California has been hit by a 5.1 magnitude earthquake as Hurricane Hilary hits LA and San Diego with 80mph winds. The quake centered in Ventura County was felt across parts of Southern California on Sunday afternoon. The center is reported to have been four miles southeast of Ojai, about 80 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
According to Daily Mail, Shaking was reported in Malibu, Porter Ranch, parts of Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, and other locations. The United States Geological Survey, which reports and records earthquakes, said there were at least four aftershocks of magnitude-3.0 or greater.
It comes as Hurricane Hilary makes landfall in Southern California moving up from Mexico at speeds of 25mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Residents are contending with winds of 65mph and the expectation of torrential rain, that may bring up to ten inches in a matter of hours in some places.
At least one person has already died after their vehicle was swept away near Santa Rosalía, after catastrophic flooding swallowed parts of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told CBS during an interview on Sunday that residents can expect ‘significant impact.’ Though the total amount of rain appears unlikely to exceed that of similar storms seen on the East Coast, people should not downplay the threat, Criswell added. ‘People really need to take this storm in California serious,’ she reiterated on ABC.
Panicked stockpiling and chilling images of empty streets have given a small glimpse into things to come as residents batten down the hatches in preparation for the treacherous weather.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency on Saturday for a large swathe of his constituency adding: ‘We’re mobilizing all of government as we prepare and respond to this unprecedented storm.’
While a majority of people took shelter from the storm, others braved wet conditions to bask in the precursor to the storm which had grown to the size of the state of Arizona.
A few stragglers could be seen in rain jackets holding umbrellas as angry seas lashed at a pier in Imperial Beach, while some walked along the coastline while they still could.
Surfers relished the staggering walls of oceans being built on the coastline with thrill seekers attempting to make the most of the huge swells in Dana Point – despite beaches being closed in the region.
Shelves at grocery stores lay bare the urgency from a community unfamiliar with such storms as stores were left gutted.
Only tinned fish and in some cases plain white bread available at traditionally stocked up stores, with health-crazed Angelinos snapping up all the healthier wholemeal alternatives.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has armed itself with a full staff and crews ready to work on restoring power and clearing downed trees or power lines, the utility said in a statement.
