Ridgecrest Earthquake

Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake not mission-capable after Ridgecrest earthquakes

Saturday, July 6, 2019
Non-essential active duty, drilling reservists, civilian employees and dependents are authorized to evacuate to a radius of 100 miles from Naval Base Ventura County.
RIDGECREST, Calif. -- The series of earthquakes that struck Southern California rendered Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake not mission-capable.

In a post to the base's Facebook page, Rear Admiral Bette Bolivar said non-essential active duty, drilling reservists, civilian employees and dependents are authorized to evacuate to a radius of within 100 miles of "safe haven" Naval Base Ventura County, near Point Mugu.

A base official told ABC News that the evacuation was not weapons-related; it was ordered due to infrastructure concerns in areas where employees live and work. The official said the public should not be concerned by the evacuation.

China Lake remains accessible for mission-essential personnel only, and officials told non-mission-essential personnel not to attempt to access the installation.



Though the base is not mission-capable, security protocols remain in effect. Those with questions can call the base's family information hotline at 1-844-523-2025.

Friday's 7.1-magnitude quake struck at 8:19 p.m. Friday and was centered 11 miles from Ridgecrest, the same area of the Mojave Desert where a 6.4-magnitude temblor hit just a day earlier.

The installation "provides and maintains land, facilities and other assets that support the Navy's research, development, acquisition, testing and evaluation (RDAT&E) of cutting-edge weapons systems for the warfighter," according to the Navy. Covering more than 1.1 million acres, it is the Navy's largest single landholding.

An earthquake-damaged street is seen Saturday, July 6, 2019, in Trona, Calif.AP
Rose Ann Austin, top left, walks past an earthquake-damaged brick fence on her family's property Saturday, July 6, 2019, in Trona, Calif.AP
Eugene Johnson, right, looks at the chimney collapsed by an earthquake Saturday, July 6, 2019, at his home in Trona, Calif.AP
A crack is seen in a gas station's driveway in the aftermath of an earthquake Saturday, July 6, 2019, in Trona, Calif.AP
Eugene Johnson looks at damage inside a guest room of his house in the aftermath of an earthquake Saturday, July 6, 2019, in Trona, Calif.AP
An employee walks past broken bottles scattered on the floor in Eastridge Market, following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake which struck nearby, on July 6, 2019 in Ridgecrest.Creative Content
An employee works at the cash register near broken bottles scattered on the floor, following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake which struck nearby, on July 6, 2019 in Ridgecrest.Creative Content
An employee carries items for a customer past broken bottles scattered on the floor, following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake which struck nearby, on July 6, 2019 in Ridgecrest.Creative Content
An employee stands at the register as broken bottles are scattered on the floor in Eastridge Market on July 6, 2019, in Ridgecrest, California.Creative Content
Firefighters work to put out a house fire, the morning after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck in the area, on July 6, 2019, in Ridgecrest, California.Creative Content
The Hope family, afraid to sleep inside, spends the night outdoors Saturday, July 6, 2019, following an earthquake in Ridgecrest, Calif.AP
A fireman looks over a home Saturday, July 6, 2019, that burned after an earthquake in Ridgecrest, Calif.AP
Items are scattered around a kitchen Saturday, July 6, 2019, following an earthquake in Ridgecrest, Calif.AP
A worker steps over merchandise that is scattered on the floor of an Albertson's grocery store Saturday, July 6, 2019, following an earthquake in Ridgecrest, Calif.AP
Merchandise is scattered on the floor of an Albertson's grocery store Saturday, July 6, 2019, following an earthquake in Ridgecrest, Calif.AP
Merchandise is scattered on the floor of an Albertson's grocery store Saturday, July 6, 2019, following an earthquake in Ridgecrest, Calif.AP
Players and staff leave the court after an earthquake during an NBA summer league basketball game between the New York Knicks and the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, July 5, 2019,AP
A CHP photo shows conditions on SR-178 through the Kern River Canyon after rock slides on July 5, 2019.AP
Food that fell from the shelves litters the floor of an aisle at a Walmart following an earthquake in Yucca Valley, Calif., on Friday, July 5, 2019.AP
In this photo provided by Adam Graehl emergency responders fight a fire in Ridgecrest, Calif., Thursday, July 4, 2019.AP
Shattered glass lies on the floor at a vacant business after an earthquake, Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Trona, Calif.AP
Merchandise lies on the floor at a Family Dollar store seen through a window after an earthquake Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Trona, Calif.AP
In this photo provided by Adam Graehl shows merchandise line the floor at the Stater Bros. on China Lake Blvd., in Ridgecrest, Calif., Thursday, July 4, 2019.AP
This Thursday, July 4, 2019 photo provided by Richard Wagner shows hundreds of books that have tumbled off shelves at the Kern County Branch Library in Ridgecrest, Calif.AP
In this photo provided by Adam Graehl shows merchandise line the floor at the Stater Bros. on China Lake Blvd., in Ridgecrest, Calif., Thursday, July 4, 2019.AP
This Thursday, July 4, 2019 photo provided by Richard Wagner shows hundreds of books that have tumbled off shelves at the Kern County Branch Library in Ridgecrest, Calif.AP
This Thursday, July 4, 2019 photo provided by Richard Wagner shows hundreds of books that have tumbled off shelves at the Kern County Branch Library in Ridgecrest, Calif.AP
In this photo provided by Adam Graehl shows merchandise line the floor at the Stater Bros. on China Lake Blvd., in Ridgecrest, Calif., Thursday, July 4, 2019.AP
A damaged motorhome is seen red-taped after an earthquake, Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Ridgecrest, Calif.AP
Pipes are damaged from an earthquake, Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Trona, Calif.AP
Utility poles are damaged from an earthquake, Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Trona, Calif.AP
A road is damaged from an earthquake Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Trona, Calif.AP
A motorcyclist rides over a temporarily repaired part of damage on Highway 178 in Ridgecrest, Calif., following an earthquake in the area Thursday, July 4, 2019.AP
This photo shows damage on Highway 178 in Ridgecrest, Calif., following an earthquake in the area Thursday, July 4, 2019.AP
An eyewitness photo shows damage to a Ridgecrest-area roadway after Thursday morning's earthquake.Creative Content
In this image taken from video provided by Ben Hood, a firefighter works to extinguish a fire, Thursday, July 4, 2019, following an earthquake in Ridgecrest, Calif.AP
Photos show the aftermath of an earthquake in Ridgecrest, California, on July 4, 2019.Creative Content
Photos show the aftermath of an earthquake in Ridgecrest, California, on July 4, 2019.Creative Content
Photos show the aftermath of an earthquake in Ridgecrest, California, on July 4, 2019.Creative Content
Photos show the aftermath of an earthquake in Ridgecrest, California, on July 4, 2019.Creative Content
Photos show the aftermath of an earthquake in Ridgecrest, California, on July 4, 2019.Creative Content
Photos show the aftermath of an earthquake in Ridgecrest, California, on July 4, 2019.Creative Content
Photos show the aftermath of an earthquake in Ridgecrest, California, on July 4, 2019.Creative Content
Photos show the aftermath of an earthquake in Ridgecrest, California, on July 4, 2019.Creative Content
Photos show the aftermath of an earthquake in Ridgecrest, California, on July 4, 2019.Creative Content
Photos show the aftermath of an earthquake in Ridgecrest, California, on July 4, 2019.Creative Content


The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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