Is a 4.0 really considered an earthquake by California standards?
Only when it wakes you up.
4.0 is just enough to make a native Californian say, “Huh, an earthquake,” and then go back to whatever they were doing.
depends if you are near the epicenter where it will surely get your attention. LAFD went out to check structures this a.m. so take your lead from that.
>>Is a 4.0 really considered an earthquake by California standards?<<
Not really. Sort of a Hmmmm...
We spent our whole lives being warned about pre-quakes although I never experienced one and I was 1.5 miles from the Northridge quake epicenter and about 2 miles from the Whittier Narrows quake center.