NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – An early Sunday morning earthquake felt regionwide has caused widespread damage and injury around Napa County, with officials warning that more quakes could occur in the coming week.
The Napa quake occurred at 3:20 a.m. Sunday, and was centered three miles northwest of American Canyon, according to the US Geological Survey.
The last update on the big quake – which seismologists have reviewed several times – put it at 6.0 in magnitude. It's said to be the largest quake in the Bay Area since the 1989 Loma Prieta quake, which was magnitude 6.9.
Widespread damage has been reported to infrastructure – roads and utilities – as well as public buildings such as the Napa Post Office and the county's administration building, and numerous homes, with structure fires reported.
The city of Napa reported that as of Sunday afternoon 120 patients had been treated or are being treated at Queen of the Valley Hospital.
Three patients – two adults and one child – suffered critical injuries, officials said.
The Governor's Office reported that power outages affecting 69,000 people across the region also had occurred.
“My Office of Emergency Services has been on full activation since early this morning and is working closely with state and local emergency managers, first responders and transportation officials to respond to impacts to residents and critical infrastructure,” Gov. Jerry Brown said Sunday morning. “These public safety officials are doing all they can to help residents and those living in affected areas should follow their guidance and instruction.”
A short time later Brown declared a state of emergency due to the quake, ordering state agencies to work under the direction of his Office of Emergency Services in responding.
By 4 p.m. Sunday, the US Geological Survey had received more than 21,000 shake reports on the quake from 460 zip codes around California and Nevada.
Among those reporting that they felt the quake were residents of Clearlake, Clearlake Oaks, Hidden Valley Lake, Kelseyville, Lakeport, Lower Lake and Middletown.
Shake reports can be submitted at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/nc72282711#dyfi_form .
The US Geological Survey reported that there is a 54-percent likelihood of another big quake, magnitude 5 and larger, within the next seven days.
As of 4:15 p.m., six aftershocks had been reported, four centered near Napa and ranging between 2.5 and 3.6, and two others – a 2.8 and a 2.6 – near American Canyon, according to the US Geological Survey.
Napa County Emergency Services Manager Kerry John Whitney declared a local emergency for Napa County due to the earthquake, with the County Emergency Operations Center activated. The Napa County Board of Supervisors held an emergency Sunday morning meeting to ratify the declaration.
The quake also led to an emergency declaration in the city of Napa, where fires destroyed four mobile homes and damaged two others. Napa Fire crews put out two other fires in residential areas, the city reported.
Cal Fire said it has been assisting with the fire response in the wake of the earthquake.
Some Napa city streets have been closed due to buckled asphalt and sidewalks, and the city said about 16 buildings had been red-tagged as uninhabitable due to damage from the quake.
One of those red-tagged buildings is the Napa Senior Center, which the city said will be closed until further notice.
Napa County officials reported that several buildings that house county departments also are closed, including the Napa County Administration Building, the Carithers Building – which houses the District Attorney's Office, Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk and several other county departments – 650 Imperial Way and the Napa County Library on Coombs Street.
The city of Napa also reported approximately 60 water main leaks but said both of its water treatment plants are running, with no damage.
All Napa Valley Unified School District campuses will be closed on Monday, as will Justin Siena High School, the city reported.
The California Office of Emergency Services – in coordination with local, state, and federal response organizations – said it is working to determine the emergency needs and make sure resources are available.
By Sunday afternoon, the state had deployed three Urban Search and Rescue Teams to assist with the response and recovery efforts.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, through its Regional Office in Oakland, said it is monitoring the situation, and remains in close coordination with California officials. FEMA's Regional Watch Center is at an enhanced watch to provide additional reporting and monitoring of the situation, including impacts of any additional aftershocks.
FEMA said it deployed liaison officers to the state emergency operations center in California and to the California coastal region emergency operations center to help coordinate any requests for federal assistance.
FEMA also deployed a National Incident Management Assistance Team – IMAT West – to California to support response activities and ensure there are no unmet needs.
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has activated its Emergency Operations Center and is mobilizing assessment teams and dispatching emergency crews to the area.
The city of Napa said PG&E was responding to approximately 100 reported gas leaks or odor of gas reports.
PG&E said its crews are working to inspect natural gas and water lines for any potential structural damages. Customers who smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise should open windows, evacuate the building immediately, turn off gas if possible and call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
Per the California Natural Resources Agency, surveys have been completed and there are no reports of damage or releases at Bay Area Refineries and Marine Oil Terminals.
Officials said there are no road closures in effect, however the stoplight at Highway 29 and Oak Knoll was out and on Highway 121 there is 30 feet of cracked and lifted asphalt.
In Lake County, where many residents also reported feeling the quake, public safety officials have been assessing potential for damages since the earthquake hit.
Lake County Office of Emergency Services Manager Marisa Chilafoe said Sunday that, so far, no signs of damage or injuries have been reported.
Chilafoe said the Lake County Office of Emergency Services remains actively engaged in the incident.
She said residents should be advised of the potential for aftershocks at magnitudes of 3.0 to 5.0 – or larger – for the next several days.
County residents are also advised to use caution when traveling south from Lake County into the Bay Area, Chilafoe said.
The American Red Cross said it has two evacuation centers open in Napa and Vallejo for those affected by the quake.
In Napa, the evacuation center is located at Crosswalk Community Church, 2590 First St. The center is open for overnight stays, the Red Cross said.
In Vallejo, the Florence Douglas Center at 333 Amador St. could become an overnight shelter if needed, according to Red Cross officials.
The Red Cross said it currently has enough supplies to assist those affected by the quake. In-kind donations of water, clothes, and other material goods are not needed and will not be accepted at Red Cross shelters.
Those wanting to help are urged to visit www.redcross.org , call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
For preparedness information and additional earthquake safety tips visit the American Red Cross Earthquake Preparedness Web site at http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/earthquake .
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
State of emergencies declared due to Napa quake; injuries, damaged buildings and infrastructure reported
- Elizabeth Larson
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