NORTHSTATE, Calif. -- California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency for the North Coast on Thursday following a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the region. The announcement was made during a press conference at the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego County.
The earthquake prompted a tsunami warning for coastal residents in Northern California and Southern Oregon, which has since been lifted.
"It is part of a protocol [for] tsunami warnings anytime you're 5.0 or greater, around a coastal region," Newsom said. "It typically goes into effect that allows us to back off through abundance of caution. That was lifted. Nonetheless, we're concerned about damage -- particularly in the northern part of the state: in Del Norte, in Mendocino, in Humboldt County, as a consequence of that."
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Newsom emphasized the importance of preparedness and outlined the state's response efforts.
"I just signed off on a State of Emergency, a declaration, that will allow us to provide more resources, provide some of our national guard resources, as needed, access to state fairgrounds, waiving some contractual obligations for that part of the state," he said. "It's another reminder of the state that we live in and the state of mind that we need to bring to our day-to-day reality, here, in the State of California, in terms of being prepared for earthquakes."