On July 4, 2019, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck near Ridgecrest, a town in California's Mojave Desert. Thirty-four hours later, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit the same area – the largest to strike California in 20 years. Shaking was felt across California, Arizona, and Nevada. The earthquakes killed one person, injured 25, and caused surface ruptures stretching 30 miles with ground displacement exceeding six feet. Total damage exceeded $5.3 billion.

Learn about the impact of the Ridgecrest earthquakes and how they became a case study for understanding earthquake cascades and stress transfer between intersecting fault systems. We’ll also share an important message about safety and preparedness.

 

⏱️ Timestamps

INTRODUCTION

00:00 – Welcome Message

00:12 – Topic Introduction

2019 EARTHQUAKE FACTS

00:30 – About Ridgecrest

01:01 – The Earthquake Sequence

01:41 – One Death and 25 Injuries

02:03 – Damage and Economic Impact

02:35 – Surface Rupture

SCIENTIFIC LESSONS

03:05  – Two Perpendicular Fault Systems

03:24  – L-Shaped Rupture Pattern

03:51  – Aftershocks

04:10  – Rethinking Seismic Hazards

OUR EXPERIENCE

04:31 – Did We Feel It?

05:34 – QuakeFeed Emails

06:01 – Reaffirming our “Why”

06:24 – Preparedness Call to Action

CLOSING

06:45 – Closing Message

07:10 – Drop, Cover, Hold On Instructions

 

📚 Learn More

🔗 QuakeFeed Substack: 2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence

https://quakefeed.substack.com/p/2019-ridgecrest-earthquake-sequence

🎙️ QuakeFeed Podcast: Drop, Cover, and Hold On

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drop-cover-hold-on/id1562704664?i=1000520234015

🔗 CALFIRE: Fireworks Safety

https://readyforwildfire.org/prevent-wildfire/fireworks-safety/

 

📱 Download QuakeFeed for Real-Time Alerts

Stay informed – get the QuakeFeed app now:

https://apps.apple.com/app/quakefeed-earthquake-alerts/id403037266

Want to view the 2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence on an interactive map that shows the epicenter, shaking intensity, and faults? Subscribe to QuakeFeed Premium for the full range of features – including Historical Earthquakes. It’s free for 30-days for first-time subscribers.

 

🌍 Connect with Us

Substack: https://quakefeed.substack.com

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@QuakeFeed

Instagram: https://instagram.com/QuakeFeed

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/QuakeFeed

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🎵 Music By Soularflair

Bio on FMA: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Soularflair/bio

CC-BY License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/