PETROLIA, Calif. — A preliminary magnitude 7.0earthquake struck Thursday morning near Ferndale, California, in Humboldt County.
The U.S. Geological Survey says the rumble happened around 10:45 a.m. It was centered around 62 miles southwest of Ferndale — about 5 hours northwest of Sacramento — along the coast of Humboldt County.
People reported feeling it as far south as Livermore in East Bay, according to the ‘Did You Feel It?’ self-reporting tool on the USGS website. The USGS said there is a possibility of moderate to heavy damage near Eureka and the surrounding areas.
A map of where the earthquake was likely felt can be found HERE.
There is currently a tsunami warning is in effect along the coast from Oregon down to around Santa Cruz.
In the Santa Cruz area, phones buzzed with a tsunami warning from the National Weather Service that said: “A series of powerful waves and strong currents may impact coasts near you. You are in danger. Get away from coastal waters. Move to high ground or inland now. Keep away from the coast until local officials say it is safe to return.”
The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, known as BART, has stopped traffic in all directions through the underwater tunnel between San Francisco and Oakland.
ALL ABOUT EARTHQUAKE PREP:
- What you need to know about ShakeAlert, the earthquake warning system | Earthquake Ready or Not
- What can happen to our power grids after an earthquake? | Earthquake Ready or Not
- Why a disaster kit will help you survive the next big one | Earthquake Ready or Not
- What you need to know about the San Andreas fault | Earthquake Ready or Not
- The science of forecasting earthquakes | Earthquake Ready or Not
- How vulnerable is California to tsunamis? | Earthquake Ready or Not
WATCH MORE: Earthquakes come without warning and if you aren’t prepared by the time the big one hits, you will be too late. The 2019 earthquake near Ridgecrest, California shined a spotlight on the need to be prepared with a disaster kit and a plan. A little work now could help you survive the next quake.