A magnitude 4.9 earthquake originating approximately 12 miles north of Indio was felt around the hi-desert yesterday just before 6:00 p.m. The epicenter was about 26 miles south of Joshua Tree on the south side of Joshua Tree National Park.
Data from the United States Geological Survey had reports of shaking felt from areas as far away as Barstow and San Diego, with some light shaking felt here in the Morongo Basin. The 4.9 earthquake originated 3 kilometers below the surface, and 5 smaller magnitude aftershocks were recorded shortly after in the area.
A 4.9 magnitude earthquake can create moderate shaking that is strong enough to overturn objects or break a window. However there were no reported injuries or structural damage.
The largest earthquake originating from the same area was the 6.2 Joshua Tree Earthquake on April 22, 1992 which preceded the devastating 7.3 Landers earthquake two months later.
Yesterday’s shaker is a good reminder that natural disasters strike suddenly and without warning, leaving you little time to prepare. In the case of any earthquake, drop to the floor and head for safety under a table, desk, doorway or other sturdy overhead structure. Make sure you know where your gas and water shutoffs are and make a safe place for friends and family members to meet in case phone service is down. Some smart things to store in case of emergency is water, non-perishable food, first aid, phone chargers and of course a portable radio.
