an earthquake with a magnitude of 3.9 struck the vicinity of Ontario California on September 7th 20124 the earthquake was roughly 4.2 Mi 7.2 km from the city the epicenter of the earthquake which struck at 10:34 a.m. local time was found to be at a shallow depth of 4 km although it did not result in any major structural damage or casualties this earthquake was strong enough to be felt by many people in the Greater Los Angeles area which includes Ontario and other cities to on Source a 3.9 magnitude earthquake is categorized as minor on the RoR scale but because of its shallow depth it was perceptible because shallower earthquakes tend to produce more intense surface shaking people in Ontario and the surrounding areas reported experiencing unexpected shocks and vibrations these kinds of sh earthquakes can produce a more powerful sensation even though they are not as large as larger deeper earthquakes in terms of magnitude overall although this type of seismic activity is not unusual for people who live in earthquake prone areas like Southern California it nevertheless serves as a reminder of the Region's seismic risks 22 Source local news sources and social media were used by the populace to share their stories numerous people reported the shaking a shocking some claimed it woke them up or made objects in their homes tremble despite the abruptness only minor injuries and property damage were reported partly because of the earthquake's relatively low magnitude to zero Source residents who experien the earthquake are encouraged to submit reports describing their experiences to earthquake monitoring organizations like the US Geological Survey USGS by providing information on the magnitude and extent of earthquakes these reports Aid seismologists in their efforts to better understand seismic activity in the area being situated on multiple significant fault lines Southern California is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes such as this one which emphasizes The Importance of Being prepared given how regularly mild to moderate earthquakes occur in Southern California the Region's seismic activity is a constant source of concern tectonic movement ments between the Pacific and North American plates are frequently the source of these earthquakes making California one of the world's seismically active regions even though the 3.9 earthquake in the vicinity of Ontario did not do much damage it should serve as a reminder of the need of being ready for earthquakes particularly in light of the possibility of larger more catastrophic earthquakes 21 Source 22 Source it is advised of the locals to maintain their vigilance and make sure they are ready for any future seismic incidents the regular earthquakes that California experiences highlight the value of emergency kits earthquake drills and securing bulky items in houses and structures