A magnitude 3.4 earthquake gave parts of Ventura County a sudden jolt on Tuesday morning. The shaking started at 7:06 a.m. and was centered just four miles south of Ojai. While it was not a massive quake it was definitely strong enough to get people's attention as they were starting their day.
š Where the Shaking Was Felt
The earthquake did not stay in just one spot. People reported feeling the ground move in Ojai and Ventura as well as in Carpinteria and Santa Barbara. It was felt all along the coast and even in some spots northwest of Los Angeles.
The main 3.4 quake was not a lonely event either. It was followed by several smaller aftershocks in the same area including one that measured 1.3 and another that hit 2.2. These smaller quakes are very common after a slightly larger one as the earth settles back into place.
ā ļø Why Some People Felt It and Others Did Not
Whether you felt the shaking mostly comes down to three big things. These factors are magnitude and distance and the type of soil under your feet. The magnitude tells you how much energy was released while the distance tells you how far you were from the epicenter.
Local soil conditions also play a huge role. If you are on loose soil the shaking can actually feel much stronger than if you are standing on solid rock. This is why two people in the same town can have very different experiences during the same earthquake.
š Stay Prepared for the Big One
This series of small quakes is a good reminder that California is always on the move. Sometimes small quakes are actually foreshocks that happen before a much bigger event. This happened in Japan back in 2011 when a huge 9.1 quake was preceded by a 7.3 quake just two days earlier.
Because of this risk authorities suggest everyone keeps a disaster emergency kit ready. This should include things like scissors and bandages and gauze along with antiseptic cream and distilled water. Aftershocks can continue for days or even years so staying alert is part of living in Ventura County.