An earthquake strikes the Pacific Ocean off Southern California

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A 3.8-magnitude earthquake struck in the early morning Pacific Ocean off Malibu in Southern California. Getty Images/iStockphoto

The US Geological Survey reports that a 3.8-magnitude earthquake in the Pacific Ocean off Malibu has awakened the Los Angeles area.

The 18-magnitude quake struck 12 miles southwest of Malibu at 2:29 a.m. Sunday, July 2, according to the USGS.

More than 2,200 people from as far away as Corona and Riverside reported feeling the earthquake to the agency.

“Did anyone feel this earthquake?” Read one post on Twitter about the earthquake.

“My first reaction was to check Twitter,” read another post.

Another post joked, “Only us insomniacs in Los Angeles felt this earthquake.”

“Girl I thought I was losing it,” another person wrote on Twitter.

What do you know about earthquakes

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.

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 building damage, gas and water line leaks, 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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