The Southern California coastline felt a "real good jolt" yesterday at about 1 p.m. A 4.0 magnitude earthquake rumbled just off the coast of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
No serious problems were reported in relation to the earthquake, though the shake-up certainly was frightening. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department noted that they were currently checking up on "critical facilities" but believed everything to be functioning.
The earthquake could be felt from Huntington Beach all the way to Playa del Ray. The epicenter of the quake was located six miles south of Point Fermin in the Pacific Ocean.
Angela Butts-Chester, 41, has an office in downtown Long Beach and reported that she felt a strong shake while working at her computer. The initial jolt was followed by about five seconds of swaying as the building maintained balance.
"It was like if someone were to bump you in the store and you're taken off guard," she said. "It really got my attention. I sat there for a minute and said, 'Oh, OK, never mind. It's over.'"
Butts-Chester wasn't the only one to deal with the earthquake while at work. Hostess Nikki Scotti was on duty at Nelson's in Ranchos Palos Verdes when she felt the quake. Scotti said she was talking with a customer at the time and attempted to distract them so they wouldn't be frightened.
"They still noticed," she said with a laugh. "For the most part, everyone just stopped where they were."
Others have reported feeling the quake as well, though again, did not seem to think much of it. Earthquakes are generally not very dangerous unless they are closer to a magnitude 6.0 or 7.0 or are located near possible avalanche and mudslide locations.
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