Journal staff

Deer Beach on Orcas Island was the epicenter of a 4.5 magnitude earthquake at 5:02 am today. The quake followed a smaller (1.3 magnitude) rumble near Anacortes by only a few minutes, according to the United States Geological Survey. Thousands of people reported feeling the event, as far south as Isaaquah and all the way up to North Vancouver.

There are no reports of damage of any kind yet, but will continue to monitor.

Please report experiences of the quake by filling out this form: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/uw62078906/tellus

The likelihood of an aftershock of three plus magnitude in the next week is 50%, although no tsunami watches or warnings have been issued.

A 4.5 magnitude earthquake is on the upper end of what’s considered a mild earthquake on the richter scale, according to USGS; enough to be felt but unlikely to cause damage. However, according to the San Juan County Department of Emergancy Management, this was a large quake for the islands- one of the biggest seen in decades. A great reminder that we do live in quake country and that preparedness is key- visit www.islandsready.org for info on how to get started.