PATTERSON, Calif. — Several earthquakes were felt in Patterson Monday, shaking up residents inside their homes.
From downtown to residential areas, several people say they were home with their families and feared for their safety.
"I was sitting down at dinner and felt like the floor was rising up and the house was shaking from side to side. It was very scary," said Rebecca Cain, a Patterson resident.
After almost 40 years of living in Patterson, Cain says she was caught off guard when she felt multiple earthquakes hit her home.
The grandmother says she was home with her grandson when it happened, causing her concern.
"Because everything could go flat real fast. I mean if it lasted longer like in the 80s when we had the big one. 8 or 9 [magnitude], it probably could take the house down," said Cain.
Families say it took them by surprise because they don't usually experience earthquakes here that often.
But experts say it's actually not uncommon.
"There are lots of little faults and sometimes they may become more active and they stop for a while and then they become more active late So I would again say at this point, nothing unexpected," said Angela Lux who works with the Berkeley Seismology Lab.
The worry for Jai Paul McGraw and his family is if the earthquakes could cause damage to their home.
"You can hear a lot of creeks in the house. Especially like as houses get older they get more worn down over time and sometimes we have to think like 'how does it impact our house and the construction of the home,'" said Jai Paul McGraw, who has been a Patterson Resident for almost 15 years.
He says his father works in construction and plans to assess the home.
In the meantime, Patterson families say this series of quakes serves as a reminder they need to be prepared.
"We really do in America, we have to, especially in California, we need to get a plan. Need to have a bag packed ready to go, have all your papers, your passport, all your important papers. Some type of package. Be ready to go because we just never know," said Cain.
There is an app called the MyShake App which is free and provides iPhone and Android users with audio and visual warnings.
ALL ABOUT EARTHQUAKE PREP:
- What you need to know about ShakeAlert, the earthquake warning system | Earthquake Ready or Not
- What can happen to our power grids after an earthquake? | Earthquake Ready or Not
- Why a disaster kit will help you survive the next big one | Earthquake Ready or Not
- What you need to know about the San Andreas fault | Earthquake Ready or Not
- The science of forecasting earthquakes | Earthquake Ready or Not
- How vulnerable is California to tsunamis? | Earthquake Ready or Not
WATCH MORE: Earthquakes come without warning and if you aren’t prepared by the time the big one hits, you will be too late. The 2019 earthquake near Ridgecrest, California shined a spotlight on the need to be prepared with a disaster kit and a plan. A little work now could help you survive the next quake.
