Magnitude 4.1 Earthquake Rattles Northern California Coast Near Petrolia
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a magnitude-4.1 earthquake struck Northern California on Tuesday morning. The earthquake occurred at 12:13 a.m. Pacific Time, approximately 13 miles west of Petrolia. The USGS reported that the quake occurred at a depth of about 12 miles beneath the Earth’s surface.
Petrolia, a small community in Humboldt County, is situated in an area known for seismic activity. The region is near the Mendocino Triple Junction, where three tectonic plates—the Pacific, North American, and Gorda plates—meet, making it one of the most seismically active areas in California.
Earthquakes of this magnitude are relatively common in California, and they serve as important reminders for communities to review their emergency plans and earthquake insurance plans to ensure they are ready if a larger seismic event happens in the future.
For those living in earthquake-prone areas, preparedness measures such as securing heavy furniture, having an emergency supply kit, and knowing safe locations to take cover can make a significant difference in safety during future seismic events.
The USGS encourages residents to report their experiences through its “Did You Feel It?” program, which helps scientists gather valuable data on the effects of earthquakes.
Reports from this earthquake
A homeowner in Fruitland Ridge, CA states:
“My daughter and I texted each other at the same time, to ask if we were as she put it “tripping”, or did we just have an earthquake. My cat was fine, but my dog is still acting weird. “
Another homeowner in Eureka, CA states:
“Laying down watching tv…room started shaking.“

Protect You and Your Family
- Government-issued alerts for your country or region
- Alerts for imminent threats to safety or life
- Alerts for extreme weather conditions
- AMBER Alerts (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response)
- Public Safety Alerts
- Additional details provided by the alert originator
Did you know that your homeowner insurance policy does not cover earthquake damage?
Given the risk, now is the time to consider how earthquake insurance will provide the protection you don’t get from your homeowners insurance policy:
- According to a recent three-year data sample, an average of five earthquakes with magnitudes between 5.0 and 6.0 occur yearly in California.
- The probability of an earthquake measuring magnitude 6.7 in the next 30 years is 60% in the Los Angeles area and 72% in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Your home equity continues to grow while the risk of a devastating earthquake increases, too. Are you prepared to lose all of your hard-earned equity in an instant? And if you experience a total loss, can you afford to rebuild? Now (not afterward) is the right time to consider your Earthquake Insurance options.
Why Choose GeoVera?
GeoVera is the premier stand-alone provider of residential earthquake insurance. GeoVera provides innovative insurance solutions in catastrophe-exposed areas and is the longest-tenured provider of residential earthquake insurance.
GeoVera uses a strategic and agile approach to developing impactful and reliable products to keep pace with the rise in natural disasters.
GeoVera has decades of experience managing claims for nature’s worst catastrophes and a financial rating of “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company. We hope you’ll never need our help, but we’re ready if you do. Ask your insurance agent for a quote today.