Have You Seen This? Even a 5.4 magnitude earthquake can make you shake

A home security system captures shaking caused by a 5.4 magnitude earthquake in California on Jan. 1.

A home security system captures shaking caused by a 5.4 magnitude earthquake in California on Jan. 1. (ViralHog via YouTube)


Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

CALIFORNIA — If you've ever experienced a major earthquake, you probably remember exactly where you were when it hit. Significant events have a way of burning into our minds, including tiny details such as what song was on the radio at the time or which books fell off the shelf once the shaking commenced.

The 5.7 magnitude quake that hit northern Utah in 2020 might have been moderate in terms of damage, but it definitely served as a wake-up call to many of us. I, for one, purchased earthquake insurance in the following days, after hearing that it's likely that a much larger quake will occur in our area within the next 50 years.

Earlier this year, a 5.4 magnitude earthquake struck northern California. As with the local quake in 2020, damage was minimal. But it's still crazy to see the shaking captured in this video:

While this earthquake definitely rattled the neighborhood, it's worth noting that the type of earthquake that could potentially strike Utah in the next 50 years could release about 1,000 times more energy.

Yikes. You might want to check out this article for some helpful tips to prepare your family for an earthquake, as well as strategies for keeping your loved ones safe if it were to occur.

Have You Seen This?

Most recent Have You Seen This? stories

Related topics

Have You Seen This?Environment
Grant Olsen joined the KSL.com contributor team in 2012. He covers outdoor adventures, travel, product reviews and other interesting things. He is also the author of the book “Rhino Trouble.”

STAY IN THE KNOW

Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

KSL Weather Forecast