HEALDSBURG >> A magnitude 5.0 earthquake on Wednesday morning caused alarm, but little damage.
The temblor hit at 8:44 a.m. and shook for several seconds. Reports of the jolt came from across south county to Clearlake Oaks and up the northshore as far as Lakeport. Some felt restaurant dishes rattle or office chairs roll, although others in the county did not realize an earthquake occurred until social media lit up.
Smaller aftershocks quickly followed, but caused less concern.
The U.S. Geological Survey located the quake’s epicenter 4 miles west of The Geysers, north of Healdsburg. It was felt as far away as Ukiah, in one case a healthcare clinic’s linear accelerator was knocked offline momentarily. The jolt caused a small leak in once Lakeport office. Calpine reported that two steam plants were down for a short period after the shock.
The area around The Geyers experiences repeated small quakes, thanks to the geothermal field that gives the place its name. The USGS told newspapers that noticeable shifts are common. The area is hit by a 4.5 magnitude quake at least once a year.
Also on Wednesday, seismic activity was reported near Morro Bay, where a magnitude 3.9 quake was recorded. Another 3.9 shook the area around Mammotn Lakes late Tuesday night.
In August Lake County experience a 5.1 magnitude jolt. The epicenter for that event was located near Upper Lake.
