After a pair of earthquakes in Southern California, residents are bracing for the worst.
By Monday afternoon, the SOS Survival Store in Van Nuys was sold out of earthquake emergency kits, and business owner Jeff Edelstein was adding customers to a two-week wait list for a basic package containing a three-day supply of non-perishable food and water, flashlights and a first-aid essentials to endure the aftermath of major temblor.
The twin holiday weekend earthquakes sent a double jolt reportedly felt from Los Angeles to the San Francisco Bay Area, but earthquake experts said it's highly unlikely the spike in seismic activity is an omen of the"big one," the natural catastrophe for which Californians have long been bracing. In contrast, the 6.7 magnitude Northridge shaker in 1994 killed more than 50 people and caused in excess of $40 billion in damage. The Northridge quake occurred on a previously unknown fault 9 miles underground.
The Ridgecrest quakes happened in the Airport Lake Fault zone, which runs roughly 50 miles through the Mojave desert and is about 180 miles from the San Andreas fault, Kaven said. The quakes occurred on perpendicular fissures in the zone, including one that had not been previously charted. During a packed town hall meeting in Ridgecrest on Sunday afternoon, Capt. Anthony Romero of the Kern County Fire Department told those in attendance that while Thursday's quake"opened up the eyes of this community," Friday's quake"terrified the community."
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Southern California isn't doing enough to fix earthquake-vulnerable buildings, expert saysA powerful temblor could either collapse these old buildings or shift them so dramatically that they’re uninhabitable, one expert says. He also estimates that half a million people likely call these structures home.
Read more »
My first California quake was terrifying. But the Big One will be much worseMy first California quake was terrifying. But the Big One will be much worse, writes Jeff Yang for CNNOpinion.
Read more »
Ignoring emails from colleges could hurt students' chances at being accepted, admissions experts sayAlong with students who are likely to succeed, college and universities want students that want them.
Read more »
California earthquakes: Worst should be over for now, experts say
Read more »
Southern California isn't doing enough to fix earthquake-vulnerable buildings, expert saysA powerful temblor could either collapse these old buildings or shift them so dramatically that they’re uninhabitable, one expert says. He also estimates that half a million people likely call these structures home.
Read more »
What California still has to do to get ready for the Big OneDr. Lucy Jones is a renowned seismologist known as 'the Earthquake Lady'. She's recommended ways for Los Angeles to address its greatest earthquake vulnerabilities -- here's what she says the region still needs to do to get ready for the Big One.
Read more »