Many in South Florida are probably already looking ahead to spring break and thinking about making more frequent trips to the beach.

But like clockwork during the warmer months, many beachgoers encounter an accustomed nuisance on our shores: a massive, smelly blob of brown seaweed.

It’s called sargassum, and scientists say the blob is growing and already making its way to Florida.

What is sargassum?

Sargassum seaweed is a brown macroalgae that can be found floating on the ocean surface and consists primarily of two species, S. natans and S. fluitans. According to the Univesity of South Florida’s satellite-based Sargassum Watch System (SWS), it provides food, shade and shelter to fish, crabs and turtles. It may also serve as fertilizers for sand dunes, protects shoreline stability, and is a marine resource for biomass for food, fuel, and as a possible resource of pharmaceutical materials.

Sargassum is made of up a variety of leafy appendages, but round, berry-like structures called pneumatocysts that are filled with oxygen are what allow it to float to the surface, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Not only is the seaweed abundant in the Atlantic, but it’s also found in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea and even along the coasts of the British Isles and mainland Europe.

Why can sargassum be problematic?

When these clusters of Sargassum make their way to the shoreline, it can create an unpleasant experience for beachgoers.

When sargassum decomposes on beaches, it not only smells bad, but it attracts insects and can cause many environmental problems such as fish kills and smothering turtle nesting sites, according to the SWS.

Where is the sargassum bloom now?

During January of this year, 5.5 million metric tons were detected in the central Atlantic — a slight increase from what was observed in December 2023, scientists wrote in a monthly bulletin for the SWS.

“Even though this increase is less robust than the change from November to December, the current Sargassum abundance remains quite high for the month of January – only surpassed by the quantities in January 2018 and January 2023,” scientists wrote.

The largest aggregations of the sargassum are in the interior central Atlantic basin and have been advancing westward for the past several months. Scientists said small portions are approaching the Lesser Antilles, larger ones are still a few hundred kilometers to the east, and short-lived clusters are offshore northeastern parts of South America.

When will Florida start seeing sargassum?

Good news for spring breakers: scientists said the southeast coast of Florida, including the Florida Keys, will be largely free of sargassum until at least late April or May.

This summer was on track to be a record year for the massive piles of sargassum seaweed washing ashore on Florida’s beaches. However, new data from the University of South Florida and NASA provide a surprisingly optimistic forecast for beaches with pungent seaweed.

Sargassum seaweed is a brown macroalga most known for its rotting smell that floats on the ocean surface. Since 2011, massive seaweed blooms have washed ashore, dominating beaches in Florida and Texas, causing problems for humans and sea life.

Not only does the seaweed stink up beaches, covering shores with its blooms, but sargassum can also carry bacteria and other threats to public health.

After a record-setting 13-million-ton seaweed blob in March, new data shows the amount of seaweed in the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt – from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico – took a downward turn in May, according to the latest 2023 outlook by the University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab.

The USF lab uses NASA MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data to monitor the blooms. It provides a general outlook for current and future bloom activity in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. The outlooks are released at the end of each month.

According to the laboratory, the sargassum quantity in the eastern Atlantic Ocean from March to April dropped by half and then from April to May, it was halved again.

“It’s certainly a surprise. It’s never happened in the past years,” USF marine scientist Dr. Chuanmin Hu told FOX Weather.

Researchers say a decrease for this time of year has not been documented in the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt since 2011, when large amounts of sargassum seaweed began appearing in the Caribbean Sea.

Hu said past years had experienced an increase in sargassum from April to May.

The overall decrease of sargassum in the Atlantic Ocean by 15% can largely be attributed to the sharp drop in seaweed in the eastern Atlantic, according to Hu.

The new data comes as Florida expected historical levels of sargassum seaweed this summer, offering possible good news for residents and visitors on Florida’s coasts.

“At the beginning of the year, we thought this could be a record year by June or July. But now it doesn’t look like that,” Hu said, adding, “It’s still a major sargassum year.”

Since 2011, 2023 still ranks in the top half of the worst sargassum seaweed seasons.

With the latest data, USF researchers say in June, sargassum will likely decrease in the Gulf of Mexico, meaning beachgoers may not have such a smelly experience. The USF lab forecasts the decrease to continue through August.

However, sargassum beaching events will likely continue throughout the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

“It’s good news, but we still need to be cautious,” Hu said. “That doesn’t mean the Florida beaches will be free of sargassum; they will still get some.

The decrease from April to May is another mystery surrounding the seaweed blooms.

Hu previously told FOX Weather there is still much unknown about sargassum, including where it started.

Still, Hu said there are some possible reasons for the drop in the stinky blooms. Wind, ocean circulation and nutrients from land or sea could all play a role in the size of seaweed blooms in the Atlantic.

Researchers are still investigating the cause behind the sharp decrease.

We’re getting closer to warmer days that include trips to the beach to lay under the warm sun, but it may not be only students on spring break or families on summer vacation in 2024 that will be in the water. A large blob of sargassum seaweed is lurking in the central Atlantic Ocean, and it’s growing in size.

According to the University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab, roughly 5.5 million metric tons of sargassum seaweed were detected in the central Atlantic Ocean in January, which is a slight increase from what was observed in December 2023.

“Even though this increase is less robust than the change from November to December, the current sargassum abundance remains quite high for the month of January – only surpassed by the quantities in January 2018 and January 2023,” researchers said in a news release.

When sargassum is floating in the open waters of the ocean, it doesn’t pose too much of a threat. In fact, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says the floating clumps of brown seaweed are a habitat that provides food and shelter and acts as a breeding ground for several types of animals, including fish, sea turtles, marine birds, crabs and shrimp.

Researchers said that the largest concentrations of sargassum seaweed are still mostly found in the central Atlantic basin, but it has been advancing to the west over the past several months.

And small batches have already started approaching the Lesser Antilles, while a larger batch is still a few hundred miles to the east.

In addition, researchers said clusters of short-lived sargassum patches were also spotted off northeastern portions of South America.

The researchers also said that there has been “essentially no sargassum” observed in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea over the past three months.

Researchers say that sargassum growth is expected to continue over the next few months as the main bloom in the ocean expands and drifts off to the west.

Some sargassum will likely begin to wash up on shore in the eastern Caribbean Sea beginning later in February or early March.

What’s different from last year, however, is that the southeastern coast of Florida and the Florida Keys will likely remain free of sargassum until at least April or May.

“We will continue to monitor and track sargassum throughout the central Atlantic, and will provide more summary updates at the end of each month.

Current and previous monthly updates, including images, can be found on the Sargassum Watch System

“After a couple of days onshore, Sargassum starts to decompose and release notorious and stinking gases such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, both of which are pollutants to air and water,” said Dr. Yuyuan Xie, of the University of South Florida. “Once those pollutants are accumulated in the aquatic environment and reach the concentrations above thresholds, they are poisonous to most fish.

The gasses can also cause respiratory problems for beachgoers, along with rashes and blisters if touched without gloves.

A record-breaking 13-million-ton mass of sargassum seaweed was detected floating across the Atlantic Ocean during the spring of 2023, and although historic levels were forecast to continue, data obtained during the summer months showed a decrease in sargassum seaweed levels.

The seaweed still piled up on beaches from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean, making those summertime trips to the beach less ideal.

2023 ranked among some of the worst sargassum seaweed seasons, even with the decreasing levels from spring to summer.

Two people are dead and seven others injured after a shooting incident in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

A police officer was among those wounded after an altercation at a commercial establishment in Doral City turned deadly when someone pulled a gun. A security guard who attempted to intervene was shot and killed, police said. 

The quick response and “heroic actions” from City of Doral police officers at the scene “prevented an incident from escalating,” Chief of Police Edwin Lopez told reporters at a news conference.

According to police, at around 3:30 a.m. there was a dispute between patrons at a martini bar at CityPlace Doral. When a security guard attempted to intervene, police say one of the patrons drew a firearm and fatally shot the guard.

Two Doral Police officers were working the establishment at the time and immediately responded. The officers drew their weapons and returned fire at the shooter.

One Doral police officer was hit in the lower extremity during the exchange of gunfire. He shot and killed the shooter, Miami-Dade Police Detective Alvaro Zabaleta said.

The wounded officer was able to apply a tourniquet on himself and is now in stable condition, Lopez said.

Police said a total of six bystanders were struck by gunfire, one woman and five men. Two of the bystanders were transported to local hospitals in critical condition.

Multiple police agencies are investigating the shooting. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the officer-involved shooting, Miami-Dade Police are investigating the homicide and Doral City police are assisting both investigations, Lopez said.

The chief observed that one year ago, to the day, Doral City Police conducted a mass casualty, multi-agency active shooter drill at CityPlace Doral, which he attributed to preventing further loss of life.

“Although we can never guarantee with 100% certainty that an incident like this does not occur, we can definitely ensure that when and if an incident like this occurs in South Florida, we have the capacity, the training and the necessary skill set to immediately diffuse the incident and eliminate the threat,” Lopez said.

He praised the responding officers for their bravery and swift, decisive actions.

“This is a extremely disappointing day in our South Florida community. Anytime a law enforcement officer is shot, it tears at the core fabric of our community. But we are grateful that he is alive and in stable condition, and we look forward to completing this investigation.

A Texas woman was sentenced to 50 years in prison last week for the 2019 killing of her boyfriend’s 4-year-old daughter, according to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

Shawna Hooey, 33, of Tomball, was taking care of her own five children and 4-year-old Jakyzia Alexander when she took her to a 24-hour emergency center on Sept. 7, 2019, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a news release.

At the emergency clinic on the day of her death, Alexander’s body was already cold and Hooey reportedly told medical personnel and authorities at least four different stories about what happened to the child, who had a visible black eye and other injuries.

“We have to work together as a community to protect our children who are particularly vulnerable to abuse from violent adults,” Ogg said. “We are thankful to the jurors who recognized that this was not a single incident, but a pattern of abuse and rightfully sentenced this woman to spend decades behind bars.”

Alexander began living in Hooey’s home when her father, who worked nights and had sole custody of her, entered a relationship with Hooey, Ogg said. The girl’s father lived with family members at a different location closer to his job, and rarely saw his daughter – only seeing her through video calls in the two months before her death.

On the day of her death, Hooey said Alexander had to be woken up and was taking deep, labored breaths and not acting normally. Hooey said she drove the girl around “in a hot car to try to get her to breathe normally,” but ultimately went home to change clothes and take Alexander to the emergency clinic, according to Ogg.

In other versions of what happened to Alexander before she died, Hooey claimed the child ran into a doorknob in one instance and threw herself against a toilet paper holder in the bathroom in another. Both alleged incidents took place two days before Hooey took Alexander to the emergency room, and she claimed the child was acting normally.

Further examination revealed Alexander had signs of repeated past abuse, including fresh, resolving and healed injuries, according to Ogg.

Alexander’s autopsy showed she died from blunt force trauma to the head, Ogg announced, adding that the fatal blow would have resulted in seizures, vomiting and dazed reactions almost immediately. Witnesses testified that Alexander was acting normally the day before she was taken to the emergency clinic.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, and later charged Hooey with murder.

Following a nine-day trial, a Harris County jury convicted Hooey of murder and sentenced her to 50 years in prison.

Assistant District Attorney Gilbert Sawtelle, a chief in the district attorney’s office’s Child Fatality Section, prosecuted Hooey and said child abusers often work to hide signs of abuse by keeping children away from other adults or dressing them to cover the injuries.

“Child abuse does happen, and when we see it, we need to call it out and notify the police and child protective services,” Sawtelle said in the release. “This girl was wearing long sleeves in the summertime—and if someone had noticed her injuries and intervened, she would probably still be here today.”

Hooey must serve at least half of her prison sentence before she will be eligible for parole.

Las Vegas police said a gunman opened fire inside a law firm near the Red Rock resort at the morning, killing a man and a woman, then turned the gun on himself.

During a press briefing, police shared updates following the shooting which took place on the 5th floor of a law firm located near Pavilion Center Drive and Charleston Boulevard just after 10:00 a.m.

“We were here within minutes. The first responders did not hesitate, they moved in and took care of business,” Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said.

McMahill said they are still investigating the motive behind the shooting, but said they do have a theory.

“We have a theory, but we can not release any more information at this point. All we know at this point is that a male and female are deceased,” McMahill said.

It is not known at this time the relationship between the victims and the gunman.

Police also reiterated that the gunman was not killed by officers and took his own life.

Police previously called the shooting a “dynamic event.”

Schools in the area were on a brief, soft lockdown, but those lockdowns have since been lifted, Fox 5 News reported.

Police said that there is “no ongoing threat” to the community and that they are in the early stages of the investigation and will provide more details when available.

Today a judge has ruled that Fani Willis, the District Attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, can stay on the Trump case provided Nathan Wade, with whom she had a relationship, steps off it.

Willis has amassed a huge fortune in her career after studying at a prestigious law school. So, who is she and how much is she worth?

Fani Willis net worth

Willis has a whopping net worth that includes a diverse range of stocks and real estate assets. She’s known across the US for her investigation into Donald Trump’s indictments during the 2020 presidential election.

But not many people know that she has a significant net worth of millions. The American lawyer is thought to have a net worth of $8 million, with an annual income of $2.7 million.

According to Malang Post, Willis’ salary as a lawyer only makes up $110,000 of this $2.7 million yearly figure. The rest of her substantial earnings come from other sources.

One of Willis’ most profitable income sources is her speaking engagement fee, which is $12,000.

The lawyer’s net worth also includes an investment portfolio with $5 million in real estate and $2 million in blue-chip stocks through companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Berkshire Hathaway.

As of late afternoon today, February 16, one share of Berkshire Hathaway stock is worth $405.76 per share.

Willis also has $600,000 in gold reserves and $275,000 in savings accounts.

A defendant in the Trump classified documents case said that he will give Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis until Monday to recuse herself, otherwise he will pursue legal action amid allegations she illegally recorded his lawyer’s phone call.

Last week, the attorney for defendant Harrison Floyd alleged in an interview that Ms. Wills recorded a call between her and one of his Maryland-based colleagues without their knowledge or consent.

“She did reach out to us, one of my colleagues in Maryland, and was rude, abrupt with him on the phone, and he was dealing with the Maryland case and I was dealing with the Georgia case, and she ended up recording him,” Mr. Kachouroff said in the interview. He added that under Maryland law, “it’s a felony” to record someone without both parties’ consent.

After the allegations surfaced, Mr. Floyd wrote on social media, “I don’t want to put a black woman in jail” but if Ms. Willis “does not recuse herself from this case by noon on Monday, I may have no other choice than to pursue all lawful remedies. Make Fulton Great Again.

Ms. Willis has not publicly responded to the allegations, while several local news outlets have said her office has not responded to a request for comment. The Epoch Times contacted the Fulton County District Attorney’s office for comment on Friday.

Neither Mr. Floyd nor Mr. Kachouroff provided more details about the phone call, including what it was about or when it occurred.

Maryland is one of 11 states that require two-party consent in order for a phone call or electronic communication to be recorded. Under Maryland’s Wiretap Act, recording a conversation without consent can be punishable by upwards of five years in prison or a fine of up to $10,000 or both.

Georgia, meanwhile, is a one-party consent state, meaning that a phone call can be recorded without the other party’s consent. Notably, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger reportedly recorded a phone call he had with President Donald Trump after the 2020 election regarding voter fraud.

Mr. Floyd, along with more than a dozen others, was indicted by Fulton County on charges stemming from alleged efforts to illegally overturn the 2020 election. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has maintained that voter fraud was conducted in the county during the election.

Specifically, he has been charged with conspiracy to solicit false statements, influencing witnesses, and racketeering. He was also accused of assaulting two FBI agents during an encounter near his home in Maryland, which he denies as well.

Mr. Floyd, a former “Black Voices for Trump” leader, turned himself in on a bond agreement on Aug. 24, 2023, before he was released on Aug. 30, 2023. At one point, he was the only Trump co-defendant to be kept in jail.

In Georgia, the charges against Mr. Floyd stem from allegations of harassment of Ruby Freeman, a Fulton County election worker who had been accused of election fraud. Prosecutors said that Mr. Floyd took part in a Jan. 4, 2021, conversation in which Ms. Freeman was told she “needed protection” and was pressured to make false statements about election fraud.

Ms. Willis, meanwhile, has faced allegations that had threatened to get her disqualified from the case, stemming from her relationship with a special counsel in the Trump case. Both Ms. Willis and the prosecutor, Nathan Wade, confirmed the relationship but denied they engaged in a conflict of interest that allowed them to financially benefit from his employment in the district attorney’s office.

The judge in the case, Scott McAfee, issued an order last month telling Ms. Willis that either she must step down or Mr. Wade must leave the case. Hours later, Mr. Wade resigned from the office, but said in a letter that the defendants were not able to prove the allegations that they engaged in a conflict of interest.

Ms. Willis has shown no indication that she will recuse herself. During an interview with CNN after the judge’s order, she said that the case is still moving forward against President Trump and the other defendants

In a recent order, Judge McAfee rejected an argument submitted by President Trump’s lawyers that the First Amendment protects his political speech following the 2020 election. The 45th president, in court papers, argued that he is being illegally punished for attempting to petition Congress into not certifying then-candidate Joe Biden as the winner in Georgia’s election.

“The defense has not presented, nor is the Court able to find, any authority that the speech and conduct alleged is protected political speech,” the judge ruled last week.

Attorneys for the former president signaled to news outlets that they are likely going to appeal the judge’s ruling in the near future. They also recently appealed Judge McAfee’s order that left Ms. Willis’s role as prosecutor in the case intact.

Two people are dead and seven others injured after a shooting incident in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

A police officer was among those wounded after an altercation at a commercial establishment in Doral City turned deadly when someone pulled a gun. A security guard who attempted to intervene was shot and killed, police said. 

The quick response and “heroic actions” from City of Doral police officers at the scene “prevented an incident from escalating,” Chief of Police Edwin Lopez told reporters at a news conference.

According to police, at around 3:30 a.m. there was a dispute between patrons at a martini bar at CityPlace Doral. When a security guard attempted to intervene, police say one of the patrons drew a firearm and fatally shot the guard.

Two Doral Police officers were working the establishment at the time and immediately responded. The officers drew their weapons and returned fire at the shooter.

One Doral police officer was hit in the lower extremity during the exchange of gunfire. He shot and killed the shooter, Miami-Dade Police Detective Alvaro Zabaleta said.

The wounded officer was able to apply a tourniquet on himself and is now in stable condition, Lopez said.

Police said a total of six bystanders were struck by gunfire, one woman and five men. Two of the bystanders were transported to local hospitals in critical condition.

Multiple police agencies are investigating the shooting. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the officer-involved shooting, Miami-Dade Police are investigating the homicide and Doral City police are assisting both investigations, Lopez said.

The chief observed that one year ago, to the day, Doral City Police conducted a mass casualty, multi-agency active shooter drill at CityPlace Doral, which he attributed to preventing further loss of life.

“Although we can never guarantee with 100% certainty that an incident like this does not occur, we can definitely ensure that when and if an incident like this occurs in South Florida, we have the capacity, the training and the necessary skill set to immediately diffuse the incident and eliminate the threat,” Lopez said.

He praised the responding officers for their bravery and swift, decisive actions.

“This is a extremely disappointing day in our South Florida community. Anytime a law enforcement officer is shot, it tears at the core fabric of our community. But we are grateful that he is alive and in stable condition, and we look forward to completing this investigation.

East Coast residents felt the earth move Friday morning as a minor earthquake hit New Jersey and was felt in surrounding areas, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake measured at least 4.8 magnitude and struck near Lebanon, New Jersey, at 10:23 a.m., about 45 miles west of New York City and 50 miles north of Philadelphia, according to USGS. An estimate indicates the quake might have been felt by more than 42 million people in 14 states from Maine to North Carolina. More than 152,000 Americans reported feeling shaking to the USGS.
“Our region just experienced an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.7, with an epicenter near Readington in Hunterdon County,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement. “We have activated our State Emergency Operations Center. Please do not call 911 unless you have an actual emergency.
A 2.0 magnitude aftershock was recorded about five miles west of Bedminster, N.J., at 11:20 a.m., USGS officials said.
“A 4.8 magnitude earthquake hit New Jersey and was felt in parts of Pennsylvania,” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said. “My team and @PEMAHQ are actively monitoring the situation and in contact with counties on any damage. We will keep Pennsylvanians updated.”
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a similar statement and said her team “will update the public throughout the day.” At a press conference, Hochul said she felt the earthquake in the state capital of Albany.
“This is one of the largest earthquakes on the East Coast to occur in the last century. So I immediately directed my emergency management team the second we received word of this to start doing damage assessments,” Hochul said.
Several people on social media commented that they felt the earth shake in Manhattan and surrounding areas. Some reported feeling tremors in Connecticut, Rhode Island and as far north as Vermont and New Hampshire.
Lara Walsh, a resident of Norwalk, Connecticut, said shelves rattled and her house shook. “My group chat for Rowayton paddle tennis team exploded when we all said, ‘what was that,’ and came to the conclusion it was definitely an earthquake,” Walsh told Fox News Digital.
“I thought my furnace was exploding, because it was a loud sound. Some thought it was a plane above,” Walsh said.
Mark Block, who lives in Trumbull, Conn., said he felt the earthquake “pretty strongly” in his area.
“What first sounded like our furnace rumbling was quickly replaced by glasses clinking and pictures shaking. Never felt anything like it in 63 years here,” Block said.
New Jersey resident David Hofreiter said his whole house in Whitehouse Station “shook very strongly” for about 30 seconds.
“Wall mounted TVs shook and moved and pictures were moved out of place. Some things in the house were knocked off of shelves,” Hofreiter said. “Throughout the whole event there was an odd sound that I can’t describe. All the neighbors came out of their houses and gathered to discuss what had happened. We have no damage to our home or property, but it was scary.
The Fire Department of New York said there were no initial reports of damage. New York City emergency services sent a cell phone alert to residents on Friday morning.
Flights at the Newark and John F. Kennedy International airports were temporarily halted and have now resumed. The Holland Tunnel connecting New York and New Jersey was temporarily closed for inspection and has been reopened, authorities said.
“I encourage all New Yorkers to check on your loved ones, and if you feel an aftershock, drop to the floor, cover your head and neck, and take cover under a solid piece of furniture, next to an interior wall, or in a doorway,” Mayor Adams said in a statement.
“So far no major life safety issues reported, no reported infrastructure issues, but we will continue our inspections of critical infrastructure.”
At a press conference, the mayor encouraged New Yorkers to return to their day as normal. School operations and afters chool programs will continue as planned, officials said.
New York Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Otto asked construction professionals to check on the city’s 1.1 million buildings and determine if those sites are secure, reporting any “troublesome” conditions to his department.
“You need to go out and check on your buildings, even if those sites are closed,” Otto said. “This is a time for that tired and true saying, if you see something, say something.”
Friday’s earthquake was the strongest to hit New Jersey in more than a century, according to Josh Dozor, a former Deputy Assistant Administrator of FEMA.
“Earthquakes are relatively rare on the East Coast compared to regions like the West Coast due to several geological factors,” Dozor told Fox News Digital. He explained that the East Coast is situated in the middle of a tectonic plate, unlike the West Coast, which sits on a tectonic boundary and where earthquakes are more common.
“With that, the 4.8 earthquake that was felt in the Northeast this morning is a very rare occurrence. Although we have seen smaller earthquakes on the East Coast over the years, the estimated 4.8 magnitude earthquake would be the strongest to occur in New Jersey in nearly 250 years,” Dozor said.
“While earthquakes are uncommon in this region, it is imperative that individuals and businesses stay prepared as these natural disasters can occur at any given moment. If you feel an earthquake, you should drop, cover, and hold on and make sure to stay away from any heavy furniture.