A 3.9-magnitude earthquake shook near North Hollywood, rattling the Los Angeles area on the night of the Academy Awards, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
The 10-mile deep quake hit 1 mile from North Hollywood at 10:13 p.m. Sunday, March 2, according to the USGS.
The 97th Academy Awards were broadcast earlier in the evening.
Nearly 10,000 people from as far away as Calexico and San Diego reported feeling the tremor to the agency.
“That was scary,” television host Maria Menounos wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“The Oscars AND an Earthquake? Today is peak LA,” read another post on X.
“Got called in to the ICU as someone was actively dying. The moment I stepped foot in the building I was called again for a cardiac arrest in the emergency department. Just as I was finishing documentation there was a 3.9 mag earthquake. I might be in a Grey’s Anatomy episode,” another X post said.
“The very first thing I did when I realized it was an earthquake was grab my dog,” read another post.
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. Quakes 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 they’re most common in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
If an earthquake strikes, it’s best to protect yourself right away. Here are tips from experts:
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.”