earthquake los angeles // 4.7-magnitude earthquake with epicenter near Malibu rattles Los Angeles area
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00:00Paul mentioned the shaking has continued, you know, two point something, two point here, shaking continues.
00:05But of course, nothing as major as we saw initially.
00:08So we do want to check in with Paul once again.
00:10Paul. Yeah, a couple of things.
00:12One, I'll just go ahead and say it from everything I've read over the past 30 years.
00:16There is no such thing as earthquake weather.
00:18There's always weather happening when an earthquake happens.
00:21But are they related?
00:22The answer is no.
00:24There has been no scientific proof whatsoever that there is something called earthquake weather.
00:29Another thing I want to point out, a six is not a little bit bigger than a five.
00:33A five is not a little bit bigger than a four.
00:35You have to think of it differently.
00:36The math would say, oh, five plus one, you get a magnitude six.
00:40So, wow, this was a four point seven.
00:42It's not that bad.
00:43As you increase the magnitude by one, the amount of energy release goes up by ten.
00:49So let's take a four point seven.
00:51If we were to have a five point seven, it's not a little bit bigger than a four point seven.
00:55It's ten times stronger.
00:57Let's go farther.
00:58If we were to have a six point seven magnitude earthquake, that would be one hundred times
01:04stronger than what we just had.
01:06If we were to have a seven point seven magnitude earthquake, that would be one thousand times
01:12stronger than a magnitude four point seven.
01:14So we use these numbers kind of like second grade math.
01:18It doesn't work that way.
01:20It's a logarithmic or even a little bit more than that.
01:22So if we were talking a six or a seven, it's not just a little bit more.
01:26We're talking hundreds or thousands of times more.
01:29The biggest faults, we don't know which fault this specifically was on.
01:32And as Dr. Jones had said, it may not be on a fault that we know about.
01:36The largest faults in that general area are the Malibu Coast Fault and the Santa Monica
01:42Fault.
01:43There's also a fault there called the Hollywood Fault.
01:44We don't know which one it was on.
01:45We know where it was centered.
01:46It was centered right off Canaan Road in Malibu.
01:49And when we look at the entire state of California, we have a lot of earthquake history going
01:52back to the 1850s.
01:54So we can make some general statements or averages about how often this happens.
01:59California as a state, really big state, drive to Redding.
02:01It'll take you a while.
02:03California takes, gets about 17 magnitude four earthquakes in an average year.
02:07Far as I can, I think we've had three or four of them here in Southern California over the
02:10past couple of months.
02:11And we always need to talk about the chance that this was a four shock.
02:14What does that mean?
02:15Small chance, 5% chance that a bigger earthquake is coming.
02:19What I always like to highlight, that means there is a 95% chance that we are talking
02:23about the 4.7 that we just had being the biggest quake.
02:27There's Agora Hills.
02:29There's the 101, Calabasas.
02:30We head into the San Fernando Valley.
02:33That's not the bigger.
02:34I'm not sure why that just popped up, but right there was the epicenter of the 4.7 magnitude.
02:39There have been aftershocks and I may have pointed right to where one of the spots, one
02:43of the aftershocks was a 2.8, but this was a 4.7 happened about 50 minutes ago.
02:48And we are talking about numerous aftershocks likely throughout the morning.
02:52We've already had three of magnitude two or greater.
02:54Back to you guys.
02:55All right, Paul.
02:56Thank you for all of that.
02:57Of course, we are continuing our coverage this morning on KCAL News mornings of the
03:02earthquake that happened this morning.
03:03We want to get out to Officer Ramstad with the CHP.
03:06He's located in the West Valley.
03:07And what can you tell us this morning, officer?
03:10Obviously, after any type of earthquake or any disaster like this, we need to check our
03:14infrastructure, make sure everything is tip top and working just fine.
03:19We do rely heavily on the general public.
03:21If they see something, please say something, call 9-1-1 if you think it's an emergency.
03:25If there's a boulders block in the road, that could obviously be an emergency, cracks, new
03:29cracks formed.
03:30So we will have our officers check any of the bridges and infrastructures like that.
03:35Just do a general look around.
03:36Obviously, they're not the full on engineers like the Caltrans workers, but if we see anything
03:42that's very obvious that needs to be addressed immediately, then we'll get the proper workers
03:46out there.
03:47So we'll just do a general check about anything and everything that we can see.
03:51Our officers are driving around right now making sure that there's nothing that stands
03:55out that needs to be addressed.
03:58Officer Ramstad, you're with CHP West Valley.
04:00Where exactly in the valley are you and where were you and what did you feel this morning?
04:06We're just DeSoto, just north of the 101 freeway.
04:09We really are right here in the San Fernando Valley.
04:12We felt exactly what everybody else felt, a little bit of roll, a little bit of shaking,
04:16trying to figure out what was going on.
04:18And then all of our alerts going off, I can hear everybody's phones going off right away.
04:23We knew something was afoot, so automatically our office makes sure everybody gets to a
04:27safe location.
04:28After it all settled down, we started to get to work.
04:31As someone who's been through this I'm sure many times and lots and lots of training when
04:35it comes to earthquakes, do you have any advice for anybody as we kind of move through the
04:39day and start thinking about the next one?
04:42Well, as we generally say with anything, once something big happens, just stay calm.
04:49Try not to make any rash decisions.
04:51You don't need to go swerving off the road, careening into the side or anything.
04:55If you can drive straight, drive straight.
04:57If you feel that it's unsafe, things are coming down, move over as soon as you can safely
05:01to the right.
05:02Don't just grab the wheel to the right as hard as you can.
05:05We want you to be safe out there.
05:06So just slow down, relax, and once it's all done, then find the location that's safest
05:12for you.
05:13Get a hold of your family and friends in a proper, safe, responsible manner.
05:17And yeah, just if there is an issue, a situation, stay away from that situation.
05:22Call 911.
05:23We do depend on the public as our eyes and ears of what's going on out there because
05:27our officers might be on the other side, and if we don't know, we don't know until you
05:31guys let us know.
05:32Yeah, that's a good point.
05:33I'm curious, Officer Ramstad, we were obviously in studio when this happened.
05:37Did you or any of your fellow officers, are you guys getting any reports of people who
05:42felt the shaking as they were on the road driving?
05:45Actually, one of my staff members, when they came in, she didn't feel it.
05:49She actually said she saw everything swaying left and right with the phone going off.
05:53So it sounds like it wasn't too big of a deal for the drivers.
05:56But obviously, as you guys were saying a little bit ago with those earthquakes increasing
06:03in frequency and increasing in strength, that when they hit a lot bigger, I'm sure
06:07people will be able to feel it a lot more.
06:08But it sounds like right now it was just watching everything else sway and wondering what was
06:11going on.
06:12And actually, you know, I think that will be the reports for many people potentially
06:17driving out there, which is also potentially good news when you're talking about having
06:21to check those structures and roadways and those types of things that if people didn't
06:24necessarily feel it because of the energy of the car and the roadway and all that, all
06:28that plays into it.
06:30But, you know, if they did feel it, I think we would be in a much different situation.
06:33For sure.
06:34Yeah.
06:35I mean, Officer Casey Ramstead with CHP West Valley, we thank you so much for your time.
06:40And please keep us updated with any new information you find.
06:43Absolutely.
06:44You guys have a great day.
06:45Be safe out there.
06:46You too.
06:47Appreciate it.
06:48Appreciate all those officers out there working, too.
06:50I have to imagine the minute that that happens, they have to immediately get into overdrive
06:55checking on things.
06:56That's right.
06:57Again, another live look at LAX this morning.
06:59And the good news is you see when it comes to daily life, things are looking good out
07:03there.
07:04Traffic moving pretty smoothly.
07:05You've got a number of planes in the background.
07:07You can see taxing out on the runway.
07:10OK, we want to go ahead and check in with Lynn Schultz, manager of the Malibu Marmalade
07:18Cafe.
07:19And now we're receiving this information from our producers as we're live on television.
07:22So I apologize for stopping and starting.
07:24Lynn, I have to imagine you must have been getting ready for the breakfast crowd or what
07:29was going on?
07:30Upstairs, doing my morning paperwork as usual.
07:35I've always said because our office is upstairs in a little bit of an older building, I've
07:38always said I wouldn't want to be up here in an earthquake and there I was.
07:43How'd you fare?
07:44It was shaky.
07:45It wasn't, you know, it wasn't too extreme.
07:48As soon as it was over, of course, I bolted out of there.
07:52Nothing damaged down here.
07:53The cooks were a little concerned about the equipment, but everything seems fine.
07:59I can imagine.
08:00It's so scary because you guys are near the epicenter.
08:02Lynn, did you notice any kind of cracks in the building, anything off, things falling
08:07off the shelves, anything like that?
08:09Nothing really cracking or falling.
08:11However, our next door neighbor is a dry cleaner.
08:14She was out front and she was noticing the actual windows of the building.
08:18Everything's shifting.
08:20A big, big concern there, just seeing the entire building kind of shift around.
08:24Yeah, definitely a concern because obviously the topography of the area can lead to some
08:30precarious situations.
08:32Right now, what's what's it like around you?
08:34Are folks kind of outside talking amongst each other?
08:38What's the mood there in Malibu?
08:40People who are out and about are, of course, acknowledging it and discussing it, kind of
08:45standing outside.
08:46I haven't had any guests as of yet this morning.
08:49Normally, we have a few by now.
08:51Yeah.
08:52So, you know, I know traffic and canyons and concerns.
08:56So that's where we're at.
08:57But no damage, just a little, little bit of a shock.
09:00Well that you're located within the Malibu Village Mall.
09:03Is that right?
09:04Correct.
09:05Yeah.
09:06So with the other businesses there, you guys, has anybody seen anything that's of concern,
09:10any cracks, anything?
09:13Not as of yet.
09:14I'm not hearing anything yet.
09:15It is very early.
09:17You know, most of these businesses don't open until 10 or 11.
09:21You're the breakfast place.
09:22Everybody else is the late riser.
09:23We're the center of the action here.
09:27So, yes.
09:28Well, perhaps when, you know, the nerves are settled and everybody, you know, gets back
09:32to normal, people will come out to Marmalade Cafe and enjoy some breakfast.
09:36You guys do have some great breakfast out there.
09:38So Lynn Schultz, thank you so much for joining us.
09:41And we are certainly glad to hear that you guys are OK and that your business and your
09:46surrounding neighbors are OK as well.
09:48Lynn, thank you.
09:49Thanks so much.
09:50We're ready.
09:51Come on down.
09:52We'd love to feed you.
09:53I'm sure you would.
09:54Thank you, Lynn.
09:55You're looking at now where the epicenter was.
09:58And of course, we've been talking about this for much of the morning, 4.7 magnitude quake
10:01hit near Malibu.
10:03You can see, though, it has impacted much of the area, you know, hearing from people
10:07all over the viewing area of Anaheim, Long Beach, Los Angeles, San Bernardino.
10:12So you've got the Inland Empire all the way to the coast.
10:16We did check again.
10:17There's no tsunami warnings or watches, which is good news.
10:19As you hear about the earthquake being the epicenter being in Malibu near the coastline.
10:24But, you know, we've been checking in with law enforcement, education officials, so many
10:28people around the area.
10:29You see the airport up and running.
10:31This seems to be one of those situations that just puts us in the mode of a good reminder
10:37of we need to prepare.
10:38Yes, we do.
10:39There could be a bigger one, 4.7, you know, a relatively small earthquake initially reported
10:45as a 5.1.
10:46That's why everyone's phones went off and everyone got the alert.
10:49But, you know, as of right now, 4.7.
10:51All right.
10:52We're going to check in with Mark Lew at the desk.
10:54Mark.
10:55Yeah.
10:56Thanks, Jamie and Rachel.
10:57So continuing to monitor this, the first thing I can tell you is now that L.A. County fire
11:01stations have all checked in with their headquarters and dispatch center.
11:04No damage to any L.A. County fire stations, no injuries at any of them as well.
11:09So that is good.
11:10I do hear them calling out to battalions.
11:12Are you ready to return to normal operations?
11:14All of them are replying in the affirmative, which means that it sounds like L.A. County
11:18fire at least might be going back to normal operations already.
11:21Now, the next thing I want to show, I've been monitoring the USGS.
11:25Did you feel it?
11:26Earthquake ShakeMap.
11:27And you can see there are even people self-reporting here in Bakersfield that they felt it, Cathedral
11:32City.
11:33That's very far.
11:34And even San Diego, close to the Tijuana border.
11:37Now there's one way out here in Arizona.
11:40That might be a data error.
11:41I find it very hard to believe that they would have felt it down near the border of Arizona.
11:46But at least here, even in Santa Barbara, they are feeling it.
11:48So this has been felt far and wide across the Southern California region.
11:52And then the other thing, Jamie, you had also just mentioned it.
11:54I also checked, as you did, the U.S. Tsunami Warning Center, and you can see here very
11:59clearly no tsunami warning advisory or threat due to this earthquake.
12:04So that's good news for everyone along the West Coast and, of course, across the ocean
12:09as well.
12:10But we're continuing to monitor this.
12:11So far, we have not had any other information about any other damage.
12:15As I said, the only thing that we had seen earlier was someone had sent this in.
12:19This is from Ranchos Palos Verdes.
12:21A colleague in our newsroom has a friend that said that they were sleeping, they woke up,
12:25and this crack and then this other crack appeared in their ceiling.
12:29So a little bit of damage to a home.
12:32Certainly, homes in Southern California are used to having cracks, certainly older ones.
12:35But this, according to this friend of an employee that works in our newsroom, is brand
12:40new in their bedroom from this morning's 7.30 magnitude 4.7 earthquake.
12:46I'll keep looking.
12:47I'll let you know if anything else comes up.
12:48Until then, that's it here from the desk.
12:49Sarah, back to you.
12:50They're a renter.
12:51I'm calling the landlord.
12:52To help out.
12:53For sure.
12:54What's going on?
12:55Thank you, Mark, for that.
12:56You know, we have been hearing from people all morning long.
12:57I think that's the story when some of these relatively smaller earthquakes happen, right?
13:01As everyone jumps in and says, I felt it, I felt it.
13:04We've heard from the Pacific Palisades.
13:06We've heard from Woodland Hills.
13:07We had a co-worker whose clock fell off the wall and broke.
13:09I think it's going to be damage like that that we potentially see, which is a good reminder
13:13to secure all of those picture frames and other objects.
13:17I know I'm thinking to myself, we got a couple very nice wine glasses for our wedding that
13:21are on a shelf that should probably come down.
13:25We going to check in with Dr. Raymond Hall from Malibu?
13:29Okay, we're going to do that after the break.
13:32We have a resident from Malibu calling in who felt the quake this morning.
13:35We'll be right back with that.