6.4 Earthquake Rocks Southern California on 4th of July

The preliminary 6.6 temblor hit about 10:33 a.m. and centered in the Mojave Desert in Searles Valley, about 11 miles east northeast of Ridgecrest, about 109 miles north of San Bernardino and 121 miles northeast of Los Angeles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

A short time later, aftershocks measuring 4.0 and 3.5 in the same area, USGS reported.

The epicenter is within the sprawling Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division at China Lake, where a desert test range is located.

No injuries were immediately reported, but the San Bernardino County Fire Department tweeted that buildings and roads have been damaged in Trona, a remote community located about 10 miles northeast of Ridgecrest. The extent of the damages were not immediately known.

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Did any ATS members feel this shaker? Hasn't it been since the 1990s since an earthquake of this magnitude it this area? Hoping not too much damage, but seems news is just coming in. Happy 4 th of July California...hoping being the epicenter is by the NAWCWD that it doesn't mean there was an accident there that caused this!

a reply to: CynConcepts

I felt it. It was a long, long, long slow rolling, like sitting on a boat rocking with the waves. It felt like it was never going to stop, but it did, slowly.

The news people seem sad it was not bigger and damaging. Slow news day on the 4th.

a reply to: Sookiechacha

Yes same!
Like a boat over waves!

So I assume this is not "the big one" they've been fearing?

a reply to: roadgravel

It was the biggest one in decades, I can imagine the first thoughts were memories of the disastrous damage from the 90s. It does seem interesting conspiracy wise that it's epicenter is where it is at though. Would imagine the conspiracists would latch on that before the media anyways.

a reply to: Sookiechacha

How would you compare it to the Northridge Earthquake? I was a first responder SAR for that one, down from the Bay Area.

I'm curious how you and others perceived the difference between the two? Did you feel two different amplitude 'waves'?

Very glad to read that no loss of life from today's temblor.

originally posted by: Sookiechacha
a reply to: CynConcepts

I felt it. It was a long, long, long slow rolling, like sitting on a boat rocking with the waves. It felt like it was never going to stop, but it did, slowly.

Were you close or further from the epicenter?

originally posted by: zazzafrazz
a reply to: Sookiechacha

Yes same!
Like a boat over waves!

Sounds like you are surprised that 6.6 was not more earth shaking?

a reply to: CynConcepts

No.
It sounds like I felt like I was in a boat over waves.

a reply to: cleverhans

The location is very remote in the high desert. Not many structures or densely populated areas affected.
Earthquake Hits China Lake Area in California 6.6 in Searles Valley 170 miles from Culver City
Culver City is in Los Angels.

There was a 6.2 located at Bella Bella, BC, Canada last night at 8:30...

I wonder if these quakes are very related, and if so, a precursor to any more...

a reply to: CynConcepts

I'm 160 miles from the epicenter. Listening to the mayor of a city near the epicenter, on the news, it was a long, long slow roll for them too.

I've been through quite a few California earthquakes and they usually start with an abrupt and violent shake, and only lasts a moment. This was unusually long and the slow rolling sensation was kind of scary for me because I'm in a "liquification" area just below a dam.

a reply to: cleverhans

I would guess not. the "Big One" would be at least magnitude 8.0, if not more. The 1906 San Francisco EQ was around that, and I would guess that the EQ of all time would be significantly more than that. The magnitude (Richter) scale is logarithmic, but approx. 10 times per .x of scale. I saw another report in the USGS archives that called the '06 EQ 8.25. Whoof.

originally posted by: zazzafrazz
a reply to: CynConcepts

No.
It sounds like I felt like I was in a boat over waves.

Haha...guess I should have asked how big of a wave? Did you have any damages?

a reply to: Observationalist

Take a look around where the EQ hit. Could of been some kind of a weapons test?

a reply to: roadgravel

The news people seem sad it was not bigger and damaging. Slow news day on the 4th.

Well, sadly there is an older dam nearby that is goin under repair. It’s only about 70 miles away from the the epicenter.
Isabella Dam Project

Recently The Californian had an update on the Isabella Dam project ("Wet weather, melting snow bring adjustments to Isabella Lake repair work," June 3). I also watched a documentary on the five worst dams in the world." Isabella Dam was number four. Very interesting!

We have known for approximately 10 or more years the dam was in need of major repairs. After watching the documentary I have come to the conclusion that what was known 10 or more years ago with a repair project starting in 2018 with a completion date of 2023, we will still have an earthen dam on a nearby earthquake fault. It has been stated Bakersfield would be under 22 feet of water. Does anyone else find this scary?

a reply to: CynConcepts

I think there was another smaller "wave" after about 2 minutes?
Felt no shaking violently at all, it felt more like I was on a boat, I thought I'd get dizzy-sick as I get sea sickness easily lol.

originally posted by: Sookiechacha
a reply to: CynConcepts

I'm 160 miles from the epicenter. Listening to the mayor of a city near the epicenter, on the news, it was a long, long slow roll for them too.

I've been through quite a few California earthquakes and they usually start with an abrupt and violent shake, and only lasts a moment. This was unusually long and the slow rolling sensation was kind of scary for me because I'm in a "liquification" area just below a dam.

I am wondering if that is due to the depth of a quake? More roll than shake. It's been reported that smaller aftershocks have occurred. Is it possible that this is still just a build up or more likely California is good for awhile now?

a reply to: zazzafrazz

Zazz! You're in the area? Boat on the waves is a good description. A bit disconcerting when the waves are made of land, as I recall.

It may have been a huge benefit that it occured on Independence Day; otherwise traffic on the freeways might have been blocked, as it was after other temblors.

I just noticed that CNN is REALLY featuring this EQ. I bet they are thanking God they don't have to cover Trump's speech.