5.1 Earthquake Hits Meher Mount
By Margaret Magnus
There was a warning for Hurricane Hilary with the best-case scenario being a tropical storm. Caretaker Ray Johnston had spent the days before preparing Meher Mount for the storm.
ALERT FOR FLASH FLOODING from Tropical Storm Hilary that was issued for the Ojai Valley on Sunday, August 20, 2023.
What happened? There was a 5.1 earthquake with the epicenter about 2,000 yards from Meher Mount.
ALERT FOR AN EARTHQUAKE for the Ojai Valley on Sunday, August 20, 2023, issued in the midst of the the Tropical Storm Hilary.
“It’s big one,” Ray said when he picked up the phone just moments after the 5.1 earthquake.
Just as everyone was bracing for Hurricane Hilary — the first tropical storm in Southern California since in 1939 — the earthquake struck the Ojai Valley at 2:41 p.m. on Sunday, August 20, 2023.
“The aftershocks keep coming,” Ray later texted. An estimated 30+ aftershocks ranging in magnitude from 3.1 to 3.9 continued throughout Sunday night.
A MAP OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA with the red image showing Ojai and the area of the 5.1 earthquake on Sunday, August 20, 2023. (Image: U.S. Geological Survey)
Ray texted a quick report post-earthquake and mid-tropical storm:
“All is OK. It looks like minimal structural effects so far. Some increased cracks in patios, broken glass from pictures in center and water dispenser and ceramic pots. The aftershocks keep coming. Spoke with neighbor with heavy equipment company, and he said Sulphur Mountain Road is open. I’ll leave gas off a while longer. Baba’s Tree seems fine as does water treatment area. Garage and Topa Topa Patio are good. Heaviest rains still to come. I was just cleaning the center when it hit and wondering if I should mop the floor?”
GLASS DEBRIS on the floor of the Visitor Center after the 5.1 earthquake hit Meher Mount on Sunday, August 20, 2023. Caretaker Ray Johnston was mopping up after the gallon water dispenser toppled over and broke. (Photo: Ray Johnston)
“Earthquake scientists were quick to make clear that Sunday’s tremblor had nothing to do with the arrival of Tropical Storm Hillary,” reported The Los Angeles Times. The term hurriquake began trending on social media.
MORE CRACKS damaging the veranda outside the Visitor Center on Monday, August 21, 2023. (Photo: Ray Johnston)
The quake was centered four miles southeast of Ojai in a remote of area of Sulphur Mountain (where Meher Mount is located), continued The Times report. The earthquake occurred along the Sisar fault, according to Ventura County officials.
PICTURES TILTED, books on the floor, but Baba’s sadra (under the cloth covering) is undamaged. Baba’s Fireplace, an artifact of the ‘Baba Room’ where Avatar Meher Baba gave darshan (His blessing) to His followers in 1956, remains standing. (Photo: Ray Johnston)
“In many ways,” remarked a friend, “Meher Mount is an epicenter.”
Source
Richard Winton, Rong-Gong Lin II, Christian Stone and Susanne Rust, “Quake Near Ojai Rattle Region,” The Los Angeles Times, August 21, 2023, Section B, pp. 1 and 5.