As of 3:30 p.m., Tuesday 12/20/22
FERNDALE, Calif. (AP) — A strong earthquake along the Redwood Coast overnight killed two people, injured a dozen, cut off power to thousands, and caused damage to roads and homes. The magnitude 6.4 earthquake hit at 2:34 a.m. near Ferndale.
Almost 70 aftershocks have been reported as of 2 p.m.
More than 70,000 customers are without power in the county. According to PGE, most of the county is expected to be without power until 10 p.m. Residents can check for updates at pge.com/outages.
The town of Rio Dell could be without water for days in the aftermath of Tuesday’s early morning earthquake. A burst water main has compounded the misery of residents who are also still without power. PG&E anticipates power will be restored by 10 p.m. tonight.
At a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Rio Dell Police Chief Greg Allen said it could possibly take up to two days for water service to be restored. In the meantime, firefighters are passing out bottled water, and portable toilets have been set up for public use.
A Boil Water Advisory has been issued for the City of Rio Dell and the Forest Hills subdivision in the City of Fortuna.
Tony Tavares, director of the California Dept. of Transportation, said that the agency had dispatched a “strike team” of bridge inspectors and engineers to assess bridges, roads and major structures in the area. One bridge, the Fernbridge, suffered damage, Tavares said.
The bridge carries State Route 211 over the Eel River between Ferndale and U.S. Route 101. Officials closed the bridge to traffic while Caltrans inspectors assessed the extent of the damage.
Tavares issued a $6-million emergency order to hire a contractor as quickly as possible. Caltrans hired Sacramento-based Myers & Sons Construction for the reconstruction work.
The contractor was mobilizing equipment and personnel to get on site the same day, Tavares said.
“Most likely we will shore that bridge and get it ready and open to public traffic, and then commence with final repairs of the bridge,” he said.
Cal Poly Humboldt and the College of the Redwoods are open to essential personnel only.
Residents can sign up for the emergency alert system at earthquake.ca.gov
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As of 10:30 a.m., Tuesday 12/20/22
FERNDALE, Calif. (AP) — A strong earthquake in Northern California overnight has cut off power to thousands and caused some damage to roads and homes. No deaths and just two injuries have been reported in the magnitude 6.4 earthquake that hit at 2:34 a.m. near Ferndale. Frequent aftershocks have been reported.
Authorities say no tsunami is expected. The California Office of Emergency Services says there has been some damage to buildings and infrastructure but the scale of damage is minimal compared to the strength of the quake. Some gas leaks have also been reported.
More than 70,000 customers are without power in the county. PG&E has announced restoration times of 10 p.m. this evening for McKinleyville, Arcata, and Eureka. Southern Humboldt, Northern Mendocino, and Western Trinity do not currently have an estimated time of restoration. Residents can check for updates at www.pge.com/outages.
According to the County of Humboldt, “Fernbridge is currently closed. Detour can be made if you go up over Wildcat Road to Upper Bear River road to Monument then down through Rio Dell.” They also warn, “Blue Slide Road closed at the 2.26 Mile marker.”
Highway 101 bridges near Rio Dell are being checked for damage. Emergency officials have also closed portions of Tompkins Hill Road near College of the Redwoods, Union Street in Eureka, Walnut Drive in Cutten (there is a detour on North Ridge). Highway 101 remains open.
Public schools are closed across the county. Humboldt State and the College of the Redwoods are open to essential personnel only.
The City of Eureka issued a press release a few minutes ago saying that there’s a “charging center” available at the Eureka Municipal Auditorium, 1120 F Street from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. today. The auditorium will have power available for residents to charge phones, tablets and necessary medical equipment. The City also established a dedicated line for residents and businesses to report damage to their buildings. Structural damage can be reported to 707-441-4155 and an inspector will respond for a safety assessment.
This is a breaking story that we will continue to update throughout the day.
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As of 9 a.m., Tuesday 12/20/22
FERNDALE, Calif. (AP) — A strong earthquake in Northern California overnight has cut off power to thousands and caused some damage to roads and homes. No deaths and just two injuries have been reported in the magnitude 6.4 earthquake at 2:34 a.m. near Ferndale. Frequent aftershocks have been reported.
Authorities say no tsunami is expected. The California Office of Emergency Services says there has been some damage to buildings and infrastructure but the scale of damage is minimal compared to the strength of the quake. Some gas leaks have also been reported. More than 70,000 customers are without power in the county.
At 8:13 a.m., Caltrans posted on Facebook, “State Route 211 at Fernbridge, Humboldt County is CLOSED. The bridge is closed while we conduct safety inspections due to possible seismic damage.”
A timeline for power restoration is unknown.
Schools are closed across the county. Humboldt State is open to essential personnel only.
This is a breaking story that we will continue to update throughout the day