03-03-2025
4.5-magnitude quake hits in western Washington, seismologists say. ‘Shook us awake'
A 4.5-magnitude earthquake struck at 5:02 a.m. Monday, March 3, in western Washington, the the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
The 10-mile deep quake hit about 6.2 miles from Orcas, according to the USGS.
More than 6,800 people from as far away as Portland, Oregon, and Issaquah reported feeling the tremor to the agency.
A tsunami warning was not issued following the quake, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
'This event seems to have been widely felt,' J. Renate Hartog, manager of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network and an affiliate associate professor with the Earth and Space Sciences Department at the University of Washington, told The Bellingham Herald.
'It was too small for the Wireless Emergency Alerts system (used for Amber Alerts), because that is meant for imminent threat and an magnitude 4.5 is too small to cause any real damage,' Hartog told the news outlet.
'Just got jolted awake by another strong earthquake in Victoria - Significant shaking that lasted for some time,' one person wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
'WOAH. An earthquake woke me from my sleep on Vancouver Island. Sounded like a heavy cart rolling outside and shook us awake,' another person wrote.
'Biggest earthquake I've ever felt in James Bay, Victoria. Jumped into the space between bed and bookcase. Hands still shaking. Sitting with kids upstairs next to strong wooden table now,' someone else wrote.
Orcas is an unincorporated community on Orcas Island in San Juan County, which is southwest of Bellingham.
McClatchy News reporter Don Sweeney contributed to this report.
Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey says. It replaces the old Richter scale.
Quakes between 2.5 and 5.4 magnitude are often felt but rarely cause much damage, according to Michigan Tech. Quakes below 2.5 magnitude are seldom felt by most people.
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. They can happen anywhere, but they're most common in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
If an earthquake strikes, it's best to protect yourself right away. Here are tips from experts:
If you're in a car: Pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.
If you're in bed: Turn face-down and cover your head with a pillow.
If you're outdoors: Stay away from buildings. Don't go inside.
If you're inside: Stay and don't run outdoors. Stay away from doorways.
The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say.
'Wherever you are, drop down to your hands and knees and hold onto something sturdy,' officials say. 'If you're using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking stops.'
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible. If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.
Once under a table, officials say you should hold on with one hand and be ready to move with it.
'There can be serious hazards after an earthquake, such as damage to the building, leaking gas and water lines, or downed power lines,' officials say. 'Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake. Be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On if you feel an aftershock.'
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