Salton Swarm and Earthquake Early Warning System
A 4.6 magnitude earthquake shook areas around the Salton Sea near Niland and Bombay Beach Monday morning. There were no reports of damage or injuries, but News Channel 3 continues to monitor the area. There have been more than 25 fore- and aftershocks recorded after the initial m4.6 earthquake.
This earthquake and the swarm are located about 8 miles from the southern end of the San Andreas Fault. Swarms like this have happened before, most recently, in 2001, 2009, and 2016. USGS stated that past swarms have remained active for 1 to 20 days, with an average duration of about a week. For more information provided by USGS on this insident, https://www.usgs.gov/center-news/earthquake-forecast-salton-sea-swarm-august-2020.
Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones took to Twitter shortly after the earthquakes to discuss this swarm of earthquakes, which she says is the fourth swarm of this kind since 2001.
We’re having a Salton Sea swarm. It’s the fourth time since 2001. This is in the Brawley Seismic Zone about 12 km south of the end of the San Andreas fault
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) August 10, 2020
Jones says the foreshocks don't appear to be much cause for concern as they aren't close enough to the main shock.
These earthquakes are considered minor but they are an important reminder to stay prepared for the next big earthquake on the San Andreas Fault. Carla Sullivan Dilley is the president of the Coachella Valley Disaster Preparedness Network. She said, "If this was it, do I know to drop cover and hold on if I am at home or in a building. Do I know if I am in a car, to pull over."
Have an earthquake kit ready to go in your home or even in your car. The kit should include essentials like water, at least one gallon per person per day. Here in the desert, you should have more than that. The kid should also include food, first aid, any medications you need, and flashlights for when power goes out. Dilley added, "You need to make sure you start with yourself and make sure you have a plan because you’re only going to be as good to someone else if you survive it and can help."
Governor Gavin Newsom announced today that he is partnering with Google to bring critical seconds of alert to residents of California before the ground begins to shake. In a statement, Newsom said, "California's world-class Earthquake Early Warning System will be a standard function on every Android phone - giving millions precious seconds to drop, cover and hold on when the big one hits." A few seconds might not seem like a lot but Dilley said, "One second to move away from something that’s above your head can make a lot of difference to you." For more information on the Earthquake Early Warning System, visit this website: https://earthquake.ca.gov/
