Remembering Ridgecrest

4min Novice

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On July 4, 2019, a M6.4 earthquake shook Ridgecrest, California. A M7.1 earthquake followed a little over a day later. These earthquakes struck in the California desert near the towns of Trona and Ridgecrest, which is where the earthquake got its name. Had these earthquakes occurred closer to an urban area, the damage could have been much worse. 

This video provides reflections from a diverse group of United States Geological Survey (USGS) scientists and staff one year after the Ridgecrest, CA earthquakes. In their own words, USGS employees recollect on their individual experiences and their initial steps to respond to the earthquakes. This short video provides a narrative on how scientists communicate with the media and government agencies to help calm the fears of the general public following a series of moderate earthquakes.

Keypoints:

  • There are real and current earthquake hazards in California, like the M6.4 and M7.1 Ridgecrest events
  • Learn from USGS scientists and staff as to how they respond to earthquakes and communicate their initial research findings to the general public
  • The USGS ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning System for the West Coast of the United States aims to quickly detect an earthquake before shaking arrives and send out an alert, so that you can take a protective action, like ‘Drop, Cover, and Hold On!’

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