Magnitude 3.1 earthquake shakes UC Berkeley campus an hour before planned quake drill

"A magnitude 3.1 earthquake shook Berkeley and the East Bay Thursday morning, according to preliminary information from the U.S. Geological Service. Its epicenter was in the center of the UC Berkeley campus, just south of the Advanced Light Source building. The earthquake was recorded at 9:23 a.m., according to the USGS, with a depth of 5.8 miles. Earthquakes are a good reminder to be prepared."

"Serendipitously, this quake hit an hour before the international Great ShakeOut drill, scheduled for around 10:20 a.m. Thursday. Nearly 500,000 people were registered to participate in Alameda County. During the drill, participants are urged to practice dropping to the ground, taking cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and holding on until the shaking stops. Those who've signed up for MyShake, receive a test drill through the app."

A magnitude 3.1 earthquake occurred at 9:23 a.m. with an epicenter in the center of the UC Berkeley campus, just south of the Advanced Light Source, at a depth of 5.8 miles. The tremor affected Berkeley and the East Bay and coincided with preparedness efforts. The event occurred about an hour before the international Great ShakeOut drill, for which nearly 500,000 people in Alameda County were registered. Participants were urged to drop, cover and hold on, and MyShake users received a test drill. Free FEMA-funded CERT classes administered by the Berkeley Fire Department will be offered later this year. A 4.3 magnitude quake in Elmwood nearly a month earlier caused breakage and knocked items off shelves. People were encouraged to report whether they felt the quake to local comment channels and to the USGS.

Read at www.berkeleyside.org