Strong shallow earthquake in Central California (near King City and Greenfield)

Last update: October 21, 2012 at 3:48 pm by By

Earthquake overview : 5 minutes to midnight a strong shallow earthquake struck at close distance from King City, California. The earthquake was felt in a wide area.
Tell us when you think you have felt this earthquake.
California-only earthquake list

Keep this page open to read more details when they become available
Most recent information on top – Start of the article at the bottom

Update 15:46 UTC : So far the area has been hit  by 5 aftershoks ranging from M2.5 to M3.5

Update 15:30 UTC : Until now, good news, as we have heard nothing about damages or injuries.

Update :  – The population in this region resides in structures that are highly resistant to earthquake shaking, though some vulnerable structures exist.
- Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides and liquefaction that might have contributed to losses

Update : The people living in King City and Greenfield are expected to have felt a moderate shaking or MMI V
29000 people will have felt a moderate shaking
194000 people a light MMI IV shaking
1.73 million people a weak to very weak shaking

Update : There are NO reports of damage

Update : The epicenter has been set at 26 km from King City, the closest significant community. The area is mainly a wilderness area.

Update : Epicenter below a wilderness area near State route 198. Closest community King City (based on preliminary data)
The earthquake occurred at 11:55 local time.

Shaking map courtesy USGS

A rather strong earthquake just occurred 60 km east of Monterey, California
Closest cities Soledad and Coalinga. In a broader view in between Monterey and Fresno, California
The preliminary Magnitude of M5.5 has been weakened to M5.1. Normally a M5.3 in California at a depth of 9.4 km may only lead to minor damage like fallen objects, cracks in walls, etc.
This is the strongest earthquake in many months in this part of California.

Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : M5.3
UTC Time : 2012-10-21 06:55:09 UTC
Local time at epicenter : 2012-10-20 23:55:09 UTC-07:00 at epicenter
Depth (Hypocenter) : 9.4 km
Geo-location(s) :
26km (16mi) ENE of King City, California
34km (21mi) E of Greenfield, California
48km (30mi) WNW of Coalinga, California

Links to important maps
USGS Did You Feel It Map
Google satellite map showing the epicenter and the surrounding area
Historic earthquakes map
Shaking map
Scientific parameters
Human impact map

Click here for examples of our “earthquake notifications (button below)”

SRC Location UTC Date/time M D INFORMATION
USGS Baja California, Mexico Oct 21 23:47 PM 3.2 10 MAP I Felt It
USGS Offshore Northern California Oct 21 23:03 PM 2.8 19 MAP I Felt It
USGS Northern California Oct 21 20:40 PM 3.6 21 MAP I Felt It
USGS Central California Oct 21 15:21 PM 2.8 9 MAP I Felt It
USGS Central California Oct 21 07:51 AM 3.3 9 MAP I Felt It
USGS Central California Oct 21 07:41 AM 2.5 10 MAP I Felt It
USGS Central California Oct 21 07:37 AM 3.6 9 MAP I Felt It
USGS Central California Oct 21 07:18 AM 3.1 8 MAP I Felt It
GEOFON Central California Oct 21 06:55 AM 5.3 10 MAP I Felt It
  • Long Neck - Just felt a second tremor today. The whole house shook. I lived San Diego, and it's definitely nothing like what I'm used to, but this is weird. I grew up in Delaware and don't remember anything like this!
  • Merced, ca - Sitting in living room at 11:49 pm. Large window started rattling and then I felt a stronger shaking and moving.
  • Tulare, CA - outside watching foxnews on my laptop and for a second I thought somebody was messing with my chair, yet i'm out back alone. My room mates came running out back and asked me, confirming what I had thought.
  • Seaside, California - Felt a quick jolt followed by a second jolt 8 seconds later
  • Visalia, CA - 11:58 pm October 20 felt floor shaking. Windows, ceiling and walls were moving and you could hear the movement. Only lasted about 5 seconds
  • San Luis Obispo - short perod of time
  • Fresno, CA - sitting at computer, and felt brief movement
  • Fresno, Californing - happened on Saturday, 10-20-2012 at 11:59 PM. I'm at my computer and the monitor started shaking then the desk and chair...trying to figure our if it's from up north or from down south. Georgette Bersani
  • Fresno - Felt my bed rocking and then windows cracking.
  • Sanger, CA - Felt the floor shake at about 11:55 pm.
  • Pismo beach, ca - Laying bed and whole bed was shaking!!!
  • Fresno, Ca - I was sitting on my couch felt like something was pushing on my back from behind. The water in my fish tank was going crazy.
  • Santa Maria, CA - Couple of light shakes and the lamp was swinging
  • UNITED STATES - rumbled, rolled, rocked rolled away.
  • Los Banos,ca - layin here on computer felt some shaking
  • Arroyo Grande, California - Windows rattled and hanging items swung but nothing fell.
  • Hanford - Bed shook a little but could definitely tell it was a quake.
  • Santa Cruz - At around midnight, felt a long rolling earthquake.
  • UNITED STATES - house swayed a bit and lamp shook on the night stand.
  • Lemoore - Around 1200AM, sitting in my ottoman playing ps3, then flatscreen shaking, and felt it too.
  • coalinga ca - was looking stuff up on laptop....then I felt my chair vibrating looked up and window coverings were shaking too
  • San Jose - sitting in bed, light rolling, walls creaked
  • Madera - Laying in bed reading, bed started to move and jewelry hanging in my room was swaying, freaked me out, got a little queasy but not sure from motion or scared someone was in my house! Never felt earthquake before
  • Arroyo Grande, California - shook the chair I was in and made the fireplace tools sway on their holder..floor lamp was swaying.
  • Fresno, CA - Felt the quake for about 10 seconds. Shook the bed and some of the things suspended on the wall, but not too bad
  • Clovis CA - Watching TV..two big jerking quick movements
  • Nipomo - watching TV...couch shook a little, saw curtains swaying. About 11:55pm
  • Atascadero, CA - Lasted about 10 seconds - house shook, chair rocked
  • FRESNO, CA - Was sitting in front of my computer and I felt my computer chair moving just slightly for a few seconds, and I asked my husband who's lying on the bed, he said he felt it too.
  • santa margarita, ca - In bed and awoke to mild shaking a few minutes ago...no damage but chimes were still swinging with no wind...we are approximately 100 miles from Monterey
  • Visalia CA - Rolled over in bed and it kept shaking in the opposite direction
  • Grover Beach, Ca - I was getting ready to turn in for the night, and the bed started shaking, windows rattling, stood up to get into doorway and the floor was rolling slightly. Heavy light fixture above dining room table swinging. Nerves on edge. lasted maybe 25 seconds
  • Fresno, Tower - Watching t.v. felt my chair move, heard dishes rattle, lamp swayed. I'm upstairs old two story Spanish style duplex.
  • Madera, CA - watching tv in bed. felt bed move and saw the water in the bottle on nightstand shake.
  • vandenberg afb - sittin on couch felt like i was swayin the a medal of mine started tapping on glass
  • Hanford, CA - I thought my husband was shaking the whole bed with his foot again! 11:55pm
  • California - at 11:56 pm, the house swayed quite strong
  • Hanford, CA - I was checking out youtube vids when I felt the shaking and chandelier on top of me was left swaying after the quake.
  • 95033 (Loma Preta area of Santa Cruz Mou - Very weak rolling, as if epicenter was not nearby. It felt like the floor was gently sliding around/side to side for about 3-4 seconds. Felt like it might be a much stronger quake occurring many miles away on the same fault line (San Andreas Fault), and we were feeling just the distant edges of the shock wave.
  • santa cruz - house shook for about 10 seconds. was not a slow roll like earthquakes can sometimes be.
  • dinuba - felt window shakin at 11 57 oct 20th
  • Paso Robles - was sleeping on couch and the couch started moving and it woke me up
  • lemoore, CA - I'm on my computer and coincidentally when my father just shut the door, everything start to wobble a bit, and later I begin to notice that we're having an earthquake. From the felt of it, I start to notice it's a bit stronger and closer compare to 5 months ago.
  • (northeast) Fresno, CA - It felt as though some sort of giant grabbed the house and shook it back and forth a few times.
  • Hwy 68 Salinas/Monterey - I felt shaking jumped out of bed the dogs were barking. Lasted for about 10 seconds
  • Marina CA - Lying in bed....rolling sensation and window shaking and sounded like some slight wall cracking
  • Monterey, CA - I was sitting in a hotel room and felt growing shakes for about 10 secs just before midnight. I could see TV shaking as well. I immediately thought it was an earthquake even though I have never felt anything like this before.
  • Kettleman city edward st - Why
  • Watsonville, CA - It was a long earthquake and very rolling in feeling
  • Madera, California - I was sitting up in bed and felt the bed shake as if someone had sat down on the bed. I thought to myself it must have been an earthquake, but didn't notice anything else shaking, on the dresser for example.
  • Lemoore, ca - It was more of an earthquake than we have ever felt here before
  • Arroyo Grande, CA - Around 12:10 a.m. on Oct 21, some of the blinds started swaying.
  • Arroya Grande, CA - on Oct. 20th at 11:55 pm felt the motel bed vibrating. I thought my sister figured out how to mess with a device on the bed. We went outside and the swimming pool water had distinct small repetitive ripples or small waves and those in nearby rooms came outside and had felt the same things.
  • Carmel, CA - It felt like the bed was gently shaken (rolled?) back and forth. Am visiting from east coast so was very impressed by this west coast experience! Hope it wasn't due to fracking and thus man-made. That's depressing.
  • Clovis - Daughter felt it in couch she was on and large cabinet/buffet rattled so she notice, walking in kitchen, I did not notice at all. After her experience, checked this web site next day and the 5.3 happened at same time.
    		•
    EMSC Central California Oct 21 06:55 AM 5.2 10 MAP I Felt It
    USGS Central California Oct 21 06:55 AM 5.3 9 MAP I Felt It
  • 660 Nazareth Court, Santa Clara, CA 950 - Very mild. More rolling than choppy. My monitor shook and I could feel shaking underneath me. It lasted for about 45 seconds. I watched my monitor jiggle right in front of my. There were no planes flying overhead, no large trucks in the vicinity. My husband didn't feel it but he didn't have a reason to explain what I was feeling. I am much more sensitive than he is. I get car sick and he doesn't. The time was 1:28 pm PT. I have been looking for it to shop up online all afternoon.
  • Cape May Court house NJ - Sitting on the sofa felt the house shake, looked outside and our garage was shaking. CREEPY!!!!!!!!
  • Moreno Valley California - vibrating shaking @ 11:35 pm
  • sanger, ca. - wasn't sure what it was at first but it was a pretty good shake.
  • Salinas, CA, USA - Moderate shaking
  • Seaside, California - Felt a quick jolt followed by a second jolt about 10 seconds later
  • sanger California - felt bed shaking and water in glass on night stand moving
  • monterey - in a hotel room everything was shaking
  • Visalia, CA - I was sitting at the kitchen table and felt a quick jolt and the windows rattling. I could feel the house, and the floor, moving from side to side.
  • 93465 - whole house shaking 2 story ca.10 sec
  • Salinas California - Sitting at computer, two quake savvy dogs nearby, when we all three felt it. Lasted 10 seconds, I'd say. Moderate shaking - not rolling - more like smallish bumping. Dogs were very upset. Unusual. Nothing fell. No damage. It was spread throughout the house and made furniture "dance". That was probably what got to the dogs.
  • Caruthers ca - I sleep upstairs, and it woke me it felt like someone was shaking the door of the room.
  • Santa cruz ca - Santa Cruz ca
  • Clovis, CA - Sitting at my computer at about 11:50 PM. Felt strong jolt and heard noise, then felt rolling motion for about 20 seconds.
  • UNITED STATES - moderate jolt, single wave, shook house once, clovis,ca
  • cambria ca - Sitting on the couch enjoying snl...couch statred to shake a bit then the entire house started to shake, windows ratteling and the neighbors car alarm got set off. Well..im wide awake now!
  • Fresno, ca - Brief shaking and rolling.sensation
  • Santa Maria - Felt the couch move side to side, Woke up wife.
  • UNITED STATES - Arroyo Grande,California- my bed wiggled a bit,but nothing fell.
  • 93422 - woke me up.
  • Salinas - My first one since moving here!
  • Morro Bay, CA 2756 Indigo Circle - Minutes before midnight a 6-7 second pitch and shake and vibrate pattern moved me around in my bed and I could feel the house foundation tremble.
  • Clovis, CA - Live in 2nd floor apartment. Felt swaying & a wave while sitting on the couch.
  • Fresno, CA - House rattled and bed upstairs rocked enough to wake me up
  • Hanford - Was sitting in home office and felt strong jolt to house and loud noise that sounded like my A/C turned on.
  • San Jose, Eastside - Felt a very weak shake of my building just afer midnight.
  • Fresno california - sitting in a love seat, felt movement back and forth just before 12:00 midnight
  • Clovis - Felt a strong wave motion for about 2 seconds in the house.
  • Monterey - sitting on chair, watching movie on laptop on table in motel.. whole table shook back n forth.. confirmed with motel manager.. he said his fish bowl was shaking back n forth.
  • S.E. Fresno - Sitting at Kitchen Table, at approximately 11:55 PST felt heaving on the floor joists and then noticed the lamp was swaying. Went out to look at the swimming pool but couldn't detect any motion.
  • Santa Maria, CA - Live on 2nd Floor of an apartment complex, definetely felt some light shaking, more like swaying motion, here in Santa Maria, CA.
  • coalinga ca - building started swaying and rolling
  • Fresno , ca - sitting at pc and felt floor moving under me .thought roommate was shaking her legs .
  • Fresno, CA - Felt like the floor heaved a little under my chair for a moment. Nothing even fell over, though a hanging ornament swung slightly for a few minutes - very weird.
  • los osos, CA - around 11:57 pm Oct. 20, 2012 I felt a moderately strong shaking that lasted for about 10 seconds
  • Clovis - Sitting in bed, I felt the bed rock back and forth...and my first thought was ...its a ghost....to much long island medium:)
  • Merced, CA - Bed shook, rolling motion, maybe 10 sec max
  • UNITED STATES - I was sitting in my bed when it started to sway. Fresno
  • Fresno, CA - TV started shaking and then I felt a kind of rolling motion.
  • Sanger ca - Was in bath room felt two tremblers about 10 seconds apart
  • Visalia, CA - Sitting on couch and felt movement, ceiling fan light pull chain was slightly swinging. Time was approximately 11:55 pm.
  • Los Osos - Lightly sleeping when it struck. All three cats immediately on alert. Window blinds and hanging lamps swayed; ground seemed to rock. Definately felt this one.
  • California - As i slept a quake started...i either woke up just before it started or it woke me up...either way i jumped outa bed to a doorway for safety...the quake ended as soon a s it started....did anyone else in california central coast feel it?
  • Madera,CA - Felt the bed rock a few times as I was reading right before midnight
  • Hanford - Sitting on my chair and felt a shaking while my headphones posted on the wall swung.
  • Gonzales, CA - rumbled, rolled, rocked, rolled away, pooch barked
  • San jose - Watching TV laying on couch felt a little movement,
  • fresno - I felt the chair trembling and my daughter felt her bed moving. It didn't last long maybe a minute.
  • 93433 - Felt the ground sway and heard the house creak for about 10 seconds @ 11:55
  • visalia - I FELT DIZZY AND LOOKED UP SAW A PICTURE FRAME MOVING.. MY HUSBAND SAYS ITS THE GLASS OF WINE I HAD.
  • Orcutt, CA - The bed and closet doors were shaking for several seconds, just about midnight.
  • Fresno ca - I felt it, bed shook
  • Fresno, Ca. - Sitting at computer and thought my chair was rolling; then my daughter im'd me that she felt a quake, she is in the Santa Cruz mountains. Very unusual to feel one in Fresno -central valley.
  • 95076 - I was sitting at the computer and felt the desk shaking...pretty long!!
  • Monterey - Sitting in a lazyboy watching tv, felt like someone was shaking my chair behind me for a good 10 secs.....fun stuff!!
  • Scott's valley, ca - 10 seconds of house shaking
  • carmel - lasted a while , earth swaying , then stooped then again
  • tulare, ca - Playing xbox and felt like someone moved my couch...quick jolt really and then weird vibrating for 8-10 seconds
  • UNITED STATES - Ground moved beds around
  • Salinas - Laying in bed felt bed shaking and the blinds started to move and the window seal
  • fresno - 11:55 pm shaking bed and house creeking 5 or 6 jolts
  • Carmel Valley, California - I was asleep and woke up to shaking that lasted a few seconds, seemed to stop then started again. Both of my dogs ran into my bedroom as they were quite upset. Not a long quake and nothing happened, but it did frighten me as I hadn't felt one in awhile.
  • Hollister ca. - Everything stared shaking.... ceiling lights and the hole house. I ran to the front door about 20 seconds long
  • south fresno - About 12:00 am my chair moved with a moderate shake.
  • Seaside, CA - In Seaside, Ca my flat screen was rocking and my dogs woke up and are still nervous, felt the shaking for quite a few seconds.
  • Fresno - Reading and felt a jerk and then light shaking
  • Grover Beach, california - sitting at desk, computer started shaking.live in three story house, not fun when you realize its an earhtquake.Husband fell asleep on couch, didnt even wake up. Figured. Diningroom chandelier swayed alot.
  • clovis, ca - one big bump, both of us felt couch move
  • Lindsay - Lotta shaking. My collection of indoor wind chimes were chiming!
  • UNITED STATES - Was laying on couch watching movie felt it at 11:56am
  • Fresno - Was at the table doing work and the table began to shake back and forth. Floor also felt as though it was shifting. Chandelier above table was also slightly swinging. Weird feeling!
  • los banos - a slight shaking of the bed
  • Aptos, CA - Sitting down on the floor, felt mild tremor, 2nd floor.
  • Santa Cruz,ca. 95062 - Awake, sitting on sofa in second floor apt. First felt a jolt, then a few seconds felt another jolt but it keep going, my windows were rattling, things were noisy, I felt a rolling, kinda back and forth movement, thinking when is this earthquake going to stop. Nothing fell, but this was quite frightening. I am 56 yrs, always lived in either Bay Area and recently moved here, so have always dealt with quakes, taking them in stride. This one was worrisome, just wanted it too stop.
  • grover beach ca - woke me out of dead sleep....
  • Fresno, CA - In office on 4th floor of building at Fig Garden Village. The whole building shook for about 5 seconds a couple of minutes before midnight.
  • Capitola, CA - Pictures on walls rattled, hanging pots & pans banged together and windows were shaking.
  • grover beach ca - woke me out of a dead sleep...
  • San Luis Obispo, CA - at 11:56 pm I felt strong swaying for about 4 seconds
  • Arroyo Grande, CA - More of a rocking motion. Thought it was my pain meds making me imagine it until my daughter called and said "Did you feel that."
  • Corcoran - 11:55 i was on couch and i felt it jolt, I looked up and thought that had to be an earthquake. I moved all kids to my bedroom.
  • Atascadero,ca - Felt the ground roll and light fixtures started shaking
  • Hanford, Ca - Woke me up from a sound sleep. Two jolts.
  • Soquel, CA - While sitting at my computer, I felt two wave-like motions lasting ten seconds.
  • Hanford, CA - Sitting on bed, back and forth jerking around 11:55 - then some smaller rumbles. No doubt about it - definitely an earthquake.
  • UNITED STATES - Talking with my friend, heading to bed, when I thought I heard thunder. Come to find out the house was shaking. As soon as I stood up, my equilibrium felt off, and we knew it was the earth dancing :)
  • Salinas California - I felt it for the most 4 seconds. (It was the slowest seconds ever!)
  • Hollister - Very long rolling shake.....just a little too close the the 89 quake anniversary for me:
  • Visalia, CA - (I heard the boom with first strong shudder; then the movement lasted for about 15-20 seconds. It frightened me since it was the strongest quake I've experience since 1989 Bay Area quake.
  • los banos - I felt a jolt 11:57pm
  • Grover Beach, CA - Felt a definite swaying back and forth for about 10 seconds. The couch was noticeably moving. Surprised to feel it being about 100 miles away from epicenter.
  • Central California - jolt and lights swaying for about 15 seconds. waited to see if it would continue.
  • tranquillity - wow crazy crazy just experienced my first earthquake of 22 yrs and it was horrable stuff was falling and my house was.poping wow
  • California - It felt like a wave......
  • Kerman, ca - Sitting on my couch and felt my body kinda swaying, i thought maybe i just need to get more sleep.
  • Fresno - I was on couch and it shook as i thoughy my kid jumped on it. Nobody was there. Checked online and couldnt believe i felt it that bad.
  • Carmel. Ca - Around 11:15 pm I felt two somewhat strong shaking experiences that was long enough to cause me to get up and go outside
  • Visalia - No shaking just one very strong jolt @ about 11:55 pm 10/20/2012
  • Fresno,CA - Began to feel slight dizziness, realized there was hard shake and swaying for 10seconds. Things fell off my bed and table, no one believed me because they were driving I suppose.
  • Fresno, ca - I was sitting on the bed just before midnight 10-20-12 about 11:58pm, the bed just started rolling underneath me I just stayed put! It was a little scary!
  • Salinas, CA - I was sitting on my love seat when it started shaking back and forth. Was slight at first, then kept going. Glad it's over!
  • Sanger, CA - Sitting at my desk, felt one light tremor, then 10 seconds later felt the second (much stronger rolling motion) *glad I am not the only one...
  • Fresno, CA - I was laying on my bed right before midnight when my bed rocked back and forth.
  • San Jose - Quick shake just midnight.
  • UNITED STATES - Sitting in recliner in Grover Beach texting cousin in HAWAII when recliner and side table started swaying ... next text simply stated "we're having an earthquake". That's life in California!
  • Fresno - Felt bed move like someone was kicking it
  • san luis obispo - gentle shaking of the bed, lamps, etc. cats didn't even run undercover, but I did.
  • Cambria, CA - Was working at my desk just before 12 midnight and I was a rockin' in my desk chair while the house shook pretty strong. Lamps were swaying and tables and lamps rockin' some. My husband woke up, we looked at each other until it stopped. We didn't bother to go outside because it was over in about 10-15 seconds. My husband went right back to snoring and I went back to FaceBook. Just a little one.
  • Visalia - Was watching tv when I heard what sounded like a bomb go off in the distance--the strong jolt was followed by shudders--lasted about 10 to 15 seconds--scared the heck out of me.
  • UNITED STATES - I Was enjoying My Bottle Of Riesling & Watching TV when My Two Story Condo Started To Move and Roll It was Fun With My Buzz! Mae West Was On The Screen Swaying Her Hips! Oh!Oh! Great Timing! Lol!
  • California - My bed jerked and a loud noise. Made me dizzy.
  • Santa Cruz - I felt the desk moving and freaked out
  • Marina, CA - Clearly felt for several seconds on 3rd floor of hotel in Marina, California at midnight. Now wide awake down in lobby, but no one else seems troubled. That's California for u.
  • Fresno, ca - About 11:58 pm 10/20/12 I was sitting on my bed and it felt like the bed was rolling underneath me! It lasted at least 5-10 seconds.
  • Fresno - I was on my recliner watching T.V. when it started swaying from side to side and the walls started making a crackling sound like someone was walking on them. I wasn't sure if it was an earthquake until I saw my dog who was sound asleep jump up and look around. Got flashbacks of the "89" Loma Prieta earthquake.
  • Fresno - Right when I sat on my bed my doors started shaking and rattling and I turned to my right my closet doors were slightly swinging back and forth from left to right. My mom said she felt as if the sofa was pushing up against her. The small living room were she was sitting on the sofa was creaking as if someone was walking around the house. This usually only happens when someone is walking around the house. Happened a few minutes before midnight. 10/21/12
  • UNITED STATES - san luis obispo, ca....
  • Mendota,Ca - Lying down watching Criminal Minds,I freaked out,really shaked the bed,kinda of shaked good for 9 seconds then calm down,and a after shock followed lightly
  • North California - I was whaching TV with my cousin in our hotel room and we both felt a smallish shaking, then it just felt like vibrations and we got up and went to see if my brother felt it to, about 10 seconds from the first larger shaking there was another jolt. I didnt feel anything after that.
  • Dinuba - Me and my family were watching the movie The cabin in the Woods and at the ending of the movie my son and I felt the couches we were sitting on move and heard the windows crinkled at exactly 11:57 pm. On October 20th 2012.
  • Madera CA - Got woken up by my brother stating his bed shook and a loud noise coming from downstairs. Everyone in the house felt their beds shake as well. @ 11:55pm October 20, 2012
  • Pismo beach, CA - Windows were knocking and shutters were shaking slowly, entire hotel room was moving. Very nerve racking!
  • Friant - Just went to the restroom and started to get ready for bed. Floor rumbled under my feet And the house groaned loudly. My husband came rushing in and ask Me what just happened? Never experierencing this before I thought it Was a quake. Took a while to get the dogs calmed down. I don't like this At all. Only lasted a few seconds. Funny thing is we just returned from Vacation from the Monterey area. We were in Gonzales, Carmel, Greenfield, Solidad and Monterey
  • Tulare - I was sitting on my bed on the phone talking to my mom in the Philippines and she said they felt it too., then there was no power
  • Miramonte, ca. - I felt everything shake and heard dishes moving about 11:57 PM on Saturday Oct.20. I didn't think we got earthquakes in the mountains!
  • paso robles,ca - it woke me up , It almost knocked me off my couch
  • Clovis, CA. - Dizzy feeling, slow rolling side to side, followed by a solid jolt. Made me go outside and look around. I would've guessed about a 4.2
  • Corcoran ca - Wasn't sure if it was the train I felt some movement and my kitchen blinds where shaking . At 11 something. Pm
  • Reedley, CA - I was sitting in my chair and the blind on the window and my chair started shaking.
  • Fresno, Ca. - I was watching T.V. and first my chair bounced then the whole house bounced. I live off the 180 gap, on a farm. My mother was asleep and didn't feel anything. It felt like someone bouncing on the bed with you on it.
  • Tulare - was layig on couch almost asleep when it startng shaking my couch
  • California - It woke me out of a sound sleep with bed shaking and lamp pull chain banging on bedside table lamp. No damage here as far as I know
  • Monterey, CA - I woke up tO my bookshelf shaking and the guts of my freestanding clock chiming
  • Coalinga California - Shook my bed hard enough to wake me up, knocked a few things down, and every dog in the neighborhood went wild.
  • Fresno, ca - was laying on my bed with my little dog. Thought she was doing something to may the bed move. When I looked over at her she was sound asleep. Dogs started barking like crazy outside and wouldn't stop for quit some time.
  • Atascadero, ca - It woke me up and my daughter
  • Kingsburg ca - Was laying on my bed with my dog. At a little before 12:00am my bed started moving. Thought it was my dog doing something but when I looked she was sound asleep.
  • Santa Maria CA - I was sitting at my dining room table. I felt a gentle "rolling" beneath me and saw the heavy crucifix i have between 2 iron stands swaying back and forth. It lasted for about 30 -40 seconds. Enough time for me to Facebook friends to find out if they'd felt it. 3 responded that they had. One hear me. One in Morro Bay and one in Orcutt
  • Santa Cruz - It was small, but big enough to shake the house.
  • Fresno - Just around midnight in Fresno, CA, I was sitting on the toilet and felt the toilet, the whole sink and cabinet shake from north to south and back. My husband, who was in bed agreed that he felt it as well.
  • Corralitos, Ca - I was asleep when I heard the walls creaking and a rolling motion got my attention. Gave me a sick feeling because I thought it seemed to be getting stronger. Been through 3 big ones so they always get my full attention.Corralitos is not far from Santa Cruz, Ca.
  • Los Osos, CA - I was in bed and felt several rolling motions. It seemed to go on a bit longer than usual.
  • Pismo Beach, CA - In RV, in bed, felt heavier shaking followed by mod. shaking over several seconds.
  • Coalinga - Sitting in our living room it started with gentle then ore moderate shaking. About 10 seconds. Shaking subsided but continued to roll for maybe a minute or more. The roll felt exactly like being on board our boat at dock. Watched bird feeder and screen door swinging.
  • Coalinga,ca - Darn quake woke me up and I'm a heavy sleeper.
  • Paso Robles, CA - Paso Robles, CA - in bed woke up to a swirling/rolling motion for about 5 seconds - no biggie.
  • UNITED STATES - 11:59 just got in bed and heard strange noise then the rolling shaking began. Lasted aout 5-6 seconds. Ive been in quakes before judged it betw 4-. Bass Lake, Ca.
  • San Luis Obispo, CA - Laying on my bed with my laptop and my bed just felt like jelly moving back and forth ! quite scaryy !
  • Unknown - grover beach, woke me up, slow rolling motion, very strange feeling in a trailer.
  • Clovis, CA - Felt like a rolling shaking that began at one end of my house and move through to the other end. Strong enough to wake me up and shake my bed.
  • Paso Robles - Would have slept through it if my Wife didn't wake me up. Pretty light quake.
  • Paso Robles, ca - I am from michigan lived here 3 years..last night was the first night that i have ever experienced anything like that..sure is scary!! when u dont know whats going on!! first the doors started shaking hard and then my couch where i was sitting..and then it was still modestly shaking for about 5 6 seconds afterwards!! deff scary for a michigander!
  • corral de tierra, near salinas,ca - woke me up. rolling sensation. windows creaked and closet door rattled. seemed like a long time.
  • Seaside, CA - This woke my husband and me when it hit. It felt kind of rolling as well (if that makes sense!)
  • Los Osos, CA - around 12 AM Oct. 21. Rumbling and rolling back and forth for 2-3 seconds.
  • Santa Maria, 166 at 101 - Rolling shake that swung the doublewide a bit, ..about 30 sec.s same 11:57 ish time
  • Scotts Valley, Ca - Felt first one, small rocking and creaking, then second one was stronger and lasted longer. Nothing broke or fell off the walls but stained glass panels were rockin'
  • Atascadero, CA - Pictures on my livingroom wall started shaking
  • Santa Cruz, CA - I was laying in bed when the house started to shake. I was almost asleep but that sure woke me up! I wondered how long it was going to be because it felt like forever, but it was probably only a couple seconds. My blinds shook and some plates rattled in my kitchen, it was definitely pretty spooky.
  • Orosi, ca - bed, computer desk and monitor shaking.
  • Arroyo Grande, California - after midnight 10.20.12 .... the house shook and roared.
  • carmel valley - in the village of carmel valley--felt light shaking around 11:58, followed by a lighter shake-shake---my Beagle dog was not fazed...back to sleep I went
  • Fresno, California - Fresno, California was shaking moderately It had to have been a 4.0 or higher.
  • corcoran - I was laying in my recliner about 11:55 when I felt the recliner rocking side ways.
  • Hanford, CA - Felt a short quake about midnight last night. Wasn't really big, but got my attention.
  • Sanger, California - I was in the bottom floor of my two, story house and I felt the house as a whole moving and my bed was swaying slightly i asked some friends who were up and some felt it
  • coarsegold, ca - I was sitting on my front porch, in my office chair, watching the Orionides meteor display, when I felt the house move and my office chair started to rock back and forth...I thought was that a tremor?
  • auberry Ca - I was up late watching the beginning of the meteor shower, i went in to wake my three year old up to watch, and he was too sleepy so i laid in his bed, then the ground started vibrating and right before i could say "what the..." my whole house went BOOM BOOM BOOM, and i grabbed the baby and ran towards the stairs! never felt one that strong before. nothing fell but it was powerful.
  • Fresno - I woke up to bead shaking and what sounded like walls cracking.
  • Unknown - I WAS GETTING ON WITH MY WIFE WHEN WE FEALT IT.
  • santa cruz - a brief light swaying motion.
  • carmel, ca - Ceiling light rattled for 15 seconds or so.
  • san luis obispo - at 11:58 last night, October 20th, 2012 in SLO there was a sudden light, then moderate shaking lasting about 1 minute, with some tremors afterwards for a few minutes.
  • MARINA, CA - I felt a mild shaking lasting over 5 seconds just before midnight Saturday. My glass shower doors shook. I wasn't scared because I have experienced stronger quakes before.
  • UNITED STATES - Watching the meteor shower near bonny doon. Lying down, felt a gentle shaking of the ground for about 10 seconds
  • paso robles - strong bolt not so much a shake around midnight
  • Santa Cruz - I was just laying down to go to sleep in my loft bed. At first, I thought someone was on my roof jumping around and/or trying to bust in my front door. Then I realized it was just a slight earthquake. Lasted about 5-6 seconds.
  • Madera, CA - My son said that his bed shaking back and forth and our dogs water bowl was tipped over the next morning.
  • San Francisco, Ca - My T.V. antena was shaking, that's when I noticed there was a light quake.
  • Visalia, Ca - We noticed pictures rattling on the wall and could lightly feel it.
  • carmel-by-the-sea - NO, it did NOT shake. And it did NOT rattle. It rolled. It was a roller. It was a rolling quake just a minute or two before midnight. Woke me up but I am a very light sleeper.
  • arroyo Grande ,Ca - Apro 4-3 minutes before midnight, woke me up bed was shaking back and forth, not the usually rolling affect lasted less than 45 seconds but left me wide awake
  • California - WAS A COUPLE A MINUTES BEFORE MIDNIGHT, AND I WAS TAKING A WIZ, WHEN I HEARD SCREEN DOOR RATTLE, AND FELT BATHROOM START TO SHAKE.
  • Sanger CA - My bed was shaking, son and daughter (16)(21)also felt shaking thought it was mom and dad getting busy.
  • Sanger, CA - Obviously, I didn't feel this one, but there was a California quake at the same time.
  • Fresno - My cat was pacing from room to room while I was watching a movie I felt the chair I was sitting in swaying back and forth . I then looked at the mirror hznging the wall and it was tilting back and forth . I checked the time It was 11:03pm .
  • Pismo Beach, Ca. - We woke up in bed to a strong shaking movement. We realized immediately that it was an earthquake. It was right around 10:30 p.m. on the evening of Sat.10/20/12. We have not heard anything more after that. The shaking lasted around a few minutes.
  • Los Osos CA - 11:55PM 10/20/12 - started as slight rolling, just kept intensifying for about 15-20 seconds then tapered back off.
  • Carmel Valley, CA - in redwod framed house on top of hill in Carmel Valley; approximately 30-40 minutes beforehand, the two large dogs were noticeably upset; I went downstairs to check on things; then, once lying down and dozing off, was awakened by significant shaking; wakeful the remainder of night; no after shocks
  • Arroyo Grande, CA - Sat. 11:47pm bed shaking; drapes & plants swaying. No mention of it in the news.
  • Capitola,ca - Vibration like a big rig going by into a rocking motion for at least 10 seconds..felt 4 in all
  • fresno ca - I was woken up at exactly 11:55 and because i felt my bed shaking. It actually left me a bit dizzy!
  • California - I was watching tv on my couch with my girlfriend sleeping next to me and I felt a very slight vibration, rhythmic in nature so I thought it might be something mechanical, i.e.: AC, truck, etc. After a couple seconds, the intensity built until I was physically being shook, which hence lasted another 2-3 . My feet came off of the floor as I sat. A quite unmistakable earthquake.
    		•

    a

    QuakeSOS+     and QuakeSOS free are iPhone applications developed by Armand Vervaeck, the founder of Earthquake Report. The Application simplifies immediate group communication to friends and family members (with your exact GPS location) and is feeding the users with Earthquake Report news. The 0.99 US$ QuakeSOS+ version will support the activities of SOS Earthquakes.

    a

    Earthquake-Report.com headlines on twitter
    @OnlyQuakeNews : Get all the headlines of our earthquake-report.com articles + regular updates on ongoing events
    @QuakeSOS : earthquake-report.com news + automatic earthquake notifications of USGS earthquakes of M 4.0 or higher with emphasis to earthquakes in the America’s and the Pacific Ocean sphere (4 and up) and a lot of the rest of the world (5 and up). This account was created for our QuakeSOS and QuakeSOS+ iPhone applications
    @ShakingEarth : earthquake-report.com news + automatic earthquake notifications of EMSC earthquakes of M 4.0 or higher with emphasis to earthquakes in European and Asian / Middle East sphere (4 and up) and a lot of the rest of the world (5 and up). This account was originally created to stimulate our Facebook account
    @QuakeMaps : earthquake-report.com news with mapping notifications of ALL earthquakes M 3.0 and higher from all over the world via EMSC and USGS. This account was created for our http://www.quake-maps.com website

    SHARE YOUR EARTHQUAKE EXPERIENCE WITH US

    Enter Email (not compulsory)
    City/Village where you felt the earthquake
    MMI II (Very weak shaking) ?
    People :
    Felt by persons at rest, on upper floors or favorably placed.
    MMI III (Weak shaking) ?
    People :
    Felt indoors; hanging objects may swing, vibration similar to passing of light trucks, duration may be estimated, may not be recognized as an earthquake.
    MMI IV (Light shaking) ?
    People :
    Generally noticed indoors but not outside. Light sleepers may be awakened. Vibration may be likened to the passing of heavy traffic, or to the jolt of a heavy object falling or striking the building.
    Fittings :
    Doors and windows rattle. Glassware and crockery rattle. Liquids in open vessels may be slightly disturbed. Standing motorcars may rock.
    Structures :
    Walls and frames of buildings, and partitions and suspended ceilings in commercial buildings, may be heard to creak.
    MMI V (Moderate shaking) ?
    People :
    Generally felt outside, and by almost everyone indoors. Most sleepers awakened. A few people alarmed.
    Fittings :
    Small unstable objects are displaced or upset. Some glassware and crockery may be broken. Hanging pictures knock against the wall. Open doors may swing. Cupboard doors secured by magnetic catches may open. Pendulum clocks stop, start, or change rate.
    Structures :
    Some large display windows cracked. A few earthenware toilet fixtures cracked.
    MMI VI (Strong shaking) ?
    People Felt by all. People and animals alarmed. Many run outside. Difficulty experienced in walking steadily.
    Fittings :
    Objects fall from shelves. Pictures fall from walls. Some furniture moved on smooth floors, some unsecured free-standing fireplaces moved. Glassware and crockery broken. Very unstable furniture overturned. Small church and school bells ring. Appliances move on bench or table tops. Filing cabinets or "easy glide" drawers may open (or shut).
    Structures :
    Slight damage to buildings with low standard. Some stucco or cement plaster falls. Large display windows broken. Damage to a few weak domestic chimneys, some may fall.
    Environment :
    Trees and bushes shake, or are heard to rustle. Loose material may be dislodged from sloping ground, e.g. existing slides, talus slopes, shingle slides.
    MMI VII (Very strong shaking) ?
    People
    General alarm. Difficulty experienced in standing. Noticed by motorcar drivers who may stop.
    Fittings :
    Large bells ring. Furniture moves on smooth floors, may move on carpeted floors. Substantial damage to fragile contents of buildings.
    Structures :
    Unreinforced stone and brick walls cracked. Low standard buildings cracked with some minor masonry falls. A few instances of damage to buildings of ordinary workmanship. Unbraced parapets, unbraced brick gables, and architectural ornaments fall. Roofing tiles, especially ridge tiles may be dislodged. Many unreinforced domestic chimneys damaged, often falling from roof-line. Water tanks Type I burst. A few instances of damage to brick veneers and plaster or cement-based linings. Unrestrained water cylinders (hot-water cylinders) may move and leak. Some common windows cracked. Suspended ceilings damaged.
    Environment :
    Water made turbid by stirred up mud. Small slides such as falls of sand and gravel banks, and small rock-falls from steep slopes and cuttings. Instances of settlement of unconsolidated or wet, or weak soils. Some fine cracks appear in sloping ground. A few instances of liquefaction (i.e. small water and sand ejections).
    MMI VIII (Severe shaking) ?
    People Alarm may approach panic. Steering of motorcars greatly affected. Structures : Low standard buildings heavily damaged, some collapse. ordinary workmanship buildings damaged, some with partial collapse. Reinforced masonry or concrete buildings damaged in some cases. A few instances of damage to buildings and bridges designed and built to resist earthquakes. Monuments and pre-1976 elevated tanks and factory stacks twisted or brought down. Some pre-1965 infill masonry panels damaged. A few post-1980 brick veneers damaged. Decayed timber piles of houses damaged. Houses not secured to foundations may move. Most unreinforced domestic chimneys damaged, some below roof-line, many brought down. Environment : Cracks appear on steep slopes and in wet ground. Small to moderate slides in roadside cuttings and unsupported excavations. Small water and sand ejections and localized lateral spreading adjacent to streams, canals, lakes, etc.
    MMI IX (Violent shaking) ?
    Structures Many low standard buildings destroyed. Ordinary workmanship buildings heavily damaged, some collapse. Reinforced masonry or concrete buildings damaged, some with partial collapse. Buildings and bridges designed and built to resist earthquakes damaged in some cases, some with flexible frames seriously damaged. Damage or permanent distortion to some buildings and bridges, designed and built to normal use standards. Houses not secured to foundations shifted off. Brick veneers fall and expose frames. Environment : Cracking of ground conspicuous. Landsliding general on steep slopes. Liquefaction effects intensified and more widespread, with large lateral spreading and flow sliding adjacent to streams, canals, lakes, etc.
    Write your experience and/or additional text here (max. 500 characters)

    Comments

    1. Keri says:
      October 21, 2012 at 11:44 pm

      Sat. 10/20/12 close to 12a.m., we heart a loud boom, a huge jolt hit, then the windows shook and pictures moved, not lasting more than 10-20 seconds. We live N.W. of Lemoore in the country. I believe, without a doubt, that Fracking taking place inbetween Monterey counties and the Central Valley (in close proximities to the San Andreas Fault), absolutely play into all the quakes. Wake up California!

      Reply
    2. Keri says:
      October 21, 2012 at 11:31 pm

      We reside N.W. of Lemoore in the country, approximately 2miles to the back entrance of NASL. 30 miles S.W. of Fresno, while we were watching a movie in bed we felt a huge jolt to the house and a loud boom. The windows rattled, the walls and pictures shook, and then we felt the shifting of the earth beneath the house. I continued to feel aftershocks after the initial quake for 10-20 seconds. An area close to the San Andreas fault line, Fracking is taking place, inbetween Monterey, Monterey county and the Central Valley. In fact, it is happening throughout California. Without a doubt, I also contribute Fracking is a huge factor as to the number of earthquakes California is experiencing, as well as other states were Fracking continues. Wake up California, ban Fracking!

      Reply
      • Armand Vervaeck says:
        October 22, 2012 at 8:41 am

        Keri,
        In some states and areas fracking is the origin of earthquakes. In the current earthquake this is simply a faulting generated earthquake. Additionally fracking is only responsible for minor earthquakes so far.
        Earthquake-Report.com

    Speak Your Mind

    *