USGS News

Small Quake Shook California Desert Near Site of Coachella Music Festival

A small earthquake shook the Southern California desert Saturday near Coachella, where the famous music festival was being held this weekend. No damage or injuries were reported. The quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 3.8, hit at 9:08 a.m. about …

Magnitude 4.9 Earthquake Shook Idaho

An earthquake of 4.9 magnitude struck north of Boise, Idaho, reportedly causing no major damage or injuries, authorities confirmed. The quake happened at 10:25 a.m. on Monday and was centered about 6.2 miles north of Smiths Ferry, according to the …

M4.2 Earthquake Confirmed in Northern California, Set off Quake Alert

A magnitude 4.2 earthquake shook part of Northern California between the state capital and the San Francisco Bay region on Wednesday, setting off automated quake alerts, the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed. The 9:29 a.m. quake was centered in the agricultural …

Small Earthquake Confirmed in Arizona Town

A 3.8 magnitude earthquake shook a northern Arizona town Sunday afternoon but there was no immediate word on any injuries or damage, the United States Geological Survey confirmed. The USGS said the small quake struck near Chino Valley, just north …

California Earthquake False Alarm Offers a Lesson for Crisis Communicators

An earthquake false alarm nearly four years ago can teach disaster and emergency planners – and any crisis communicators, including insurers – a thing or two about communicating to the public during and after a crisis. In May 2019, an …

Light Earthquake Confirmed in Southern California

A light earthquake centered offshore gave Southern California an early morning wake-up call Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed. There were no reports of damage. The 2 a.m. quake occurred beneath the ocean 10.6 miles south of Malibu, the USGS …

M6.4 in Northern California Leaves Tens of Thousands Without Power

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck northern California on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake struck roughly 200 miles north of San Francisco in the vicinity of the Mendocino triple junction where the Pacific, North America and Juan …

5.0 Quake Confirmed During Hawaii’s Mauna Loa Volcano Unrest

A magnitude 5.0 earthquake was the strongest of a series of temblors that struck Friday on Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano on the planet that scientists say is in a “state of heightened unrest,” the U.S. Geological Survey …

Magnitude 4.1 Earthquake Confirmed in California

A magnitude 4.1 earthquake rattled an inland region of San Diego County on Sunday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed. The quake hit at 9:46 a.m. near Palomar Observatory, about 65 miles northeast of downtown San Diego, USGS said. A …

Magnitude 5.1 Earthquake Confirmed in Southern Alaska

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck southern Alaska, and people reported shaking in Anchorage and surrounding areas, according to officials. The epicenter of Thursday’s quake was 49 kilometers, or 30 miles, northwest of Ninilchik, Alaska, the U.S. Geological Survey said. That …