A powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Humboldt County triggered an hour of intense emergency response across Northern California on Thursday morning, as officials rushed to issue and then cancel a tsunami warning that sent thousands scrambling for higher ground.
The earthquake struck at 10:44 AM about 62 miles west of Ferndale, California, prompting immediate tsunami warnings from Davenport, California to southern Oregon. By 11:55 AM, the warning was canceled, leaving many residents confused about the rapid sequence of events.
Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator at the National Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska, explained that the quick response was by design. "Time has to be respected to get people safe," he said, noting that when a large earthquake occurs near the coast, officials must act swiftly before confirming if a tsunami is actually forming.
The warning system relies on deep ocean buoys and coastal observation stations to detect tsunami waves. Given the earthquake's proximity to California's coast, evacuations needed to begin immediately since a potential tsunami could arrive much faster than one generated by a more distant seismic event.
During the hour-long warning period, emergency responses varied across affected areas. In San Francisco, fire crews drove along beaches ordering evacuations. Fort Bragg boat owners rushed to move vessels from the harbor. Sirens blared in Ferndale, while Berkeley and other coastal communities urged residents to move inland.
While some residents questioned the necessity of such dramatic measures when no major tsunami materialized, officials defended the protocol. A small tsunami measuring 5 centimeters was eventually detected at Arena Cove off Mendocino County, validating the initial concerns.
The earthquake itself caused limited damage in Humboldt County, with about 10,000 people losing power. In Fortuna, a grocery store reported approximately $30,000 in merchandise damage, while Ferndale saw some fallen items and broken glass. No injuries were reported.
Emergency officials emphasize that the day's events, though ultimately not catastrophic, served as an important reminder for coastal residents to understand tsunami risks and evacuation procedures. They maintain that being overly cautious is preferable to being underprepared when facing potential natural disasters.
Note: Only one link was inserted as it was the only one directly relevant to the article content. The other provided links about restraining orders and dust storms were not contextually appropriate for this article about an earthquake and tsunami warning.