1946

Mar 15

BSSA, Vol. 36, n. 2, p. 124.

March 15, 1946 - Several earthquake shocks, apparently from the same general source, were felt generally over central and southern California Friday morning, March 15. Those generally reported occurred at 5:21, 5:50, and 11:20 am, PST. That at 5:50 was the most severe, and was estimated by C. Richter as of a magnitude equal to (or possibly greater than) that of the Santa Barbara earthquake of 1925 and of the Long Beach earthquake of 1933. Caltech reports epicenter of the main shock (13:49:36, GCT) as 35û44Õ N, 118û02Õ.5 W (Richter), which is in the Sierra Nevada east of Kernville. Its position is in an area only sparsely inhabited accounts for the comparatively light damage. These shocks are reported felt from Merced in the San Joaquin Valley, in the north to Niland, near the Mexican border, in the Imperial Valley in the south; also along the coast at Long Beach, Venice, Port Hueneme, and Santa Barbara. Although buildings shook, no property damage was reported in the Los Angeles area.

The USCGS reports what is undoubtedly the main shock at 13:49:6, GCT, March 15, with provisional epicenter at 35.7û N, 118.0û W. (Owens Valley. Ed.)

Santa Barbara News Press (Mar. 15, 1946).

Santa Barbara, along with residents of all southern California, were rocked awake instead of to sleep, early Friday morning by two slight earth shocks that did no damage outside of stopping a few clocks.

Ventura Star Free Press (Friday, Mar. 15, 1946)

Quake Series Rocks State; Center Reported in Kern County Area.

Los Angeles - One of today's earthquakes ripped giant holes in the Owens Valley aqueduct when a torrent of boulders poured down a mountainside. The aqueduct, which supplies water to the city of Los Angeles, was broken in several places along a 10-mile stretch, allowing 100,000 gallons of water per minutes to escape before the water could be shut off at the source. No water shortage was expected to result.

A series of moderate earthquakes alarmed Venturans and all of southern California this morning, but no damage was reported here or in other parts of the state. Acccording to the United Press, the first quake occurred at 5:21 a.m. and the second at 5:50 a.m. as reported by the seismology laboratory at the California Institute of Technology at Pasadena. The epicenter of the temblor was placed approximately 100 miles north of Los Angeles east of Ventura, in the general area of Kern County.

OTHER SHAKEUPS Other minor shakeups were reported throught the morning. Distinct quakings were felt in Ventura at 11:30 and were reported by United Press as shaking office buildings in Los Angeles.

Caltech officials said the intensity of the quakes this morning were as strong as those which caused heavy loss of life and property in Long Beach in 1933, and that damage would have been severe if today's earthquakes had been centered in a thickly populated section. At the University of California, Berkeley, seismologists placed the center of the quake to the south of Berkeley.

FELT IN VALLEY Southern Pacific railroad dispatchers said the quake was felt along their lines from Niland north to the San Joaquin Valley. Los Angeles municipal water and power department authorities said the earth movements were very pronounced in Owens Valley, location of one of the coast's major geological faults.

The placement of the quake's epicenter in the Kern County area pointed to the possibility that the shakeups may have been caused by slippage in the famous San Andreas fault, blamed for the catastrophic San Francisco earthquake in 1906.

(But the San Andreas fault is nowhere near Owens Valley. Ed.)

1946

Nov 27

0645 hrs

BSSA, Vol. 37, n. 1, p. 77.

November 27, 1946 - A slight earthquake was felt in the San Luis Obispo area at 6:45 am PST. No damage was reported in San Luis Obispo, where the earthquake shook windows and rattled dishes, but at Pismo Beach plaster was cracked in several houses. Santa Maria reported the shock the most severe of three experienced there in the past year, but there was no property damage. The shocks as felt in Santa Maria was reported as accompanied by a roaring sound.

1947

Mar 26

1947

Apr 10

1947 Manix, California, earthquake (M = 6.3)

Santa Barbara News Press, Vol. LXXXIV, no. 161 (Apr. 10, 1947).

The light, rolling earthquake felt here at 7:59 am today covered 60,000 square miles of California, Arizona, and Nevada, the Associated Press reported, but aside from a few broken windows and dishes, no damage was done in the widespread areas.

Locally, the tremor was sufficient only to set light fixtures swaying. It lasted approximately one minute.

The area in which the tremor was felt extended from Santa Barbara on north, San Diego on south, and Phoenix and Las Vegas to the east. The Imperial and Owens Valleys did not feel it.

At San Diego it was recorded as of No. 4 intensity on a scale of 10. The California Institute of Technology seismograph at Pasadena listed the quake as about 6-1/2 on a scale ranging from 0 to 8-1/2 for the most severe earthquake ever recorded. This intensity would have been sufficient to do heavy damage in a populated area. Its center apparently was in the thinly populated Lucerne Valley north of the San Bernardino Mountains.

A shattered bank window in Glendale apparently was the principal damage, the Associated Press reported.

At Barstow, telegraph poles shook noticeably. Two jerking tremblors were felt at the desert town of Boron, about three minutes apart. In Los Angeles, tall buildings rocked and a few persons ran into the streets.

It was the first quake of any severity in southern California since March 15, 1946, when Los AngelesÕ water supply was disrupted briefly by a heavy quake in the Owens Valley.

The Oxnard Press-Courier, Vol. 39, no. 239 (Thursday, Apr. 10, 1947).

Quake Felt Here, Nevada, Arizona (United Press). A rolling minute-long earthquake rocked southern California south to San Diego and east to Las Vegas, Nev., today but did no damage.

--Felt in Oxnard at 8 am. Recorded as "No. 4 intensity on a scale of 10 and lasted 10 minutes...It had a strong east-west motion."

Carpinteria Herald, Vol. XXVII, no. 28 (Apr. 11, 1947).

Earth Tremor Hits Carpinteria Thursday Morning. Carpinterians experienced a slight earthquake about 8 oÕclock Thursday morning. It was reported that some noticed the electric wires weaving and others felt the shock in their homes but no damage was reported.

1947

Nov 18

0159

BSSA, Vol. 38, no. 2, p. 151.

1946 November 18 - The Jesuit Seismological Association reports an earthquake at 21h 59m 07s, GTC., with tentative epicenter 33û02N 119û 03W, which is on a submarine slope southeast of San Miguel Island, associated with other epicentral locations of recent earthquakes.

BSSA, Vol. 38, n. 1, p. 78.

Metropolitan Los Angeles and southern California coastal cities as far north as Santa Barbara felt an earthquake at 1.59 PST, although many residents in those cities were unaware of it.

Santa Barbara News Press, Vol. LXXXV, no. 18 (Tuesday, Nov. 18, 1947).

Light Earth Shock Is Felt in City.

Most Santa Barbarans apparently were not aware of it, but this area was rocked ever-so-slightly at 2 pm today by an extremely light earthquake but apparently centered in the southeast section of Los Angeles. In that area, the shock was reported as "moderate". There was no damage.

No calls concerning the light tremor here were received at the Police Station, indicating that few persons felt it.

1948

Apr 16

The Oxnard Press-Courier, Vol. 40, no. 244 (Friday, Apr. 16, 1948).

Pre-Dawn Quake Wakes Oxnarders. A brief but sharp earthquake tremor woke many Oxnarders from their beds at 2:40 am today but no damage was reported.

1948

Apr 16

The Oxnard Press-Courier, Vol. 40, no. 245 (Saturday, Apr. 17, 1948).

Sharp Quake Sends Oxnarders Out to Streets. Scores of Oxnarders rushed out of their homes and stores at 3:28 pm yesterday after experiencing a sharp, trembling earthquake.

No serious damage was reported but several people said dishes were broken in their homes and lamps knocked over.

A five-gallon water bottle at the Thomas Western office on Saviers Road tipped over.

Claude Ruppert of Ordonnez Farms said he was talking long distance to their broker, Marshall Anderson, in Los Angeles and that Anderson felt the shock two seconds after he did. The United Press placed the center of the quake 40 miles from Pasadena "in an undetermined direction." RuppertÕs report would indicate the center of the quake was near Oxnard.

A Haydock School student excitedly told her mother that the windows were broken in the school and that plaster came down from the ceiling.

Minor damage was also reported at Wilson School.

Santa Barbara News Press, Vol. LXXXV, no. 170 (Saturday, Apr. 17, 1948).

A momentary earthquake slightly jarred Santa Barbara yesterday, at 3:28 pm but did no damage.

Dr. Charles Richter of the California Institute of Technology described the quake as "strong" enough to do damage at the point of origin.

A few windows were reported broken at Oxnard but no other damage was recorded. Descriptions varied from a "quiver" in Los Angeles to "fairly heavy" at Malibu, "moderate" at Redondo Beach to "a sort of a jar" at Santa Monica. In Long Beach it was described as a "light rolling motion."

The Ventura County Star-Free Press, 72nd year, no. 138 (Apr. 17, 1948).

No Damage From Sharp Earthquake Here Yesterday. The earthquake which hit southern California yesterday described by CIT seismographers as being "of moderate proportions", did not cause any serious damage in any of the stricken areas.

Reports from Oxnard indicated a strong jolt and UPI spokesman say it might have been the hardest hit. However, they added, it is believed the point of origin was west of Los Angeles or Santa Monica.

Ventura felt a shock of several seconds duration as did Santa Paula and other county areas.

No damages were reported of anything of a minor nature.

One report said a Venturan druggist told of several bottles being shaken from shelves while others said housewives were plagued with falling cups from open cupboards.

1948

Jul 16

2225 hrs

BSSA, Vol. 38, n. 4, p. 295.

July 16, 1948 - A slight earthquake was reported to have been felt at 10:25 pm PDT at several points in the Santa Ynez Valley. One observer at Santa Ynez noted a "hard jolt and several light ones." Doors and fixtures were rattled at Solvang, and at Ballard a gentle motion was reported.

1948

Sep 3

1644 hrs

BSSA, Vol. 38, n. 4, p. 299.

September 3, 1948 - A slight earthquake was felt in Santa Barbara and its outlying districts at 4:44 pm, PDT. No damage was reported.

1948

Dec 4

1644

1948 Desert Hot Springs, California, earthquake

BSSA, Vol. 39, n. 1, p. 64.

December 4, 1948 - Southern California was rocked from Santa Maria to the Mexican border below San Diego and El Centro, and from the coast to the Colorado River, by a stronger but less damaging earthquake than the one that wrecked Long Beach in 1933. The earthquake began at 4:44 pm PDT, and was centered in the Coachella Desert near Indio...

Ventura County Star-Free Press, 73rd year, no. 25 (Monday, Dec. 6, 1948).

Quake Felt in County. County residents reported feeling an earthquake that rocked the southern California coast as far north as Santa Maria Saturday afternoon.

The quake was apparently strongest in the Oxnard area where residents reported a nice, easy swaying motion, but in Santa Paula most people were too preoccupied to note the quake.

Chandeliers rocked and houses creaked and groaned with the quake, but no damage was reported anywhere in the county.

The Ojai (Dec. 10, 1948).

SaturdayÕs earthquake that shook up Palm Springs and made cracks in downtown Los Angeles buildings apparently was not felt in the Ojai Valley area, although several residents reported having felt slight tremors in Ventura.

A local geologist who disclaimed any professional knowledge of Ôquakes said it was possible that the earthquake "bed" ran along a point from Long Beach up the coast and that the protecting mountains in the Ojai Valley region had kept the shock waves from coming inland. (Bah! Ed.)

1949

Jun 18

BSSA, Vol. 39, n. 4, p. 313.

Ventura County, California, June 18, 1948 - Two distinct shocks were felt in this area on June 18. The first occurred at 10:32 pm PST, and was said to be a single sharp jolt. The second, a few minutes later, was accompanied by rumbling and was a "longer back-and- forth roller." Lamps swayed and dishes fell in some areas, but no sizable damage was reported. Los Angeles apparently felt the shock.

1949

Aug 26

Santa Maria Daily Times (Friday, Aug. 26, 1949).

Local residents report feeling a sharp earthquake at 9:15 this morning.

1949

Aug 27

0652 hrs

USDC, 41-1, p. 173, 1970 ed.

Near Pt. Conception 34.5N, 120.5W, int. VI, felt area 350 sq. mi.

Felt in the coastal region of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. At Arlight and Sudden, dishes broke and chimneys fell. Broke dishes and overturned or shifted small objects at Lompoc. In the hills between Lompoc and the ocean the shock was strong enough to shake large oak trees. Mag. 4.9.

Santa Barbara News Press, Vol. LXXXVI, no. 302 (Saturday, Aug. 27, 1949).

Proponents of the theory that warm, overcast, muggy weather is "earthquake weather" -- a theory refuted by the experts -- had something in their favor today.

At 6:55 am today two light earthquake shocks jarred most persons in this area awake. The first shock was described as sudden and the second as rolling. No damage was reported.

The tremor was reported as far north as Santa Maria and Pt. Arguello. The Coast Guard Station at the latter point also reported a slight jar yesterday at 9:05 am.

Apparently the disturbance was confined to this area. At San Diego, seismologist Fred Robinson said his instrument recorded a shock of No. 1 intensity (very mild) that lasted for 40 seconds. He said it probably would not be felt outside the epicenter. It was so light he was unable to determine the direction or distance.

The thermometer really started boiling upward today, hitting a high of 87 degrees shortly before 2 pm. Los Angeles had recorded 97 at noon equal to equal the yearÕs top mark.

Meanwhile, the weather Bureau said the night and morning fog, variable high cloudiness and generally high temperatures would prevail through tomorrow.

YesterdayÕs high here was 83 degrees, exactly the same as the preceding day, and last nightÕs minimum 61. The figures for Painted Cave were 87 and 67.

Santa Maria Daily Times (Saturday, Aug. 27, 1949).

Report No Damage in Sharp ÔQuake. Local residents were jarred into wakefulness this morning at 6:52 by a strong earth tremor which apparently shook an area extending from Pismo Beach on the north to Santa Barbara on the south.

No serious damage was reported at any point through the area, but many residents said it was the "strongest" quake they had ever felt.

A Coast Guardsman stationed at Point Arguello reported that six separate and distinct shocks had been felt there. The first one -- and the worst -- was felt at 6:52. The others listed were at 6:55, "slight"; 7:35, "not bad"; 7:40, "not bad"; 7:54, "slight"; and 8:35 "fairly heavy".

-- registered "5" at CIT.

The Lompoc Record, 75th year, no. 21 (Thursday, Sep 1, 1949).

EARTHQUAKE BRINGS MINOR DAMAGE IN SOME LOMPOC HOMES. Lompoc residents are still talking about the earthquake tremors felt here Friday and Saturday but no serious damage has been reported to local officials.

The first quake was felt about 8 am Friday but the strongest tremblor was recorded at 6:55 am Saturday. It lasted several seconds, and broke a few dishes here, but it was reported as heavy by a Coast Guardsman stationed at Point Arguello. Another quake was felt at 8:35. The tremblors shook several large rocks at Point Arguello into the sea, it was reported.

In Lompoc Valley, one window was reported broken, a few pictures fell from walls, and some dishes were broken, but no serious damage was reported.

1950

Feb 25

1606 hrs

BSSA, vol. 42, n. 3, p. 209.

The perceptible area was of approximately 2,500 sq. mi., extending from Wheeler Ridge, in southern Kern County, southeast to Palmdale, southwest to Van Nuys, through coastal towns as far as Lompoc and Casmalia and easterly through Cuyama to Wheeler Ridge. Maximum intensity was VI. Damage in Oxnard, Santa Paula, and Ventura included cracked and fallen plaster, a few small cracks in stucco, several broken windows, the partial collapse of an old brick chimney, and some damage from fallen merchandise. The accelerograph at Santa Barbara did not operate.

USDC

Sespe Hot Springs, 34.6N, 119.1W, int. VI (MM), felt area 2,500 sq. mi. Felt area from Wheeler Ridge, through Cuyama to Casmalia and Lompoc, and south to Oxnard.

Santa Barbara News Press, 87th year, no. 118 (Sunday, Feb. 26, 1950).

Sharp Earthquake on Sat., Feb. 25 at 4:07 pm.

Ventura -- First tremor was sharp, distinct. Second quake was slow, rocking motion with a few heavy jolts.

Santa Barbara -- Felt sharply in Santa Barbara area but no damage reported.

Santa Paula -- Felt in this community also. No injuries reported.

Santa Barbara News Press (Sunday, Feb. 26, 1950).

VENTURA SLIGHTLY DAMAGED BY QUAKE. A sharp earthquake surprised Saturday afternoon shoppers in Santa Barbara, swayed aerial towers and rattled dishes in homes. No damage was reported.

The shock, which came at 4:07 pm was heavier in Ventura than here. Several Ventura store windows were cracked and in several groceries shelves of canned goods spilled onto the floor. Chunks of plaster fell from the ceiling of the Superior Court chambers in the Ventura County Courthouse. A chimney on one Ventura home collapsed. Ventura residents said they felt two distinct tremblors. The second quake was described as a slow rocking motion with a few heavy jolts. The first was sharper. It was also felt in Santa Paula.

The News-Press and Police telephone switchboards were swamped with calls from curious persons wanting to confirm if this was an earthquake they felt or an explosion. No injuries were reported.

The Oxnard Press-Courier, Vol. 42, no. 203 (Monday, Feb. 27, 1950).

QUAKE JARS COUNTY. Shifting rocks along the Santa Clara fault jarred Ventura County with a sharp earthquake Saturday shortly after 4 pm. There were no reports of injuries and damage everywhere was minor. The quake was felt as far north as Santa Barbara and as far south as Los Angeles. In Oxnard when stacked cans toppled at the Quality Market, the total loss was one jar of jam. Candlesticks and bric-a-brac were reported knocked off a few mantles and shelves.

Ventura County Star Free Press (Feb. 27, 1950)

EARTHQUAKE JOLTS COUNTY; MINOR DAMAGE REPORTED Chimney Falls in Ventura

An earthquake described by the authorities as a moderately strong shock rumbled and rocked in Ventura County during the late Saturday afternoon rush hour (next several lines illegible).

Mulvaney said he was standing atop the structure when the jolt hit and felt the huge dam move. No apparent damage was caused by the quake he said and everything (next several lines illegible).

CENTERED IN COUNTY - Dr. Charles Richter of the seismology department of California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, said this morning that reports were not complete but they (next many lines illegible)

(This lengthy report describes the damage to Ventura. Ours is an old photocopy which is almost completely illegible. Ed.)

1950

Apr 21

0515 hrs

BSSA, Vol. 40, n. 3, p. 246.

April 21, 1950 - A slight earthquake wakened light sleepers at 5:15 am, PST.

Santa Barbara News Press, 87th year -- No. 172 (Friday, Apr. 21, 1950).

Slight, local earthquake at 5:15 am -- Friday. Described as a "single jar, like a distinct explosion."

Santa Barbara News Press (Friday, Apr. 21, 1950).

SLIGHT EARTHQUAKE ROUSES SLEEPERS THERE. The monotony of the weather reports was broken briefly at 5:15 am today by a slight local earthquake which light sleepers characterized as a "single jar, like a distinct explosion."

1950

Apr 25

Santa Maria Daily Times (Wednesday, Apr 26, 1950).

Quakes Arouse City Residents. Local residents were awakened by two dish- rattling earthquakes last night.

Weathermen at the US Weather Bureau at Hancock Field today reported two quakes of "4 or 5 seconds duration" were recorded at 11:33 and 11:36 last night. Movement of the quake was from east to west, they said.

The local bureau has no equipment to record the intensity of earthquakes, but Weathermen said the second shake was only half as severe as the first, which was considered "light".

A Waller Park resident indicated the earthquake was "strong" in that area.

City Officials said there was no reported damage from the quake.

Santa Barbara News Press (Wednesday, Apr 26, 1950).

SHARP TREMOR SHAKES SOUTH AREA; NO DAMAGE DONE. Santa Maria, April 26 - The severest earthquake tremor in a number of years struck Santa Maria at 11:23 oÕclock last night. It lasted 4 to 5 seconds according to Joseph T. Mihelic, chief of the U.S. Weather Bureau at Hancock Field.

A second tremor which was appreciably milder and of shorter duration came at 11:36 pm, Mihelic reported.

The Police Department stated no property damage had been reported in the city .

Santa Barbara News Press, 87th year, No. 177 (Wednesday, Apr 26, 1950).

Sharp earthquake shakes Santa Maria at 11:23 pm on Tuesday, April 25. Lasted 4-5 seconds. Second tremor was much milder, of shorter duration and came at 11:36 pm of the same day.

June 2 a small quake in Hollister-Gilroy area at 10:25 am.

1950

Jun 8

0233 hrs

BSSA, Vol. 40, n. 4, p. 306.

June 8, 1950 - A sharp earthquake was felt in Ventura at 2:33 am, PDT. No damage was reported.

The Oxnard Press-Courier, Vol. 40, no. 289 (Thursday, Jun. 8, 1950).

Earthquake Gives County Sharp Jolt. An earthquake gave Ventura a sharp jolt this morning but no damage was reported. Jack Kremer of Ventura Road reported that the quake, at 2:33 am woke his wife and two of their three children. "I turned on the lights and found the chandelier swinging; and saw the telephone poles swaying outside", he said.

1950

Jul 13

0802 hrs

BSSA, Vol. 40, p. 4, n. 312.

July 13, 1950 - A light earthquake was felt in Santa Barbara and surrounding areas at 8:02 am. It was sharp enough in Montecito to send some residents scurrying into the street, but no damage was reported. The epicenter was estimated to be 90 miles from Pasadena.

Santa Barbara News Press (Thursday, Jul. 13, 1950).

LIGHT EARTHQUAKE SHAKES CITY AREAS. A light earthquake jiggled the Santa Barbara area about 8 am today. Apparently it was stronger in the Montecito section, since some residents reported it startled them sufficiently to make them run outdoors. The tremblor was not reported in any other southern California section.

(In Pasadena, the California Institute of Technology seismograph recorded a light shock at 8:02:10 am at a distance of 90 miles from Pasadena. Seismologists said it was too light to have been felt at any great distance.)

Lesser shocks were felt during the day and most knowing local residents attributed them to the firing of heavy guns somewhere in the area. The Coast Guard, however, said it had no record of any unusual firing scheduled for that day.

Callers to the News-Press were agreed that they were air-concussions rather than earth shocks and that they had been coming at regular intervals throughout the day.

Santa Barbara News Press (Thursday, Jul. 24, 1950).

"The City Police said they had no reliable reports of earthquakes today."

1950

Aug 22

BSSA, Vol. 41, n. 1, p. 63.

August 22, 1950 - A series of earthquakes rattled dishes and windows throughout Ventura County. The most severe shock occurred at 3:48 pm PDT, and was followed by other shocks at about 5:40 and 8 pm and at 8 am on Aug. 23. Santa Ana Valley residents reported feeling light shocks in the preceding two shocks.

1950

Nov 15

Santa Maria Daily Times (Nov. 15, 1950).

Earthquake Shakes Valley Awake at 5:24; No Damage Reported. An earthquake struck Santa Maria at 5:24 am today, shaking many local citizens awake but doing no damage.

Lasting two seconds, according to the federal weather bureau at Hancock Field, the tremor was apparently of local origin.

No reports of the quake were received from other localities and the quiver failed to disturb the seismograph at Berkeley, nearest recording instrument of such temblors.

1950

Nov 21

Santa Maria Daily Times (Tuesday, Nov. 21, 1950).

Quake Shakes, But Gently. A light earth tremor was felt by many sensitive Santa Marians at approximately 8:30 last night. However, no record of the quake was recorded by the US Federal Weather Bureau at Hancock Field. "I felt the shake myself", reported a Weather Bureau spokesman, "but I was home at the time. ThereÕs no record of it here, probably due to the strong cement floor, so it must have been very light."

Since no reports of earthquakes elsewhere have some in; the tremor must have been of local origin.