Aftershocks Loom—Stay Off Roads

Northern California just suffered its strongest earthquake since 1940 — and thousands are still without power as cleanup crews assess the damage.

Story Highlights

A 5.6 magnitude quake struck near Willits in Mendocino County at 8:10 a.m. on June 24, 2026 — the biggest to hit the region in over 85 years.
More than 6,000 residents lost power across six towns, with no estimated restoration time from PG&E.
Some injuries were reported by local hospitals, but officials gave no numbers or details on how serious they were.
Shaking was felt as far away as Sacramento, San Jose, and the Bay Area, and over 4 million early warning alerts were sent to cell phones.

The Strongest Quake in Over 85 Years

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed a 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck about 7 miles north of Redwood Valley in Mendocino County at 8:10 a.m. Pacific Time on June 24, 2026. The quake hit at a shallow depth of roughly 5 miles. Officials and seismologists called it the strongest earthquake to hit Northern California since 1940 — a sobering reminder that the ground beneath California can still shake hard.^[5]

The shaking was felt far beyond the epicenter. Residents in Sonoma, Walnut Creek, San Jose, Sacramento, and as far north as Eureka reported feeling the tremors.^[1] The USGS ShakeAlert early warning system sent over 4 million alerts to cell phones across the region. A UC Berkeley seismologist estimated that 99 percent of people who received the alert got it before they felt any shaking — giving some residents up to 35 seconds of warning.^[19]

Injuries and Damage Reports Conflict

Mendocino County spokesperson Heather Rose confirmed that local hospitals reported injuries, but she could not provide numbers or say how serious they were.^[7] The Willits Police Department also reported “a few injuries” without giving specifics. On the ground, Mayor Tom Allman described fallen chimneys, structural damage, and a Safeway store that had to be taped off. Some reports described cracked home structures and caved-in roofs in Mendocino County.^[17]

State officials were slower to confirm the damage. California’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) initially said it had not received any reports of damage or injuries, while noting that evaluations were still underway. Governor Newsom’s office said it was “actively collaborating with emergency management officials.” The gap between what local residents and officials saw on the ground and what state agencies confirmed created real confusion in the first hours after the quake.^[5]

Power Outages Hit Thousands With No Fix in Sight

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) reported more than 6,000 customers without power across six towns near the epicenter.^[5] Some tracking sites put the number even higher — Poweroutage.com showed around 7,400 homes and businesses in Mendocino County without electricity.^[19] Grocery stores including Safeway, Grocery Outlet, and Rite Aid shut their doors. PG&E gave no estimated restoration time, leaving residents in the dark — literally and figuratively.

Officials asked people to stay off major roads so that Caltrans, PG&E crews, and county workers could inspect and repair damage. At least a dozen aftershocks followed the main quake, most under 2.5 magnitude.^[1] Seismologists warned that more aftershocks were likely in the coming days. Residents were urged to check their emergency kits and stay alert. For rural Mendocino County, where resources are already stretched thin, the road to recovery may take time.