5.5 quake near Chester felt throughout the North State UPDATED
Editor’s note: This site will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.
3:30 a.m. May 12 UPDATE: A 5.2 aftershock rattled many residents awake this morning at 3:18 a.m. located in the same vicinity as yesterday’s quake.
5:16 p.m. UPDATE: Plumas Unified School District Superintendent Bill Roderick reports that at this time no damage has been reported, but crews are continuing to inspect all schools. The superintendent will notify Plumas News if any damage is detected.
 5:04 p.m. UPDATE: A resort on the west shore of Lake Almanor is reporting broken glass and damage.
 4:50 p.m. UPDATE: The California Highway Patrol is reporting that they have units checking local bridges and dams for damage. A rockslide has been reported north of Greenville that is blocking two lanes — the CHP is checking out the information.
At 4:19 p.m. today, May 11, the US Geological Society is reporting a 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck 9 miles from Chester (roughly the area of Canyon Dam).
Residents throughout Plumas County reported feeling the shaking, as well as residents throughout the North State. Plumas News is checking with local officials to determine if there was any damage. Residents in the Chester area who were contacted reported feeling the quake, but said that it didn’t knock anything off of walls or shelves.
A pilot car leads motorists through the area near the quake site, where it was reported that several large boulders blocked Highway 89. Photo submitted
Here at Chester Library, we had a few books that were standing on tables fall over, and a framed photo came off of the wall in the museum. Quincy Library had a similar experience re books.
Thank you. It’s helpful to receive these accounts from people in the impacted areas.
In Indian Valley the roar of the earth moving was more pronounced than the shaking.. No damage here on North Valley Road…Marty Stitt
At my daughter’s house in Big Meadows area, approx 3 miles from Canyon Dam. Violent side to side shaking of the house. Knocked pictures off the walls & shelves. Cabinet doors flung open & contents spilled out. Broken glass & pots all over.
I felt it for sure some stuff fell off the wall but not much it felt like the interior house was shaking a rally loud noise happend first I had thought that someone or something had fell on the roof then the shaking happened
Lake Almanor West – between golf course & lake – power out briefly, but no damage or anything falling over.
Eastshore, terrible shaking, cabinets open contents fell. Several after shocks.
Plumbing was damaged in both bathrooms at Portola Library and the floors were flooded. Water had to be turned off on two sinks.
No it didn’t. We went there today and found NOTHING. Once again a false goose chase!!!!
If it caused a slide near Greenville I wonder what it did down the canyon.
There was a small tremor felt all the way in Sacramento. Seems the quake ran southward down some fault lines?
SEVERAL STORES IN WESTWOOD EXPERIENCED OBJECTS FALLING OFF SHELVES, BROKEN GLASS AND DAMAGE. THE WATER SERVICE IN WESTWOOD IS REPORTING CLOUDY WATER AND SEDIMENT AND A CAUTIONARY WATER BOILING NOTICE HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL TEST RESULTS COME BACK AS CLEAR AND SAFE. THERE WAS ALSO AN OUTAGE REPORTED TO THE CHICO AREA CHP EMERGENCY 911 SYSTEM REPORTED AN OUTAGE DUE TO THE QUAKE.
SUSANVILLE – yes, i felt them both here. The first one was slightly longer in duration. Both seemed mild to me despite the medium-high magnitudes, but then I’m used to the high-mag San Francisco Bay Area quakes, such as the ’89 Quake that tore the area up.
Was there sizable damage in Prattville due to the quakes? I hope not.
We live in Carmichael, CA outside of Sacramento and my 11 year old daughter woke me up saying her sliding closet mirrors rattled loudly, waking her up and her bunk bed was shaking side to side. She sleeps on the top bunk.
Contribute to citizen science. So far 6900+ reports to USGS on Almanor M5.5. Report your earthquake shaking experience to USGS here: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/nc73886731/tellus