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5.2 Earthquake Shakes Up SF Bay Area

Posted by chrisd on from the thankfully-it's-not-really-a-big-deal dept.

Joe Kaz wrote in (along with a number of other concerned folks): "There was a 5.2 Earthquake in Gilroy, CA, 70 miles south of San Francisco. The epicenter was 4.7 miles below surface. It lasted for about 10 seconds, and it did seem like a long time. Everything shook for a while, and it was a little scary. No reports of damage yet. Hope everyone is ok." I've got a report from my sisters father-in-law in gilroy (the epicenter) and he barely noticed it. Nate Oostendorp noted that "My stereo shook a little" in Walnut Creek. The SF Gate story on the quake notes that there are some phones out in some small parts of San Jose. The usgs has an event monitoring page if you are interested.

4 of 587 comments (clear)

  1. Reporting your observations by zavyman · · Score: 4, Informative

    If you felt the quake, or if you were in the area and didn't feel it, be sure to record your observations here so that the data can be displayed and analyzed.

    It's amazing to see 700 responses be recorded in about 20 some minutes, and more data just helps the cause of the USGS. It was minor up here near the bay, but hey, it was my first :) You can access the current map as well.

  2. report your experiences to the USGS by molo · · Score: 5, Informative


    http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/shake/ca/STORE/X4013 33 64/ciim_form.html

    Go there if you are in the area of the quake. Report what you felt. Don't make shit up, don't troll the USGS.

    I felt some moderate shaking. Biggest quake I've ever been in, but I just moved to Palo Alto from New York. Neat, but scary.

    --
    Using your sig line to advertise for friends is lame.
  3. Earthquake / disaster / Burning Man kit ready? by geekotourist · · Score: 5, Informative
    If you felt it- you know that feeling you had at the 14th second, as you were starting to wonder if this was a big one, thinking about those 32 remaining (or at least ambulatory) survivors of the 60 second long 1906 quake (estimated 8.3), and then it stopped... the Sharks game wasn't even interrupted. But we know that sometime over the next 30 years, it'll start up the same, and then get worse.

    So, just as daylight savings time supposedly reminds us to change our smoke detector batteries (because otherwise that annoying 'low battery' beeping always start at 4am), tiny earthquakes remind us about our earthquake kits and preparation. Includes...

    • 3+ days of food, water, clothing, tools (ability to turn off the gas if needed) flashlights etc etc.
    • especially if you're female: comfortable clothing in your car, with a good change of shoes (vs hiking in high heels)
    • knowing where your important papers and backup disks are (some sites advise having copies in a bag you can grab on the way out), and having copies in a safe / safety deposit box.
    • cell phone always charged and gas tank always at least 1/2 full

    And unless you live in Scottsdale, AZ, don't feel smug about the safety of your own location- St. Louis has had an 8.0, and New York State has seen 6.0's.

  4. Epicenter vs. Focus by Guppy06 · · Score: 4, Informative

    I'm probably not the first person to say it, but...

    "The epicenter was 4.7 miles below surface."

    BUZZ! Wrong! The epicenter is by definition on the surface. The focus is what was 4.7 miles below the surface.

    Now then, why is this particular earthquake generating news (just another Californian earthquake), but the one in New York state a few weeks ago didn't?