An earthquake strikes the Pacific Ocean near Homer, Alaska

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A 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck in the Pacific Ocean near Homer, Alaska. Getty Images/iStockphoto

The US Geological Survey reported that a 5.4-magnitude earthquake shook the Pacific Ocean south of Homer, Alaska.

The 40-mile-deep quake struck Cook Inlet 12 miles south of Anchor Point at 8:06 a.m. on Sunday, March 19, according to the USGS. There was no tsunami warning.

More than 1,000 people from as far away as Wasila and Valdez reported feeling the earthquake to the agency.

“Nothing like a little shake to start the morning,” one Twitter post read. “You know they’re big when you open your kitchen cabinets. The dogs (and we) shook a bit (no pun intended). Everything seems fine. No damage found.”

“It definitely rocked my little cabin!” Read another Twitter post.

Homer is a city of 5,500 residents located 225 miles south of Anchorage.

Magnitude measures the energy released by the earthquake’s source, says the USGS. It replaces the old Richter scale.

Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 to 5.4 are often felt but rarely cause severe damage, according to Michigan Tech. Earthquakes of less than 2.5 magnitude are rarely felt by most people.

What do you know about earthquakes

The rapid and sudden shaking of an earthquake can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. It can occur anywhere, but it’s most common in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

If an earthquake occurs, it is best to protect yourself immediately. Here are some tips from the experts:

If you’re in a car: stop and stop. Set the parking brake.

If you are in bed: turn face down and cover your head with a pillow.

If you are outside: stay away from buildings. Don’t go inside.

If indoors: stay and don’t run outdoors. Stay away from doorways.

Officials say the best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to fall, cover and hold on.

Wherever you are, get on your hands and knees and hold on to something sturdy, the officials say. “If you use a wheelchair or seat walker, make sure your wheels are locked and you stay seated until the shaking stops.”

Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible. If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.

Once seated under the table, the officials say you must hold in one hand and be ready to move with it.

“There can be serious risks after an earthquake, such as damage to a building, gas and water lines leaking, or power line failure,” officials say. They expected aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake. Be prepared to drop, cover and stop if you feel an aftershock.”

Don Sweeney has been a California newspaper reporter and editor for over 25 years. He has been a real-time correspondent on The Sacramento Bee since 2016.

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