California IN BRIEF : PARKFIELD : Geological Activity Spurs Quake Alert

A Level C earthquake alert was issued for several Central California counties after a series of small quakes in the geologically active Parkfield area. The U.S. Geological Survey and the state Office of Emergency Services issued the alert, but Tom Mullins of the OES explained that it amounted to a “very minor” warning. “We don’t even really consider it an alert. It’s more of an activity level,” Mullins said. The Level C alert, under an experimental program by the USGS and OES, means there is a 3% to 11% chance of an earthquake with a magnitude as high as 6. The alert covered Monterey, Fresno, San Luis Obispo, San Benito, King and Kern counties and ends Monday.