Shaking Awake: 5.2 Magnitude Earthquake Rattles San Diego and Surrounding Areas

Southern California got a rude awakening Tuesday morning when a magnitude earthquake shook the region with the epicenter hitting just northeast of Pine Valley about miles east of San Diego The tremor struck around a m just before sunrise and was felt across a wide area including San Diego Riverside Orange County and even parts of Los Angeles It only lasted a inadequate seconds but for numerous people those seconds were filled with confusion adrenaline and a serious jolt to their morning routine My Whole Bed Moved Residents Describe the Moment From bedrooms to high-rises people all across SoCal felt the ground move I was sound asleep and then boom my whole bed shifted revealed Jasmine Clark a nurse in downtown San Diego I thought it was a dream at first Then my dog started barking like crazy Social media fast filled with posts like Did anyone else feel that and Earthquake just rocked my house as people tried to confirm what they d just experienced The US Geological Survey endorsed the quake s strength soon after labeling it a moderate but widely felt event Though Southern California is no stranger to earthquakes it s reliably unsettling when one hits this close to home No Serious Damage But Crews Are Checking Everything So far no major injuries or structural damage have been informed but local crisis crews were quick to jump into action Firefighters utility workers and city leaders began inspecting key areas bridges gas lines older buildings to make sure everything was still safe We ve had a scarce calls particular gas smells power flickers elevators stopping Nothing severe explained Tanya Roth with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Still we re out there checking just to be sure Caltrans also sent out crews to check highways and overpasses especially in areas closer to the epicenter Why This Quake Happened and What It Means According to seismologists this earthquake originated near the Elsinore Fault Zone one of several current fault lines that crisscross Southern California While it doesn t get as much attention as the San Andreas Fault the Elsinore has a long history of producing critical quakes This wasn t a huge earthquake but it s definitely a reminder that we live in earthquake country commented Dr Lucy Grantham a seismologist with Caltech A is strong enough to rattle nerves and remind us all to stay prepared Several smaller aftershocks one around magnitude were recorded in the hours that followed More could be on the way though experts say majority will be mild A Wake-Up Call to Get Prepared City representatives used this morning s shake-up as a teachable moment Mayor Todd Gloria addressed the general later in the morning urging everyone to revisit their crisis plans We were lucky this time he stated But next time it might be stronger Let s be ready Here s what experts recommend Keep a go-bag with essentials like food water batteries and first aid supplies Secure heavy furniture and items on shelves Know how to turn off gas electricity and water in your home Practice earthquake drills with your family Delays and Disruptions Were Minimal Despite the early shake-up San Diego got back on its feet pretty hastily The San Diego Unified School District delayed start times at particular schools while buildings were checked but by mid-morning the majority campuses were open Society transit continued to run with only minor delays and airports communicated no considerable issues Still various early flights were delayed while crews double-checked runways and terminal structures Looking Ahead Staying Grounded in Shaky Times Scientists will continue monitoring the area over the next minimal days Although this quake didn t cause damage it may have shifted stress along nearby faults which means it s realizable more activity could follow though nothing is certain For now Southern Californians are back to their daily routines just with a bit more caution and maybe a limited extra bottles of water in the garage And if nothing else countless of us now have an answer ready the next time someone asks Where were you during the