3.2 quake jolts Northern California, USGS says. ‘Little shake, rattle, and roll’
A 3.2-magnitude earthquake shook the Northern California area, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
The more than 9-mile deep quake hit a little over half a mile south of Concord at 12:11 p.m. on Friday, May 30, according to the USGS.
Nearly 1,000 people from as far away as Mountain View and San Jose reported feeling the tremor to the agency.
“A little shake, rattle, and roll with your lunch,” the city of Pleasant Hill, about 5 miles away from the quake, wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Well that ruined my lunch nap,” another X user wrote.
Concord is about a 30-mile drive northeast from San Francisco.
What to know about earthquakes
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.”
This story was originally published May 30, 2025 at 2:31 PM with the headline "3.2 quake jolts Northern California, USGS says. ‘Little shake, rattle, and roll’."
