Did you feel it? It’s the question that ripples through Twitter—or X, whatever—the second a hanging lamp starts swaying in the San Fernando Valley. If you’re looking for info on an earthquake now near Van Nuys Los Angeles, you aren't alone. Southern California is basically a jigsaw puzzle of tectonic plates that refuse to stay put, and Van Nuys sits right in the thick of it.
Honestly, living here means you’ve developed a "seismic sixth sense." You know that specific low rumble that isn't a garbage truck and isn't a low-flying plane from the Van Nuys Airport. It’s that deep, gut-level vibration. Just recently, on the evening of January 16, 2026, a magnitude 2.7 earthquake rattled the area at approximately 7:40 PM local time. It wasn't a "Big One," but in the quiet of a Friday night, it was enough to make people look up from their phones.
Why Van Nuys Keeps Shaking
Van Nuys is essentially a bullseye for seismic activity due to its proximity to several major fault lines. We aren't just talking about the San Andreas. While that’s the one everyone sees in movies, the local "bad actors" are often the Northridge fault or the Sierra Madre fault zone.
Seismologists at Caltech and the USGS often point out that the San Fernando Valley sits on a deep sedimentary basin. Think of it like a bowl of Jell-O. When the bedrock shakes, that soft sediment in the Valley amplifies the waves. This is why a 3.0 in Van Nuys might feel way more aggressive than a 3.0 in the rocky hills of Malibu. It’s all about the "basin effect."
Recent Seismic Activity Near the San Fernando Valley
The 2.7 magnitude event on January 16 followed a string of smaller tremors across the Greater Los Angeles area this month. On January 13, for instance, a 1.9 magnitude micro-quake was recorded near Studio City, just a stone's throw from the southern edge of Van Nuys. Earlier that same week, a 3.0 hit near Grapevine.
1.8 magnitude near Highland Park.
1.2 near Universal City.
It’s constant.
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Most of these are too small for the average person to feel while they’re driving or walking. But if you’re sitting still on a second-story apartment on Sepulveda Boulevard? You’ll feel a sharp jolt. It’s usually over before you can even get under a table.
Understanding the Magnitude Scale
People get hung up on the numbers. A 2.7 like the one we just had is technically a "micro-earthquake." You might hear a pop in the walls. Maybe a glass clinks in the cupboard. But compare that to the 1994 Northridge earthquake—which was a 6.7—and you realize the scale is logarithmic. A 6.7 is thousands of times more powerful than a 2.7.
Actually, the Northridge quake happened on a "blind thrust fault." That means it didn't even break the surface. It was hidden. That’s the scary part for Van Nuys residents; the ground beneath your feet has secrets that even the most advanced GPS sensors are still trying to map out.
What to Do During an Earthquake Now Near Van Nuys Los Angeles
If you feel the ground start to roll right now, stop reading and move. The advice from the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) hasn't changed, but people still forget it in the heat of the moment.
Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Don’t run outside. Most injuries happen because people try to move while the ground is pitching, leading to falls or getting hit by falling glass from storefronts. If you’re in Van Nuys, you’re likely near a lot of older "soft-story" buildings—those apartments with parking on the ground floor. These are notoriously vulnerable, though many have been retrofitted in the last few years.
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If you are driving near the 405 or the 101, pull over to a clear area. Avoid stopping under overpasses or light poles. It sounds like common sense, but adrenaline is a hell of a drug.
The Role of Early Warning Systems
Have you downloaded the ShakeAlert or MyShake app yet? Seriously, do it. For the recent tremors, these systems have been remarkably consistent. They use a network of sensors to detect the P-wave (the fast, non-damaging wave) and send an alert to your phone before the S-wave (the wavy, destructive one) arrives.
Sometimes you get two seconds. Sometimes you get twenty.
In a place like Van Nuys, those seconds are the difference between getting under a sturdy desk or getting hit by a falling bookshelf. The USGS keeps a live map of every earthquake now near Van Nuys Los Angeles, and checking the "Did You Feel It?" portal is actually a great way to help scientists. Your personal report helps them map out how different soil types in the Valley react to the shaking.
Actionable Steps for Valley Residents
You can’t stop the plates from moving, but you can stop being a victim to them. Start small.
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Check your "quake kit." If your water is five years old, swap it out. Make sure you have a manual can opener.
Strapping down heavy furniture is the most underrated safety tip. In the 1994 quake, a lot of the damage in Van Nuys homes was just stuff falling over. Bookcases, TVs, and kitchen cabinets are hazards.
Keep a pair of sturdy shoes under your bed. If a quake hits at 3 AM and shatters a window, you don't want to be walking through the dark on glass in your bare feet.
Lastly, sign up for NotifyLA. It’s the city’s official emergency alert system. While apps give you the "heads up" for the shaking, NotifyLA gives you the "what now" info regarding gas leaks or road closures.
Van Nuys is a resilient place. We’ve been through it before, and we’ll be through it again. The key is just staying informed and not letting the "quiet" periods make you complacent.
Next Steps for You: Check the USGS Latest Earthquakes map to see the exact epicenter of the most recent tremor. Then, take five minutes to secure one heavy item in your home—like a bookshelf or a large mirror—using furniture straps or QuakeHold putty.