5.4 Quake Shakes Southern California

AP ^ | 02/22/03

[nypokerface]

BIG BEAR CITY, Calif. - A magnitude-5.4 earthquake shook a wide swath of Southern California early Saturday morning, jarring residents awake and rattling buildings as far away as downtown Los Angeles.

The quake was centered about 4 miles north of Big Bear City, a mountain resort town about 90 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.

Attorney Steven De Salvo was working on a brief on the 15th floor of a downtown office building when the quake hit.

"I'm tired, trying to stay awake, and this definitely jolted me awake," he said. "The shades were kind of rocking back and forth, there was kind of a low rumble. The walls were vibrating. I've never been in a skyscraper in an earthquake before. It lasted I would say about ten to 15 seconds."

The quake was followed by a magnitude-4.5 one minute later and a magnitude-4.2 after another minute. Several aftershocks were recorded in the magnitude-3.8 and below range.

A San Bernardino County sheriff's dispatcher said he had received numerous calls inquiring about the quake but had no immediate reports of injury or damage.

Seismologist Kate Hutton, at the California Institute of Technology seismology laboratory in Pasadena, said the main quake did not appear to be an aftershock of any previous quake. It appeared to be a new earthquake sequence in an area well known for seismic activity.

She said there did not appear to be any link to the deadly 1992 Landers-Big Bear quakes. The magnitude-7.3 Landers quake on June 28, 1992, was followed a few hours later by a magnitude-6.5 quake in Big Bear mountain area.

The Landers quake toppled a chimney that killed a 3-year-old. The quakes injured more than 400 people and caused nearly $100 million in damage. There have been more than 50,000 aftershocks.

[ErnBatavia]

Nothing felt here in the Coachella Valley (maybe 75 miles away?) - but the 1992 guys were a different story! Those big fellas woke us up over in the Los Angeles area.

[4America]

I live in the San Fernando Valley. I felt it. IMHO...we are long over due.

[billorites]

"A magnitude-5.4 earthquake shook a wide swath of Southern California early Saturday morning"

Women and minorities hardest hit.

[cubreporter]

how far is that from Moorpark, CA????

[Thinkin' Gal]

Big Bear City is rockin' ping.

[Osage Orange]

That is a very cool map..!!

Thanks for sharing.....

FRegards,

[sixgunjer]

Was that what that was? I thought it was that imaginary woman of mine turning over in her sleep!

Greetings from Santa Clarita.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

Where is the Grammy's on Sunday?

[Euro-American Scum]

A magnitude-5.4 earthquake shook a wide swath of Southern California early Saturday morning, jarring residents awake and rattling buildings as far away as downtown Los Angeles.

Gray Davis blames greedy Enron executives.

[TheDon]

We felt it here in Mission Viejo, in Orange County.

[null and void]

You're a writer for the washington post, aren't you?...

[null and void]

Since no-one, even AP, has seen fit to post the time it was 0419.

[SoCal Pubbie]

"We felt it here in Mission Viejo, in Orange County."

I'm in Mission Viejo also. My wife and I woke up too, and I asked "what was that?". Like all good Californians, we shrugged it off and went right back to sleep afterward.

[BunnySlippers]

I'm in Los Angeles and really felt it. I subscribe to CalTech's email notification and apparently there were 4 events in a row. If any other So Cal people are interesting in getting their email everytime an earthquake happens the address is:

http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/latest/mailing_lists.html

[concentric circles]

Another view showing ground movement, mostly light to no shaking felt.
Cubby, in answer to your question, about 115 miles from Moorpark.

[Churchillspirit]

Slept through it here in Huntington Beach.

[Churchillspirit]

Slept through it here in Huntington Beach.

[TheDon]

Like all good Californians, we shrugged it off and went right back to sleep afterward.

So true. We followed the same procedure.

[Orion78]

Here is the homepage if you want it.

http://www.scecdc.scec.org/recenteqs/

[Duramaximus]

Someone here posted here the other day that Kalifornia has four seasons: Fire, Earthquake, Flood, and Riots.

How true it is.

[4America]

LMAO! Greetings from the San Fernando Valley!

[4America]

how far is that from Moorpark, CA????


About 25 maybe 30 miles I believe.

[cubreporter]

OK...thanks a bunch. :)