California’s Earthquake Country: 7.0 Temblor Causes Confusion and Tsunami Warning

Valerie Starkey’s Shocking Encounter

Valerie Starkey, a Del Norte County supervisor, was on her way to visit relatives when she was suddenly jolted by a powerful earthquake that left her confused and fearing the worst. Little did she know that she was one of the millions of people along the California and Oregon coasts who were under a tsunami warning for about an hour.

The Impact of the 7.0 Magnitude Earthquake

The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.0, struck at 10:44 a.m. west of Ferndale, a small city in coastal Humboldt County, triggering chaos and confusion along the West Coast. The shaking was felt as far south as San Francisco, where residents described a rolling motion for several seconds.

Response and Recovery Efforts

Following the quake, authorities issued a tsunami warning that urged residents to evacuate to higher ground as a precaution. In Santa Cruz, the main beach was cleared, and cars were seen heading to higher ground on California highways. President Joe Biden was briefed on the earthquake, and FEMA officials were in touch with their state and local counterparts in California and Oregon.

State of Emergency Declared

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a state of emergency declaration to swiftly mobilize state resources to assist impacted areas. Crews in Eureka were assessing the damage, while residents reported cracks in their homes’ foundations and broken glass. Despite the chaos, Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal reassured residents that the region is no stranger to earthquakes.

As Californians continue to grapple with the aftermath of this powerful earthquake, it serves as a stark reminder of the state’s vulnerability to seismic activity. Stay tuned for more updates on the recovery efforts and the resilience of communities in the face of natural disasters.