Earthquake shakes Northern California | Cleaning and maintenance management

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According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck three miles offshore in Northern California on Tuesday, December 20, at 2:34 a.m. local time. The quake occurred about 10 miles southwest of Ferndale, California, and prompted California Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency in the area.

Two people died as a result of medical emergencies that occurred during and/or immediately after the earthquake. The Associated Press reported that about a dozen people were injured.

Ferndale is located in Humboldt County on Northern California’s Redwood Coast, about 60 miles south of the Oregon border and 200 miles north of the San Francisco Bay Area. The powerful earthquake near the epicenter caused widespread damage to roads and homes, according to the Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services.

According to AP News, more than 72,000 Pacific Gas & Electric customers lost power due to the event, including two Humboldt County hospitals that both relied on generators during the outage. By late Tuesday, power had been restored to nearly 40,000 customers.

In a tweet the same day, the USGS warned of the high probability of aftershocks, most likely around 4.0 on the Richter scale.

An area with a history of seismic activity

This region has a history of heavy seismic activity. In fact, a series of overlapping magnitude 6.2 and 5.7 earthquakes occurred nearby exactly a year ago on December 20, 2021. Earthquakes are common in this region due to the proximity of where the Pacific, North American and Juan de Fuca plates meet, a spot known as the Mendocino Triple Junction. In the past century, there have been at least 40 other earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater, including six earthquakes of magnitude 7 or greater, within approximately 150 miles of Tuesday’s quake.

“This area is the most seismically active part of California,” said Keith Knudsen, deputy director of the USGS Seismology Center. “It is likely that the long-time population has experienced many localized earthquakes and associated severe shaking.”

Prepare and stay safe in the event of an earthquake

While it can be easy to feel helpless in the event of an earthquake, there are things facility managers and building residents can do to be better prepared and stay safe. According to ready.gov, the following actions can help prepare for an earthquake:

Secure heavy items, such as bookcases, refrigerators, water heaters, televisions, and wall hangings. Store heavy and breakable items on low shelves. Consider making improvements to your building to fix structural problems that could cause your building to collapse during an earthquake. Consider getting an earthquake insurance policy. A standard insurance policy may not cover earthquake damage.

Furthermore, everyone in the building should be aware of the Drop, Cover, and Hold On technique to protect themselves during an earthquake:

drop/lock. Wherever you are, get down on your hands and knees and grab something sturdy. If you use a wheelchair or seat walker, make sure your wheels are locked and you stay seated until the shaking stops. cover. Cover your head and neck with your arms. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl under it for cover. If there is no shelter nearby, crawl next to an interior wall (away from windows). Crawl only if you can get to better cover without going through an area with more debris. Stay on your knees or bend over to protect vital organs. clings. If you’re under a table or desk, hold one hand and be ready to move with it if it moves. If you are sitting and unable to fall to the floor, lean forward, cover your head with your arms and grab your neck with both hands.

You can also do earthquake drills at your facility. Visit shakeout.org to learn how to practice earthquake safety and prepare for International ShakeOut Day, a day specifically designated for global participation in earthquake drills.

For more information on disaster preparedness, also read Strategies for the Future: Creating a Disaster Plan.

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