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Marines among those in SoCal who felt earthquake

1 Jul 2004 | Cpl. Luis R. Agostini Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- It wasn't "the big one" that experts say is bound to hit Southern California someday. But the June 15 earthquake felt here by service members and base residents from Mainside to Camp San Onofre nonetheless rattled more than a few nerves. "I was at the company office. The ground rumbled a little bit, but I definitely felt it," said Cpl. Julio Reynolds, a company clerk with Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Base, whose office is on Mainside.

"I'm from Texas, so I'd rather have tornadoes," he said.

"We were outside the company office, just sitting there, and we felt something. It was real quick," recalled Pfc. Mark A. Hulcy, a rifleman with 1st Platoon, L Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, based at San Mateo.

"One guy said, 'The ground's shaking!' Hulcy recounted. "We told him to shut up. We went back to our room after work, turned on the television and, sure enough, there was an earthquake."

The quake registered 5.2 on the Richter scale and was felt throughout Southern California and parts of Mexico. Scientists classify it as a moderate earthquake, said David Toney, a geologist with the base's Environmental Security Office.

"The temblor was centered off the coast of Baja California, about 65 miles west-southwest of Camp Pendleton," said Toney, who felt the earthquake at his desk.

A little-known fault called the Clark Fault, which runs through eastern San Diego County and is part of the San Jacinto Fault Zone, produced the quake. The fault runs from Hemet, in Riverside County, to the Salton Sea, Toney said. Camp Pendleton is about 30 to 50 miles west of the Clark Fault.

Seismologists say Southern California is overdue for a much larger quake than the one felt last month. The two most devastating temblors in the state in recent years:

n Northridge, a 6.7 quake in Southern California's San Fernando Valley on January 17, 1994 that killed 57 people.

n Loma Prieto, a 6.9 quake in the San Francisco Bay Area that rocked Candlestick Park during the World Series, severed a freeway overpass and killed 62 people.

"There are thousands of earthquakes in California each year, but only 500 are felt, and about one or two do any damage," said Toney. "There is an almost 100 percent chance of an earthquake damaging San Diego County at some point in the future. There are several faults in San Diego capable of producing very strong earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.0, and the San Andres Fault, which is about 100 miles away, is capable of producing a magnitude of 8.0."

The threat of a big quake arouses fears on many fronts. One major concern here is nuclear fallout, with the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station located just beyond the Christianitos Gate outside the northern end of the base.

Toney says the chance of an earthquake-produced nuclear emergency is remote.

"(SONGS) is built to withstand a 7.0 magnitude earthquake directly under the plant. That exceeds the expected magnitude of any earthquake in our immediate area," Toney said. "Procedures are in effect to shut down the plant immediately, if necessary. All nuclear plants have instruments to warn of earthquake motion, and are designed to shut down safely if necessary, and San Onofre will continue to provide power if it is safe to do so."

Toney says Pendleton workers and residents should brace for a sizable quake.

"Disaster preparedness is very important," Toney said. "You can better prepare yourself by packing a disaster preparedness kit, to include food, water, a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, flashlights, radio, extra blankets, clothing and any other items you may deem necessary."

He offered some advice for when the big one does hit.

"If you're inside, stay inside," he said. "If you're outside, stay outside. If you are indoors, try to get under a desk. Avoid buildings, trees, power lines and poles when outdoors during an earthquake. You want to protect your head and neck. Earthquakes don't last very long, so ride it out."

If an earthquake strikes, residents are encouraged to call the base facilities 24-hour hotline — 725-4324 — to report structural damage, such as broken water mains and pipes.

Marines among those in SoCal who felt earthquake

1 Jul 2004 | Cpl. Luis R. Agostini Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- It wasn't "the big one" that experts say is bound to hit Southern California someday. But the June 15 earthquake felt here by service members and base residents from Mainside to Camp San Onofre nonetheless rattled more than a few nerves. "I was at the company office. The ground rumbled a little bit, but I definitely felt it," said Cpl. Julio Reynolds, a company clerk with Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Base, whose office is on Mainside.

"I'm from Texas, so I'd rather have tornadoes," he said.

"We were outside the company office, just sitting there, and we felt something. It was real quick," recalled Pfc. Mark A. Hulcy, a rifleman with 1st Platoon, L Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, based at San Mateo.

"One guy said, 'The ground's shaking!' Hulcy recounted. "We told him to shut up. We went back to our room after work, turned on the television and, sure enough, there was an earthquake."

The quake registered 5.2 on the Richter scale and was felt throughout Southern California and parts of Mexico. Scientists classify it as a moderate earthquake, said David Toney, a geologist with the base's Environmental Security Office.

"The temblor was centered off the coast of Baja California, about 65 miles west-southwest of Camp Pendleton," said Toney, who felt the earthquake at his desk.

A little-known fault called the Clark Fault, which runs through eastern San Diego County and is part of the San Jacinto Fault Zone, produced the quake. The fault runs from Hemet, in Riverside County, to the Salton Sea, Toney said. Camp Pendleton is about 30 to 50 miles west of the Clark Fault.

Seismologists say Southern California is overdue for a much larger quake than the one felt last month. The two most devastating temblors in the state in recent years:

n Northridge, a 6.7 quake in Southern California's San Fernando Valley on January 17, 1994 that killed 57 people.

n Loma Prieto, a 6.9 quake in the San Francisco Bay Area that rocked Candlestick Park during the World Series, severed a freeway overpass and killed 62 people.

"There are thousands of earthquakes in California each year, but only 500 are felt, and about one or two do any damage," said Toney. "There is an almost 100 percent chance of an earthquake damaging San Diego County at some point in the future. There are several faults in San Diego capable of producing very strong earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.0, and the San Andres Fault, which is about 100 miles away, is capable of producing a magnitude of 8.0."

The threat of a big quake arouses fears on many fronts. One major concern here is nuclear fallout, with the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station located just beyond the Christianitos Gate outside the northern end of the base.

Toney says the chance of an earthquake-produced nuclear emergency is remote.

"(SONGS) is built to withstand a 7.0 magnitude earthquake directly under the plant. That exceeds the expected magnitude of any earthquake in our immediate area," Toney said. "Procedures are in effect to shut down the plant immediately, if necessary. All nuclear plants have instruments to warn of earthquake motion, and are designed to shut down safely if necessary, and San Onofre will continue to provide power if it is safe to do so."

Toney says Pendleton workers and residents should brace for a sizable quake.

"Disaster preparedness is very important," Toney said. "You can better prepare yourself by packing a disaster preparedness kit, to include food, water, a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, flashlights, radio, extra blankets, clothing and any other items you may deem necessary."

He offered some advice for when the big one does hit.

"If you're inside, stay inside," he said. "If you're outside, stay outside. If you are indoors, try to get under a desk. Avoid buildings, trees, power lines and poles when outdoors during an earthquake. You want to protect your head and neck. Earthquakes don't last very long, so ride it out."

If an earthquake strikes, residents are encouraged to call the base facilities 24-hour hotline — 725-4324 — to report structural damage, such as broken water mains and pipes.