January 2010 Eureka earthquake
Encyclopedia
The 2010 Eureka earthquake occurred on January 9, 2010 at 4:27:38 p.m. PST offshore of Humboldt County
, California
, United States. The magnitude was measured as 6.5 Mw
, and its epicenter was located offshore in the Pacific Ocean
33 miles (53.1 km) west of the nearest major city, Eureka
. Additionally, there was a separate earthquake further offshore of Eureka on February 4, its magnitude was slightly less, at 5.9. It was also the most significant earthquake in the Eureka area in terms of magnitude since an earthquake in 1992
. It was the largest earthquake in California in over a decade, since the Hector Mine Earthquake (7.1) of 1999.
s, power was severed for several hours, and windows were shattered. In addition, 28,000 customers of Pacific Gas and Electric Co., mostly from Humboldt County, were left without electricity and phone services as a result.
In Eureka, the Old Town Bar and Grill building was previously believed to be severely damaged beyond repair. City leaders ordered the building demolished
. However, a local construction company is in the process of purchasing the unreinforced brick masonry (URM) building with the hopes of restoring the historic structure. The town's high school, known as Eureka High School, and the Bayshore Mall were damaged and briefly closed, although both later reopened with close to full services. An auditorium at Eureka High remained closed over concerns regarding its structural safety as of June 15, 2010. A total of 463 buildings sustained damage as a result of the earthquake, leaving roughly $43 million in losses.
Humboldt County, California
Humboldt County is a county in the U.S. state of California, located on the far North Coast 200 miles north of San Francisco. According to 2010 Census Data, the county’s population was 134,623...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States. The magnitude was measured as 6.5 Mw
Moment magnitude scale
The moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The magnitude is based on the seismic moment of the earthquake, which is equal to the rigidity of the Earth multiplied by the average amount of slip on the fault and the size of...
, and its epicenter was located offshore in the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
33 miles (53.1 km) west of the nearest major city, Eureka
Eureka, California
Eureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....
. Additionally, there was a separate earthquake further offshore of Eureka on February 4, its magnitude was slightly less, at 5.9. It was also the most significant earthquake in the Eureka area in terms of magnitude since an earthquake in 1992
1992 Cape Mendocino earthquakes
The 1992 Cape Mendocino earthquakes were a series of three earthquakes that occurred off the coast of Cape Mendocino, California on April 25 and 26, 1992. They consisted of a 7.2-magnitude main shock and two strong aftershocks that spawned a series of smaller aftershocks that ranged in magnitude...
. It was the largest earthquake in California in over a decade, since the Hector Mine Earthquake (7.1) of 1999.
Impact
Structural damage was inflicted among older Victorian houseVictorian house
In the United Kingdom, and former British colonies, a Victorian house generally means any house built during the reign of Queen Victoria...
s, power was severed for several hours, and windows were shattered. In addition, 28,000 customers of Pacific Gas and Electric Co., mostly from Humboldt County, were left without electricity and phone services as a result.
In Eureka, the Old Town Bar and Grill building was previously believed to be severely damaged beyond repair. City leaders ordered the building demolished
Demolition
Demolition is the tearing-down of buildings and other structures, the opposite of construction. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction, which involves taking a building apart while carefully preserving valuable elements for re-use....
. However, a local construction company is in the process of purchasing the unreinforced brick masonry (URM) building with the hopes of restoring the historic structure. The town's high school, known as Eureka High School, and the Bayshore Mall were damaged and briefly closed, although both later reopened with close to full services. An auditorium at Eureka High remained closed over concerns regarding its structural safety as of June 15, 2010. A total of 463 buildings sustained damage as a result of the earthquake, leaving roughly $43 million in losses.
See also
- List of earthquakes in California
- List of earthquakes in the United States
- List of 21st century earthquakes
- Earthquake insuranceEarthquake insuranceEarthquake insurance is a form of property insurance that pays the policyholder in the event of an earthquake that causes damage to the property...
- Earthquake loss
- SeismotectonicsSeismotectonicsSeismotectonics is the study of the relationship between the earthquakes, active tectonics and individual faults of a region. It seeks to understand which faults are responsible for seismic activity in an area by analysing a combination of regional tectonics, recent instrumentally recorded events,...
- SeismologySeismologySeismology is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth or through other planet-like bodies. The field also includes studies of earthquake effects, such as tsunamis as well as diverse seismic sources such as volcanic, tectonic, oceanic,...
- Plate tectonicsPlate tectonicsPlate tectonics is a scientific theory that describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere...