Global Courant 2023-05-13 18:29:49
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake in Northern California knocked out a California Highway Patrol 911 dispatch line.
The quake struck Thursday at 4:19 p.m. PST in the Lake Almanor resort region of the Sierra Nevada.
“The magnitude 5.5 earthquake in Plumas County has caused a disruption to CHP Chico Dispatch cell phone 911 lines and are currently OFF,” the agency’s Yuba-Sutter area office tweeted.
“If you cannot reach 911 via cell phone, please call 530-332-1200. They are working to resolve the issue,” it said.
5.5 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE SHAKES NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, FELT IN SACRAMENTO 160 MILES AWAY
This photo from Plumas Pines Resort and Bar shows some of the damage to Plumas Pines Resort and Bar in Almanor, California, following a magnitude 5.5 earthquake in Lake Almanor around 4:20 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, 2023. ((Plumas Pines Resort and Bar via AP))
On Friday, CHP Chico Dispatch wrote on Facebook that 911 phone lines were working again.
“On May 11, 2023, at approximately 4:17 p.m., a magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Northern California near Chester, California. As a result, the CHP Chico Dispatch center was lost for approximately 5 minutes 911 cell phone lines,” it said. “During this downtime, calls were automatically forwarded to CHP Sacramento Dispatch. The 911 cell phone lines are currently back up and running.”
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services warned residents Thursday night to prepare for aftershocks, and a magnitude 5.2 aftershock occurred Friday at 3:18 a.m. PST, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The US Geological Survey tweeted that alerts had been sent to cell phones for those who could feel intensity 3 or higher, though one woman tweeted that she had felt more than that and had no notification received.
This photo from Plumas Pines Resort and Bar shows some of the damage to Plumas Pines Resort and Bar in Almanor, California, following a magnitude 5.5 earthquake in Lake Almanor around 4:20 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, 2023. ((Plumas Pines Resort and Bar via AP))
People reported feeling the quake all the way to Sacramento, which is about 160 miles away.
CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKES SHAKE, WAKE UP NEIGHBORHOODS: REPORTS
The quake, measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale, was the strongest to hit California since the magnitude 7.1 Ridgecrest range in 2019, according to a tweet from former US Geological Survey seismologist Lucy Jones.
Only minor damage was immediately reported of the earthquakes.
This photo from Plumas Pines Resort and Bar shows some of the damage to Plumas Pines Resort and Bar in Almanor, California, following a magnitude 5.5 earthquake in Lake Almanor around 4:20 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, 2023. ((Plumas Pines Resort and Bar via AP))
“A lot of broken glass, a lot of broken plates, a lot of broken booze from upstairs,” Stephanie Hughes, a restaurant manager, told ABC 10.
“Everything was shaking. Customers were fleeing onto the lawn,” said Hughes.
Images shared on social media showed plates and bottles strewn across the floor at the Plumas Pines Resort & Bar in Almanor.
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“Due to the recent earthquake and the loss and damage our restaurant acquired, we are closed tonight and tomorrow morning. We will reassess the rest of our weekend after we can clean up and really determine what was lost!” said it Friday.
The Sun reported Friday that a Plumas County official noted there was no serious or structural damage, and that a representative for Pacific Gas & Electric said the utility will conduct inspections of its facilities.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Julia Musto is a reporter for Fox News and Fox Business Digital.
