6.5 Earthquake Rocks Central California

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/West/12/22/ca.e...uake/index.html

 

Earthquake hits central California

 

Tens of thousands lose power

 

 

(CNN) -- A strong earthquake that could be felt from Los Angeles to San Francisco hit the central California coast Monday, but witnesses and authorities had few immediate reports of damage.

 

The quake registered a preliminary magnitude of 6.5 when it hit about 11:15 a.m. (2:15 p.m. ET), the U.S. Geological Survey said.

 

Its epicenter was about six miles northeast of the town of San Simeon, about 240 miles north of Los Angeles and 200 miles south of San Francisco.

 

More than 30 aftershocks were reported in the hour after the quake, with the strongest measuring about 4.7.

 

More aftershocks are expected during the next several days, USGS spokesman Bob Stein said.

 

Stein said some aftershocks could be larger than Monday's main quake, which he called a "garden variety" magnitude 6.5 event.

 

A spokesman for Pacific Gas & Electric, the utility that serves the area, said about 40,000 customers were without power after the quake triggered rockslides that brought down power lines near San Luis Obispo.

 

No damage was reported at PG&E's Diablo Canyon nuclear plant, about 100 miles from the epicenter, Stein said.

 

Officials at nearby hospitals said no patients had arrived with injuries.

 

"We certainly felt it in a big way," said Nicki Edwards, the chief nursing officer of Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo.

 

She estimated the rolling lasted about 30 seconds, but other than "some very minor breakage" of a few light fixtures, nothing was damaged and no patients were injured.

 

In Paso Robles, about 30 miles from San Simeon, the downtown building housing the city's landmark clock tower collapsed, said Madelyn Stemper, an accountant at a nearby firm.

 

The clock tower adorned a building across from a municipal park, and "a lot of the buildings across from the park in both directions are pretty well demolished," she said.

 

"It was really jerky," she said. "Other ones that I have been in had that roll to them, but this was just like a 'Bam.' It was real shaky. It got your attention really quick."

 

The collapse of the brick-and-wood building inflicted no injuries, said Detective Rick Ince of the town's police department. Much of the damage around town was "more cosmetic than structural," he said.

 

Templeton resident Tony Vasquez said he was in the shower when the quake hit. He said he heard "a slight rumble, and then this enormous jolt knocked me down and actually sheared off the shower head."

 

"I never thought I'd have to wear a seat belt in the shower, " Vasquez said.

 

Mary Carson, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce in nearby Cambria, said the rolling lasted for what seemed like a minute.

 

"At first, it felt like a big truck was going by," she said. "Then it kind of rolled."

 

Park rangers in San Simeon ordered evacuation of the Hearst Castle, the palatial home built by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, a worker at the attraction's gift shop said. The castle is now a state historic site.

 

A spokeswoman for the Cambria Fire Department said firefighters had received an unconfirmed call about a structure that was on fire.

 

"Right now, nothing severe has been reported," said Greg Haas, an aide to U.S. Rep. Lois Capps, the area's congresswoman. "But it's pretty early, and communication is limited."

 

The quake was felt as a sustained rolling motion in Los Angeles and San Francisco, CNN crews in both cities reported.

 

The earthquake was considered a strong one, said Brian Lassiege, a USGS geophysicist. It was relatively shallow, striking about 4.7 miles below the Earth's surface, he said.

 

Lassiege said shallower earthquakes tend to inflict more damage.

 

Carson said her building swayed as the quake hit.

 

"Things did fall off the shelves, a couple of windows broke and some ceilings came apart," she said. "But, as far as I can tell, I haven't heard of any injuries or severe damage."

[NoCalMike 0]

Anyone remember the magnitude of the earthquake in SF in 1989?

[OldSchoolWrestling 0]

My building was shaking quite a bit in Silicon Valley but we pretty much laughed it off. Glad we weren't near the epicenter.

[OldSchoolWrestling 0]

Anyone remember the magnitude of the earthquake in SF in 1989?

7.1

[2GOLD 0]

Damn that Arnold, if he was good governor then Earthquakes wouldn't be happening.

 

RECALL

 

Seriously, if anyone was near it I hope they are all cool in the hood.

[Guest Just Looking]

Where I am (Holywood/Studio City), it felt like I had spun around and then stood on a waterbed- my office is on rollers, so we just kept moving. I called my dad in New York just to say, "Hey dad- I'm in an earthquake. How's your day going?"

[Eclipse 0]

A long time ago in the NY/NJ area, there was a MINI earthquake. My mom told me that the windows shook a bit, and that was all.