Posted on 05/18/2009 12:00:34 PM PDT by TaraP
LOS ANGELES- Seismologists are warning Los Angeles-area residents to expect more aftershocks after a moderate earthquake shattered glass, rattled nerves and sent at least one person to the hospital.
Sunday night's magnitude-4.7 quake was centered about 10 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles and three miles east of Los Angeles International Airport, according to a preliminary report by the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake was followed by at least five smaller aftershocks, with the largest registering at magnitude-3.1.
USGS seismologist Susan Hough said there would likely be more aftershocks in the "threes, maybe a four," and there was a 5 percent chance of a larger quake.
"People should be on their toes," she said.
The quake jiggled the greater Los Angeles region for about 10 to 15 seconds and was felt as far south as San Diego, Hough said.
"This was a serious jolt," she said.
The shaking was most intense in the coastal communities south of LAX. Some residents said books and other items were knocked off the shelves.
Glass broke at a Starbucks in Torrance, and one person there had minor injuries and was taken to Little Company of Mary Hospital, Torrance Fire Department dispatchers said. There was no further information on the injury or the patient, they said.
Television images showed a Long Beach drapery business that had its storefront window knocked out.
"It was pretty strong," owner John Sousa told KABC-TV as he stood on the sidewalk outside Blue Ribbon Drapery. "It's a little strange, but I expected it was going to happen sometime," he said.
Tiles fell from a movie theater ceiling during a screening of "Angels and Demons" at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach and moviegoers fled from the theater. Firefighters were called to repair a damaged light pole in Hawthorne, the Los Angeles Times said. No injuries were reported in either incident.
Tom Oswalt, 46, said he was packing clothes for a business trip at his home in Long Beach when the shaking started.
"First thing I thought was 'Is this the big one?' It was pretty powerful," he said. "My first thought was to get out of the building, get my dog and get out of the building. Now we're just waiting for aftershocks."
However, some people who live north of downtown Los Angeles either felt a light shake or nothing at all.
The last damaging earthquake in Southern California was the 1994 magnitude-6.7 Northridge quake that toppled bridges and buildings.
Since Northridge, the region has been in a relative seismic lull, but activity picked up within the past year.
Last summer, a 5.4-magnitude quake centered east of Los Angeles rattled windows and made buildings sway, but did not cause major damage. It was the strongest quake to hit since Northridge.
Earlier this year, scientists kept close watch on an earthquake swarm near the southern end of the San Andreas Fault that shook the desert, but did not cause injuries.
"We've had quiet and active times," said USGS seismologist Lucy Jones. "The activity that we've seen in the past year isn't the highest by a long shot, but I would no longer call Los Angeles quiet."
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>>Tiles fell from a movie theater ceiling during a screening of “Angels and Demons” at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach and moviegoers fled from the theater.<<
Wrath of God. LOL!
Move the heavy stuff off the shelves and tops of tall furniture and appliances. Those are the things that shoot out during a quake like a fast ball from a souped-up Roger Clemens.
I would be running out of that movie too!
I guess a real live jolt from the demons!
Where would we all be without seismology????
No, that's not a typo.
Will that mean less votes for democrats?
That would be a big slice of CA gone if that happened. On the map it looks like most of LA would be gone if that ever happened.
Not to mention Arizona and Texas and a few dozen other states...
If it was the 'Big One'; the first thing you should do is locate your swimwear...
Makes sense...
(There’s no life east of Sepulveda anyway)...
My youngest, who just turned 21, is moving to Long Beach next month. She was born there but we left in 1996. Guess she’ll have to get used to all that rocking and rolling again....
Not one mention of the TIME in this entire article?? Our son felt it, here in Pasadena, but we did not.
And if California slides into the ocean
Like the mystics and statistics say it will
I predict this motel will be standing
Until I pay my bill
W. Zevon
>>Where would we all be without seismology????
We wouldn’t have any more earthquakes!
That would do away with the Blue State / Red State nonsense.
By the time this was printed and you are able to read this the odds have gone way up. That risk was mostly yesterday’s news.
Yes and it will be a big island one day. we will not live to see it. don’t worry about it.
Who has the “WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!” ping list.
Not sure....
We should all watch!
It was Bush’s fault of course...no other explanation
There’s been a fair amount of scholarship tying seismic activity to lunar/tidal activity. If it holds true, look for some rumblings with the approach of the new moon this coming Sunday (5/23).
Where would we all be without seismology????
I was in Palo Alto in 1989...it was something to remember. I would never go to California if business didn’t require it. Even then I send a subordinate when I can..
Women and minorities to be hit the hardest...
So there is a chance!
“Earthquakes: Can’t live with ‘em; Can’t live without ‘em.”
Ah, tectonics.
I love these 1 in 20 predictions. No matter what happens, they can claim to be right.
50-50 is even better!
A fair amount of nonsense, you mean.
This quake, for example, was on a half moon, like many others. It managed to miss even Berkland's gigantic can't-miss windows.
Jim Berkland makes a pretty compelling case that at least some major quakes have been influenced by lunar activity.
Where’s the link for online gambling?!?!
yeap I would bet in a heart bet against these ‘scientists.’
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