Headline Humboldt
Headline Humboldt: December 23rd 2022
Season 3 Episode 12 | 28m 29sVideo has Closed Captions
We sit down with geologist & long-time Cal Poly Humboldt professor Lori Dengler.
Local communities continue their efforts to recover from a magnitude 6.4 earthquake that rattled the north coast early Tuesday, leaving two dead & several people injured. We also sit down with geologist & long-time Cal Poly Humboldt professor Lori Dengler to talk about the quake, its magnitude when compared with earthquakes of the past, and why we should pay attention to this kind of threat.
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Headline Humboldt is a local public television program presented by KEET
Headline Humboldt
Headline Humboldt: December 23rd 2022
Season 3 Episode 12 | 28m 29sVideo has Closed Captions
Local communities continue their efforts to recover from a magnitude 6.4 earthquake that rattled the north coast early Tuesday, leaving two dead & several people injured. We also sit down with geologist & long-time Cal Poly Humboldt professor Lori Dengler to talk about the quake, its magnitude when compared with earthquakes of the past, and why we should pay attention to this kind of threat.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> COMING UP ON "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT," LOCAL COMMUNITIES CONTINUE THEIR EFFORTS TO CLEAN UP AND RECOVER FROM A MAGNITUDE 6.4 EARTHQUAKE THAT RATTLED THE NORTH COAST EARLY TUESDAY MORNING LEAVING TWO DEAD AND SEVERAL PEOPLE INJURED.
WE WILL SIT DOWN WITH LOCAL GEOLOGIST AND CALPOLY PROFESSOR LORI DENGLER, ABOUT MAGNITUDE AND WHY WE SHOULD ALL BE PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO THIS KIND OF THREAT.
# COMING UP NOW ON "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT".
>> FROM THE TOP OF HUMBOLDT HILL, THIS IS "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT".
I'M JAMES FAULK, THANKS FOR JOINING US.
IF YOU HAVE LIVED ANY LENGTH OF TIME ON THE NORTH COAST YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH EARTHQUAKES.
MOST PASS WITHOUT OUR ATTENTION, BUT OCCASIONALLY OUR COMMUNITY GETS SHAKEN DEEP AND HARD BY THE TEMPERMENTAL EARTH BENEATH OUR FEET.
WE HAD ONE SUCH RATTLER, LEAVING HOMES DAMAGED, MAJOR MUNICIPALITIES AN THE STATE DECLARING EMERGENCIES, DISEASENS OF HOMES RED TAGGED AND OFFICIALS ARE ASKING RESIDENTS TO BOIL THEIR WATER BEFORE CONSUMING.
TWO PEOPLE DIED FROM LACK OF IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE AND DOZENS OF INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED.
DESPITE THESE REPORTS WE ARE LUCKY MORE DAMAGE WASN'T DONE.
THE CITY OF RIO DELL WAS HARDEST HIT AND THE FERJ BRIDGE WAS CLOSED FOR 24 HOURS AS CREWS ASSESSED DAMAGE.
26 HOMES IN RIO DELL HAD BEEN DEEMED UNSAFE.
65 LOCAL RESIDENTS WERE DISPLACED, NINE OF THOSE PROVIDED HOTEL ROOMS AND ADDITIONAL SHELTER.
HOMES HAVE BEEN YELLOW TAGGED, DAMAGES FROM THE QUAKE BUT SAFE TO LIVE IN.
AT ONE POINT POWER WAS OUT FOR 70,000 LOCAL RESIDENTS.
AS OF THURSDAY POWER HAS BEEN RESTORED AMONG MOST OF THE COUNTY.
HERE IS SHERIFF HONSAL, AND BEHIND ME THE CITY MANAGER.
AS YOU FELT, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 50 AFTERSHOCKS FROM THE EARTHQUAKE AT 2:37 IN THE MORNING.
OUR PRIORITY FROM THE VERY BEGINNING IS LIFE.
WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT RESIDENTS IN THE COUNTY AND SO THE FIRST THING WE ARE DOING IS CHECKING ON RESIDENTS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE OKAY AND PROVIDING THE NEEDS FOR THEM AT THIS PRESENT TIME.
AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE ARE COORDINATING DISASTER RESPONSE FOR COUNTY, COORDINATING WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS, WE HAVE FIRE, EMS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SAFE RESOURCES, CHP AND OTHER RESOURCES.
ALL THAT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROVIDING THE BEST SERVICES TO OUR PEOPLE AT THIS GIVEN TIME.
WE KNOW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED FROM THIS.
WE HAVE TWO DEATHS ASSOCIATED FROM THIS EARTHQUAKE.
A 72-YEAR-OLD AND 83-YEAR-OLD INDIVIDUAL WHO DID NOT SEE OR DID NOT GET TIMELY MEDICAL CARE BECAUSE THEIR EMERGENCY HAPPENED AT THE MOMENT OF THE EARTHQUAKE.
AND EMS COULDN'T GET THERE IN TIME TO WORK WITH THEM.
OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THEIR FAMILIES FOR THIS VERY SAD LOSS OF LIFE.
THAT IS THE ONE PRIMARY THING WE ARE LOOKING FOR RIGHT NOW, MAKE SURE OUR RESIDENTS ARE TAKING CARE OF.
>> WHEN SUCH A DISASTER STRIKES THE GO-TO PERSON HAS BEEN AND REMAINS KAL POLY HUMBOLDT PROFESSOR LORI DENGLER, WHO HAS SPENT HER CAREER STUDYING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE EARTH AND TRYING TO GET THE REST OF US TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS EVER-PRESENT DANGER.
THANKS FOR JOINING US, LORI.
>> THANK YOU AND MY SINCERE CONCERN FOR ALL OF YOU WHO JUST WENT THROUGH SOMETHING VERY, VERY FRIGHTENING.
YOU REALLY DO HAVE A RIGHT TO BE ANGRY AND FRIGHTENED AND NOT LIKE EARTHQUAKES.
BECAUSE THIS ONE WAS NO FUN.
>> YEAH.
I HAD A NEIGHBOR IN MY BACK WHO LIVES SORT OF IN THE BACK OF OUR HOUSE AND SHE WAS UP AT 2:45 THROWING BELONGINGS IN THE BACK OF HER CAR READY TO MOVE HUMBOLDT COUNTY FOR GOOD BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T LIKE THAT EARTHQUAKE.
>> EARTHQUAKES AT NIGHT ARE UNFORTUNE @.
I WAS IN A HOTEL AT SACRAMENTO WHEN MY PHONE ALERTED ME SHAKING WAS COMING.
I WASN'T AWARE OF THE SHAKING AND WHERE IT MIGHT BE COMING FROM AND I DIDN'T FEEL A THING.
THIS IS ONE EARTHQUAKE I'M VERY GLAD TO HAVE MISSED.
>> WE WERE TALKING BEFORE THE SHOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MAGNITUDE AND STRENGTH.
ON THE SCALE IT WAS 6.4, BUT YOU MENTIONED THE ACTUAL POWER BELYS THAT NUMBER.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT AGAIN?
>> YEAH.
PEOPLE TEND TO GET CONFUSED ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS WITH EARTHQUAKES.
ONE BIG SOURCE OF CONFUSION IS MAGNITUDE AND STRENGTHS OF SHAKING.
PEOPLE THINK THE LARGER THE MAGNITUDE NUMBER THE STRONGER THE EARTHQUAKE SHOULD BE.
THERE IS SORT OF A GENERAL CORRELATION.
A MANAGER ANY TUESDAY 3.0 EARTHQUAKE IS NOT GOING FEEL AS STRONG AND 5.0 AND 6.0.
ONCE YOU GET INTO 5, 6, 7 RANGE.
THE SHAKING, THE ACCELERATION MEASUREMENT, THE RATE OF CHANGE OF SPEED, EVERYONE SHOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH ACCELERATION.
IF YOU ARE DRIVING A CAR AND YOU ARE AT 0 AND GO TO 60 AND IT TAKES YOU TWO HOURS TO GET FROM 0 TO 60, YOU ARE NOT GOING FEEL VERY MUCH FORCE.
YOU ARE GOING MOVE ALONG SLOWLY.
BUT IF YOU GO FROM 0 TO 60 IN ONE SECOND IT IS GOING SLAM YOU BACK AGAINST YOUR SEAT.
THAT SLAMMING FORCE, THE FASTER THE RATE OF THE SPEED OF THE GROUND CHANGES THE MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO DO DAMAGE.
AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THIS 6.4 EARTHQUAKE, OF WHICH WE HAVE HAD A LOT, IN FACT, WE HAD A 6.2 EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO.
>> RIGHT.
>> EACH MAGNITUDE 6 EARTHQUAKE IS NOT A CLONE OF THE OTHER.
AND THIS ONE PRODUCED SOME OF THE STRONGEST GROUND SHAKING, THE STRONGER ACCELERATIONS EVER RECORDED IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
>> WOW.
>> MY GUESS IT IS GOING TO BE IN THE TOP FIVE.
THE SFRONGEST WERE IN 1992 IN CAPE MENDICINO.
IT EXCEEDED 2 GOINGs AND IT BOUNCED A CATERPILLAR D9 TRACTOR UP IN THE AIR, OVER AND BACK DOWN AGAIN.
>> OH, MY GOSH.
>> BUT IN MOST OF THE POPULATED AREAS, THIS EARTHQUAKE WAS STRONGER.
CERTAINLY MUCH STRONGER IN RIO DELL AND FORTUNA THAN THE 92 QUAKE.
SO THIS WAS A BIG ONE.
JUST BECAUSE IT WAS 6.4 DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT A BIG ONE.
THE GROUND ACCELERATIONS WERE REALLY QUITE EXTRAORDINARY.
AS WE GO UP IN MAGNITUDE, I DOUBT IF ANYONE IN RIO DELL OR FORTUNA WILL EVER FEEL A STRONGER EARTHQUAKE, EVEN IF WE HAVE A MAGNITUDE 8 OR 9.
THE ACCELERATIONS THAT PUSHED IS NOT LIKELY TO BE ANY STRONGER.
THE DIFFERENCE IS IT WILL LAST A LOT LONGER.
I KNOW FOR MANY PEOPLE THIS EARTHQUAKE FELT LIKE IT WENT ON FOREVER, BUT THE STRONG MOTION WAS LESS THAN 10 SECONDS OF REALLY STRONG SHAKING.
MIGHT HAVE GONE ON A LITTLE LONGER WITH MORE MILD SHAKING.
A LARGER MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE WILL LAST LONGER AND A REALLY LARGE EARTHQUAKE CAN LAST SEVERAL MINUTES.
>> I WANT TO CLARIFY A COUPLE OF BITS OF MISINFORMATION I HAVE BEEN HEARING OR FIND OUT IF THEY ARE MISINFORMATION.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE SAYING THERE WERE TWO EARTHQUAKES OVER NIGHT.
THAT IS NOT CORRECT?
THERE WERE AFTERSHOCKS, BUT THAT WAS LATER, TRUE?
>> THERE CERTAINLY WERE AFTERSHOCKS.
THE LARGEST AFTERSHOCK WAS, I BELIEVE, A 4.6.
IT OCCURRED, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT TIME, IT WAS CERTAINLY WELL AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE.
>> OKAY.
>> BUT MANY PEOPLE WILL PERCEIVE AN EARTHQUAKE AS TWO SHAKES BECAUSE THEY WILL FEEL THE INITIAL P WAVE, WHICH IS GENERALLY MORE OF AN UP-AND-DOWN MOTION AND SOMETIMES A LITTLE FASTER, BUT GENERALLY NOT QUITE AS STRONG.
FIVE, 10 SECONDS LATER, DEPENDING ON HOW CLOSE THEY ARE TO THE EPICENTER, THEY WILL FEEL THE STRONGER S WAVE, THE SECONDARY MOTION WHICH IS SIDE TO SIDE.
IT IS USUALLY IS S WAVES THAT CAUSE THE DAMAGE.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY MY DOG PREDICTED THE EARTHQUAKE.
MY DOG STARTED BARKING AND THE EARTHQUAKE HAPPENED.
WELL, THE DOG IS MUCH MORE LIKELY TO FEEL THE RELATIVELY WEAKER P WAVE THAN YOU ARE.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE BEEN SLEEPING.
THE DOG WILL WAKE UP BEFORE YOU.
>> YEAH.
FASCINATING.
ANOTHER BIT OF MISINFORMATION OR MISTAKEN, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS MIGHT BE A PRECURSOR QUAKE AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE FOR THAT, RIGHT?
>> WELL, ALL EARTHQUAKES ARE PART OF SEQUENCES.
WE CAN GUARANTEE THERE WILL BE AFTERSHOCKS.
WE HAVE ALREADY HAD OVER 100 AFTERSHOCKS.
AT THIS POINT THE LARGEST IS 4.6.
THE USUAL RULE OF THUMB IS THE LARGEST AFTERSHOCK IS ABOUT ONE MAGNITUDE UNIT LESS THAN THE MAIN EARTHQUAKE.
SO WE CAN STILL EXPECT THAT WE COULD HAVE A MAGNITUDE 5, 5.2 IN THE NEXT WEEK, ALTHOUGH EVERY DAY THAT PASSES MAKES THAT LIKELIHOOD A LITTLE BIT LOWER.
>> OKAY.
>> PROBABILITY AND LIKELIHOOD IS ANOTHER THING PEOPLE GET CONFUSED ABOUT.
WHEN THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ISSUES AN AFTERSHOCK PROBABILITY FORECAST, THEY WILL TALK ABOUT THERE IS A 50% PROBABILITY OF MAGNITUDE 3 AND 4 AFTERSHOCKS IN THE FIRST WEEK.
THEY'LL TALK ABOUT A SMALLER PROBABILITY FOR A LARGER AFTERSHOCKS.
AND THEN AT THE VERY BOTTOM THEY WILL SAY THERE IS A VERY SMALL CHANCE AND IN THIS CASE ABOUT 1 IN 2,000, THAT IS A SMALL CHANCE -- >> YEAH.
>> THAT WE COULD HAVE AN EARTHQUAKE AS LARGE OR LARGER.
NOW, IT TURNS OUT IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY WE ALWAYS HAVE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A LARGE OR LARGER EARTHQUAKE.
>> YEAH.
>> IT IS PRACTICALLY ON THAT ORDER.
SO WHAT I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, THIS IS PROBABLY THE LARGEST EARTHQUAKE YOU EXPERIENCE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, MAYBE THE NEXT FEW YEARS, BUT THERE IS ALWAYS A SMALL, BUT REAL PROBABILITY THAT WE COULD HAVE A LARGER EARTHQUAKE FROM THE TRIPLE JUNCTION AREA OR ON ONE OF THE MANY OTHER FAULTS IN THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY REGION.
>> CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?
HUMBOLDT COUNTY, AS I HAVE BEEN TOLD, IS ONE OF THE MOST SEISMICALLY ACTIVE AREAS IN THE COUNTRY, RIGHT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE ARE THE EARTHQUAKE KING OR QUEEN OF THE CO-TERMINUS48 STATES.
WE ACCOUNT FOR ROUGHLY 46% OF THE TOTAL SEISMIC ENERGY RELEASED IN THAT REGION.
OBVIOUSLY, FROM YEAR TO YEAR IT CAN BE DIFFERENT, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST 50 OR SO YEARS, WE ACCOUNT FOR NEARLY 50% OF THAT TOTAL SEISMIC ENERGY RELEASED.
THE ONLY PART OF THE UNITED STATES THAT BEATS US IS ALASKA.
THEY HAVE BIGGER FAULTS, MORE EARTHQUAKES AND I'M GLAD WE ARE SECOND TO THEM.
THE REASON WHY WE HAVE SO MANY EARTHQUAKES IS OUR UNIQUE GEOLOGICAL SETTING WHERE WE HAVE THESE THREE GIANT PLATES AND THREE MAJOR FAULT SYSTEMS THAT ALL COME TOGETHER IN CAPE MENDICINO AREA.
THAT IS CALLED THE TRIPLE JUNCTION AREA.
IT IS WHERE THE NORTH AMERICAN PLATE, THE GORDA PLATE, OFFSHORE HUMBOLDT COUNTY AND BENEATH OUR FEET, AND THE PACIFIC PLATE, WHICH IS SOUTH OF CAPE ALONG THE COAST ALL MEET.
THE LAST TWO BIG EARTHQUAKES, THE TWO DECEMBER EARTHQUAKES.
THERE IS NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT DECEMBER.
IT IS PURE COINCIDENCE.
>> I WAS GOING POINT THAT OUT.
WE CAN'T PREDICT EARTHQUAKES.
>> NO.
PURE COINCIDENCE THESE LAST TWO DECEMBER EARTHQUAKES.
I WOULD SAY THEY ARE ALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRIPLE JUNCTION.
THE COMPLEX REGION WHERE THE THREE PLATES ARE GRINDING TOGETHER AND HAVE CREATED A GA SILL ONSMALL FAULT SYSTEMS.
THE EARTHQUAKE A YEAR AGO AND THE ONE THAT JUST HAPPENED WERE ON DIFFERENT SLIVERS, DIFFERENT FAULT, AND THEY HAD DIFFERENT FAULTD MOTION.
THAT IS WHY WE EXPERIENCED THEM DIFFERENTLY.
THE DECEMBER 2021 EARTHQUAKE WAS FOUND MUCH STRONGLY IN ETROLIA, MUCH WEAKER TO THE NORTH.
THIS EARTHQUAKE WAS RELATIVELY WEAK IN PETROLIA.
I HAVE A FRIEND WHO LIVES THERE AND THE PICTURES ON HIS WALLS DIDN'T EVEN COME DOWN.
BUT IT REALLY PACKED A PUNCH TO THE NORTH, ESPECIALLY TO RIO DELL AND FORTUNA.
THE GROUND SHAKING MEASUREMENTS IN RIO DELL WERE 10 TIMES STRONGER THAN THE GROUND SHAKING IN PETROLIA EVEN THOUGH BOTH COMMUNITIES WERE ROUGHLY THE SAME DISTANCE FROM THE EPICENTER >> WOW.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT IN THE MEDIA IS THE RISK WE HAVE FROM THIS RECURRING CASCADIA SUB DUCTION ZONE MEGAQUAKE.
IS THERE ANY WAY THESE EARTHQUAKES ALONG THE TRIPLE JUNCTION AFFECT THE CASCADIA SUBDUCTION ZONE MEGAQUAKES OR THEY UNRELATED?
>> I WOULD ARGUE IF THE LATTER.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE VICINITY OF THE TRIPLE JUNCTION IS INDEPENDENT OF WHAT IS HAPPENING ALONG THE CASCADIA SUBDUCTION ZONE, THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT.
THESE FAULT SYSTEMS ARE BEING POWERED BY THE LARGER PLATE MOTION.
SO IT THIS KIND OF CORNER CRUNCH THAT IS GOING ON IN CAPE MENDICIONO, THAT CREATES 2, 3, 4, 5, AND OCCASIONALLY 6s.
THE LARGEST EARTHQUAKE WE WOULD EXPECT IN TRIPLE JUNCTION AREA IS WHAT WE EXPERIENCED IN 1992, A 7.2.
IN ORDER TO GET A BIGGER EARTHQUAKE, YOU NEED A BIGGER FAULT SYSTEM AND IN ORDER TO GET A BIGGER FAULT SYSTEM WE HAVE TO LOOK FOR SOME OF THESE MORE REGIONAL TYPES OF FAULTS.
SO FAULTS WITHIN THE GORDA PLATE THAT FREQUENTLY PRODUCE 6s AND 7s.
FORTUNATELY, MOST OF THOSE ARE OFFSHORE OR FAIRLY FAR OFFSHORE.
WE HAVE HAD SOME LIKE THE ONE IN 1980 WHICH DESTROYED A LOT OF MY HOUSE WHEN I LIVED IN WESTHAVEN, MY FIRST HUMBOLDT COUNTY EARTHQUAKE, VERY SCARY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
POPPED SPAN OFF THE TOMPKINS HILL OVERPASS.
FORTUNATELY, WITH HAVE MUCH BETTER BRIDGES THANKS TO CALTRANS AND REGULATIONS IN CALIFORNIA BECAUSE TUESDAY'S EARTHQUAKE DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE POPPED BRIDGES OFF OF 101 IF THEY WERE STILL IN THE STATE THEY WERE IN BACK IN 1980.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS PEOPLE OFTEN WORRY ABOUT SOERTED WITH EARTHQUAKE AS YOU WELL KNOW, YOU HELPED DRAW THIS CONNECTION, SUE NA DTSUNAMI THREAT.
IF THE EARTHQUAKE DOESN'T LAST LONG THE TSUNAMI IS LOWER.
>> WHEN WE FIRST STARTED PUTTING OUT MESSAGES ABOUT TSUNAMIS WE ASKED PEOPLE TO COUNT.
WE ARGUED SHOULD IT BE 10, 15, OR 30.
WE REALIZED THIS IS REALLY CONFUSING PEOPLE.
>> OKAY.
>> I NOW MADE IT MUST SIMPLER.
>> OKAY.
>> YES, EARTHQUAKE SHAKING AND HOW LONG THE SHAKING LASTS IS MAGNITUDE.
THE BIGGER THE MAGNITUDE THE MORE LIKELY YOU PRODUCE A TSUNAMI.
I FEEL AN EARTHQUAKE AND IT IS OVER BEFORE I HAVE A CHANCE TO PAY ATTENTION.
THAT EARTHQUAKE WON'T PRODUCE A TSUNAMI.
I FEEL AN EARTHQUAKE AND IT GOES ON AND ON FOREVER AND THIS EARTHQUAKE IS LONGER THAN ANYTHING I HAVE FELT, THAT IS A RED FLAG.
THIS IS THAT EARTHQUAKE THAT LORI AND EVERYONE ELSE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT.
>> YEAH.
>> NO QUESTION IN MY MIND THIS EARTHQUAKE HAS GONE ON FOREVER, I HAVEN'T BOTHERED TO GO, BUT I KNOW IT IS AN ETERNITY.
>> YEAH.
>> DEFINITELY I'M GOING EVACUATE.
WE HAVE EARTHQUAKES IN BETWEEN I CALL THE TWEENORS.
IF I HAD BEEN HERE ON THE BEACH OR IN A TSUNAMI ZONE EARLY TUESDAY MORNING AND FELT THAT EARTHQUAKE I WOULD HAVE DONE EXACTLY WHAT TROIR NICK OLINI DID.
HE IS THE METEOROLOGIST IN CHARGE AT OUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.
HE AND HIS FAMILY LIVE IN FAIR HAVEN.
THEY ARE DEFINITELY IN A TSUNAMI ZONE, BUT THEY HAVE A HIGH SAND DO YOU KNOW THAT WE THINK IS HIGH ENOUGH JUST SORT OF BEHIND THEIR HOUSE.
AND SO WHILE THE GROUND WAS STILL SHAKING, AS SOON AS THEY COULD SAFELY MOVE, ALL OF THEM, INCLUDING THEIR YOUNG SON AND THEIR DOG, THEY WERE ALL OFF GRABBING THEIR GRAB-AND-GO KITS AND UP ON TOP OF THAT DO YOU KNOW WITHIN FOUR MINUTES BY THE TIME THE NATIONAL TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER ACTUALLY ISSUED THE STATEMENT THAT THIS EARTHQUAKE DID NOT PRODUCE A TSUNAMI.
THEY DID EXACTLY WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WHEN IN DOUBT, DRILL IT OUT.
BECAUSE EVERY OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS, WHETHER IT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, IN THE RAINSTORM, IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CUT DOWN THE INDECISION TIME.
>> MM-HMM.
>> SOCIAL SCIENTISTS SAY TYPICALLY IT TAKES FIVE MINUTES FOR MOST PEOPLE AFTER FEELING AN EARTHQUAKE TO SORT OF GET THEMSELVES TOGETHER TO START TO EVACUATE.
>> MM-HMM.
>> AND IN JAPAN, IT TURNED OUT THOSE FIVE MINUTES WOULD KILL PEOPLE, THE MORE TIME YOU WAIT TO EVACUATE.
IF YOU LIVE AND WORK IN A TSUNAMI ZONE AND WALKING ON THE BEACH AND YOU FEEL AN EARTHQUAKE AND CAN'T SAY IT IS SHORT, YOU INSIDE TO USE IT AS YOUR SIGN TO GET TO HIGH GROUND.
>> YEAH.
YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS, IN OCTOBER OF THIS PAST YEAR HAD THE GREAT SHAKEOUT EVENT.
I'M CURIOUS TO SEE -- DO YOU THINK THAT HELPED TO IMPROVE OUR RESPONSE AS FAR AS IT GOES OR DO YOU THINK MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE?
HOW DO YOU THINK HUMBOLDT COUNTY GRADED OUT, I GUESS IS THE QUESTION?
>> WELL, I THINK WE ARE ONE OF THE MOST AWARE AND PREPARED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE COMMUNITIES ANYWHERE IN CALIFORNIA.
I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT BOTH INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, BUSINESSES, AND OUR GOVERNMENT PARTNERS HAVE DONE.
AND PART OF IT IS DOING A LOT MORE SORT OF EXERCISES AND EVACUATION DRILLS AND INVOLVING THE LARGER COMMUNITY, BUT IT IS ALWAYS -- THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR MORE.
AND ESPECIALLY WITH EARTHQUAKES.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE TOLD ME THE DAY AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE IS, YOU KNOW, I KNEW ABOUT EARTHQUAKES.
I KNEW I SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING ABOUT THAT BOOKCASE.
I KNEW I SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING ABOUT HAVING SHOES BY MY BED.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE OTHER THINGS ON MY MIND LIKE CHRISTMAS AND LIKE MY JOB AND, YOU KNOW, OTHER THINGS THAT TAKE HIGHER PRIORITY.
>> YEAH.
>> AND THAT'S ALWAYS THE BIG PROBLEM WITH EARTHQUAKES.
IS THAT WE ARE LEAST INTERESTED IN THE SECONDS BEFORE THAT EARTHQUAKE HAPPENS AND WE'RE MOST INTERESTED IN THE SECONDS AFTER IT HAPPENS.
>> HUMAN CONDITION.
>> WE HAVE A PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEM.
>> YEAH.
SO WOULD YOU ARGUE IT IS RIGHT NOW THAT YOU ARE PROBABLY BEST ABLE TO FOCUS ON THE TASK AT HAND AND CREATE THAT GO BAG AND MAKE THOSE CHANGES THAT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
>> I HOPE SO.
I HOPE SO.
SO MUCH OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS EARTHQUAKE WAS DIRECTLY IN OUR OWN HANDS.
THE GOVERNMENT ISN'T GOING TO COME IN AND SECURE THE BOOKCASE TO THE WALL, RIGHT?
WE WOULDN'T WANT THEM TO.
THAT IS IN OUR COURT.
PUTTING LATCHES ON OUR KITCHEN CABINETS.
THAT IS IN OUR COURT.
USING LITTLE STICKY TACK OR MUSEUM TAPE, THOSE BEAUTIFUL FIGURINES YOUR GREAT GRANDMOTHER'S CHINA, HAVING THOSE THINGS SECURED.
I MEAN, I'M NOT A PERFECT PREPARER.
I HAVE MANY FRIENDS WHO ARE MUCH, MUCH MORE PREPARED THAN I AM.
BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT I'VE DONE THAT REALLY HELPED A LOT.
ONE OF THEM IS WHEN WE REMODELLED OUR KITCHEN, I ASKED JoANNE SHUCK, A WONDERFUL WOODWORKER.
FIND ME LATCHES.
SHE FOUND THESE BEAUTIFUL ONES THAT ARE JAPANESE YOU CAN POP IT OPEN, BUT IN SHAKING THEY STAY SHUT.
WE WERE NERVOUS WHEN WE CAME HOME AFTER 12 HOURS AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE WHEN WE LOOKED AT OUR KITCHEN AND NOT A SINGLE CABINET HAD POPPED OPEN.
>> EXCELLENT.
>> WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A WARNING THAT SAID, CAREFUL, CONTENTS MAY HAVE MOVED IN TRANSIT.
WHEN I DID OPEN THE CABINET A NUMBER OF PLASTIC BOTTLES CAME FLYING DOWN.
FORTUNATELY, THEY WERE PLASTIC.
>> ALL RIGHT RGS LORI.
WE ARE OUT OF TIME.
THANK YOU FUR YOUR SPIRIT 'S THE AND HUMBOLDT COUNTY IS LUCKY TO HAVE YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BEING ON OUR SHOW.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WE WILL TALK TO YOU AGAIN.
>> IN RESPONSE TO THE 6.4 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE THAT HIT HUMBOLDT COUNTY, THE AMERICAN RED CROSS HAS ESTABLISHED AND OVERNIGHT SHELTER FOR ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS LOCATED AT THE FIREMAN'S PAVILION, 9 PARK STREET IN FORTUNA.
THERE IS ACCESS TO INDOOR OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS, MEALS, ANIMAL SHELTERING IS AVAILABLE AT THIS LOCATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE REFER TO THE HUMBOLDT OFFICE OF MRNG WEBSITE.
RIO DELL AND FORTUNA RESIDENTS DO NOT DRINK THE WATER BEFORE BOILING IT FIRST OR USE BOTTLED WATER.
RIO DELL CITIZENS MAY UTILIZE THE TWO DUMPERS AT 675 WILDWOOD AVENUE TO DISPOSE OF EARTHQUAKE DEBRIS.
DO NOT DISPOSE HAZARDOUS WASTE IN THESE RECEPTACLES.
FERJ BRIDGE IS OPEN TO ONE WAY CONTROLLED TRAFFIC.
PLEASE USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING IN THE AREA.
>> ACCORDING TO THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND EARTHQUAKE AND ITS AFTERMATH CAN BE PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY OVERWHELMING.
OFFICIALS ADVISE TALKING WITH MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY ABOUT HOW THEY ARE FEELING, CHILDREN AND OLDER ADULTS ARE OF SPECIAL CONCERN IN THE AFTERMATH OF DISASTERS.
CONTACT LOCAL VOLUNTEER AGENCIES, INDIVIDUALS OR FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS FOR COUNSELING.
YOU CAN REACH OUT TO NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND GET INVOLVED.
ACCORDING TO OES SERVICES, YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT TO HOW COMMUNITIES REBUILD.
RESIDENTS SHOULD TAKE CARE AS THEY CLEAN UP TO KEEP THEMSELVES SAFE AND DOCUMENT THAT DAMAGE.
OES OFFICIALS ARE ADVISING PEOPLE TO RECORD FOR INSURANCE CLAIMS AND OTHER RECOVERY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
RESIDENTS CAN REPORT EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE TO HUMIDITY -- HUMBOLDTGOV.ORG.
DO NOT TRY TO REMOVE HEAVY DEBRIS BY YOURSELF.
PEOPLE WITH ASTHMA OR LUNG ISSUES SHOULD NOT ENTER BUILDINGS WHERE YOU CAN SPELL.
HERE IS THE NUMBER OR THE OES SERVICES POINT OF CONTACT WERE REPORTING DAMAGES AND OTHER QUESTIONS SURROUNDS EARTHQUAKES.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
STAY TUNED.
STAY INFORMED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.
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Headline Humboldt is a local public television program presented by KEET