5.2 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Kern County and Surrounding Areas
A noticeable 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck Kern County, near Bakersfield, California, at approximately 9 p.m. on Tuesday, according to reports from the U.S. Geological Survey. While the quake was significant, early reports indicated no major damage or injuries across the region.
Delayed Alerts Raise Concerns
Some Southern Californians received earthquake alerts on their phones through a warning system, but the reliability of these alerts varied. While some individuals, even those without the MyShake app, received notifications, others—including reporters—did not receive any alerts prior to the tremor.
The earthquake warning took the form of a typical emergency alert, advising individuals to “Drop, Cover, Hold On. Protect Yourself.”
Aftershocks Follow the Initial Quake
In the aftermath of the main quake, a series of smaller aftershocks continued to rattle the region. These ongoing events were noted particularly around Kern County. One noteworthy occurrence involved a large boulder tumbling onto the 5 Freeway at Grapevine Road, creating brief disruptions for drivers.
Eyewitness Accounts of the Tremors
Reports from local residents illustrated the varied reactions to the quake. Matthew Cruz from Burbank remarked, “I was on my phone and then I got an alert on Google saying there was going to be an earthquake… I was just ready for it. And it shook my whole house and everything.”
Meanwhile, Jason Perez noted, “I didn’t feel too much, except I thought the car was shaking when it was windy. I couldn’t discern what it was, but when my wife texted me, she told me it was an earthquake.”
Understanding Earthquake Alerts
The MyShake app, designed to provide pre-emptive alerts about earthquakes, utilizes ground motion sensors located throughout California to inform users about seismic activity. Individuals wanting to utilize this feature are encouraged to download the app and enable notifications.
Magnitude Adjustments
The initial assessment of the quake’s magnitude went through multiple adjustments shortly after it struck, starting at 5.7 and then refining the estimate to 5.3, finally settling at the recorded 5.2 magnitude.
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