An earthquake has rocked the Southern California region near Bakersfield on Tuesday

Introduction

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake shakes the ground near Lamont, California, on Tuesday night, causing a series of jolts across the large part of Southern California, including the Los Angeles city. The earthquake was noted to have happened at 9:09 p.m. PT and was at first estimated to be 5. It was initially reported as a 3-magnitude earthquake but was later revised to a 5.2 by the US Geological Survey (USGS). Its focus was 15 miles southwest of Lamont and at a distance of 25 miles south of Bakersfield.

Impact Across Southern California

The earthquake hit a large part of Southern California; people reported feeling the tremor from Fresno in the north to Temecula in the south. Although people in the city of Los Angeles felt the quake, the Los Angeles Fire Department said there was no major structural failure or casualty within the city. Fire departments sent out patrol teams to the area to check and found out that Los Angeles had not been seriously affected.

The US Geological Survey also put the death toll or the extent of damage from the quake at a low level, a response that was welcomed by the residents since earthquakes in the region are rather unpredictable.

Aftershocks and Seismological Analysis

After the first quake, about sixty more quakes or aftershocks were felt within the succeeding one hour with the biggest being a 4. 5-magnitude tremor. Lucy Jones of the California Institute of Technology termed the earthquake as robust and added that such an earthquake produced more aftershocks than are normal for an earthquake of this kind.

According to the observation made by Jones, there have been relatively few major earthquakes in Southern California in the last several decades. “Recently, we’ve had a rather quiet couple of decades,” she said. “Here in southern California, for instance, there has been an average of seven magnitude 5 earthquakes in the last decade, although in the long term, there is an average of two a year.”

She’s correct that the region has had a lull in seismic activity, but she reminds readers that Southern California is still a seismically active area. However, Jones noted that one should not let the recent period of relative quiet fool him or her because the big one is always around the corner and may be more destructive.

Preparedness in Earthquake Country

Jones also explained some myths concerning earthquakes; one such myth is that small quakes can help prevent large ones by releasing stress accumulated in the earth’s crust. ‘That is not true,’ she replied. “California is, in the long run, an earthquake-prone state, and, in the long run, the number of quakes should rise from the current level of about one or two a week.”

Thus, pointing to the certainty of future earthquakes, Jones called on the inhabitants of earthquake-prone regions to be ready for potential cataclysms. The Earthquake Country Alliance has the following recommendations for preparedness: know your house, know your risks, secure your possessions, plan for the unexpectedly unforeseeable, and know when to expect the next temblor.

The existing fact of Earthquakes in California.

Jones summed up by emphasizing the fact that large earthquakes of the future will occur in California. “The probability of the big earthquake is 100%; just give us the time,” she said. Her words are a painful wake-up call, and although Californian residents have not been able to predict the exact time and place of the earthquake, it is only a matter of time until the state experiences another significant quake.

It is for this reason that the residents are urged to tap the recent quake as a reminder and check on their preparedness for anything that may come their way. From moving large objects in the house to setting a family plan of communication, it is possible to reduce the impact of a major earthquake by taking small actions at present.

Conclusion

The 5.2 magnitude earthquake that happened near Bakersfield is an illustration of the fact that Southern California remains at risk of earthquakes. There were no casualties or severe destruction, but it underlines the necessity for being ready for the worst in a region that is frequently struck by earthquakes. As seismologists like Lucy Jones continue to study these events, the message to Californians is clear: One has to be ready, have information, and, most importantly, accept the fact that in an earthquake-prone region, one has to face it.

Call to Action

For further information on how to prepare for an earthquake and ways to safeguard your home and loved ones, please go to the Earthquake Country Alliance website. Continue to be knowledgeable and act on measures that will protect you in case of an earthquake that may occur in the future.