Claremont Insider: San Berdo Quake Shakes Area - UPDATED

Thursday, January 8, 2009

San Berdo Quake Shakes Area - UPDATED

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8:25pm: A moderate earthquake shook the area about 35 minutes ago. The epicenter was apparently somewhere near San Bernardino.

The U.S. Geological Survey's website initially reported the quake as a magnitude 5.0 temblor centered about 6km NNE of Colton. (This number will be adjusted as the data are analyzed.)

UPDATED, 7:05AM - The USGS has downgraded the quake's magnitude to 4.5. The Daily Bulletin has an article and includes a link to a KCBS2 news video.

The quake seemed short in duration, perhaps five or six seconds at the most, but reports from Highland residents on the local TV news indicate it may have lasted much longer near the epicenter.

If you felt it, the USGS would like your responses to a few questions about the intensity and nature of the shaking you felt. Go here to enter your answers.

According to the USGS, your input is important for the following reasons:

How it helps us:

  • Immediate high quality and large quantity of data.
  • Cost-effective means of collecting data (replaced expensive and slow postal questionnaires).
  • Helps constrain instrumental data used for ShakeMap and PAGER.
  • Provides data in areas where there are no seismic instruments.
  • Provides data for smaller earthquakes that we can't normally record.

How it helps others:

  • Provides a rapid assesment of the extent of shaking and damage for emergency responders.
  • Confirms experiences of shaking for other people.

How it helps you:

  • You learn the difference between magnitude and intensity.
  • Helps you feel more in control of your experience.
  • Opportunity to share your experience with others.
  • Opportunity to contribute to the advancement of earthquake science.