RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA - on Saturday around midday, a 3.0 magnitude quake was recorded near Morongo Valley, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The tremor, which shook the area at 1:08 p.m., was centered approximately 5 miles southwest of Morongo Valley. It occurred at a depth of 4 miles. The magnitude was originally reported as 2.9 but later upgraded to 3.0.
Did you feel it?
If you noticed the earthquake, you can submit a report through the USGS Felt Report form. The agency has received 23 responses on its online form so far, from people saying they felt the quake. Weak shaking has been registered and several people reported experiencing the tremor in Palm Springs and the surrounding area according to the USGS DYFI report.
Last week's quakes
Last week, the region has experienced two quakes, greater than magnitude 2.5. The larger, a 3.5 magnitude event, was reported near Rialto four days earlier. The second, with a magnitude of 3.2, occurred close to Ontario on August 6.
What to know about earthquakes
Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, the U. S. Geological Survey says. It replaces the old Richter scale. Quakes between 2.5 and 5.4 magnitude are often felt but rarely cause much damage, according to Michigan Tech. Earthquakes below 2.5 magnitude are seldom felt by most people.
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. They can happen anywhere, but are most common in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year. 100,000 of those can be felt, and 100 of them cause damage.
What to do during an earthquake
If an earthquake strikes, it's best to protect yourself right away. Here are tips from experts:
If you're in a car: Pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.
If you're in bed: Turn face-down and cover your head with a pillow.
If you're outdoors: Stay away from buildings. Don't go inside.
If you're inside: Stay and don't run outdoors. Stay away from doorways.
The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say. "Wherever you are, drop down to your hands and knees and hold onto something sturdy," officials say. "If you're using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking stops." Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible. If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows. Once under a table, officials say you should hold on with one hand and be ready to move with it.
"There can be serious hazards after an earthquake, such as damage to the building, leaking gas and water lines, or downed power lines," officials say. "Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake. Be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On if you feel an aftershock."
Source: The U.S. Geological Survey
This article was generated by the CA Earthquake Bot, software that analyzes structured information, such as data, and applies it to articles based on templates created by journalists in the newsroom. No human journalist was harmed in this experiment. You can report errors or bugs to [email protected].