the impact, according to a Facebook post from the base.
