Mother’s Day a reminder of quake zones nearby

It’s a good idea to know what to do in such instances

Did you feel those quakes on Sunday, readers? We certainly did! There was a swarm of earthquake activity all day, centered near Delta, Baja California, which is 33 miles southwest of San Luis, Ariz., and about 50 miles southwest of Yuma.

The quakes started around 10:24 a.m. with a 3.3 magnitude quake, according to the USGS website. The strongest was a 4.9 at 11:22 a.m., with a 4.6 right around noon.

Between 10:24 a.m. and 6:44 p.m., there were at least 29 quakes.

But looking back at the last week, this fault zone has been fairly busy. From May 6-12, there were at least 51 quakes near Delta, ranging from a 1.3 to Sunday’s 4.9.

So far, there have been no reports of injuries or any major issues locally. But it is a solid reminder that we live in an active quake zone.

According to Yuma Sun archives, the San Andreas Fault pans out near the east side of the Salton Sea and the San Jacinto fault zone on the southwest. To the south of the Salton Sea lies the Imperial and Brawley Fault zones, along with numerous other named and unnamed faults.

And we are certainly located close enough to feel the impact of quakes that happen in our region.

Fortunately, large quakes are rare here – although they can happen. But just in case one were to occur, it’s good to know what to do in order to be prepared.

According to Ready.gov, if a quake occurs, the best course of action is to “drop, cover and hold on.” The agency notes, “Drop to your hands and knees. Cover your head and neck with your arms. Hold on to any sturdy furniture until the shaking stops.” If you are inside, stay there, and if you are in a vehicle, stop in a clear area away from buildings or utility wires.

Afterward, check yourself and your family for injuries, execute your family emergency plan, and be prepared for more aftershocks. If the building is damaged, stay outside until it can be inspected.

It’s always a good idea to have a basic disaster supply kit ready too. You can visit the Department of Homeland Security’s Ready.gov website to find a checklist of what to include.

Real-time information on earthquakes and earthquake facts can be found on the USGS website, https://earthquake.usgs.gov.

Earthquakes are part of living in the desert southwest – and it’s a good idea to know what to do, in case one should strike.