A false alarm claiming a major earthquake had just struck the western US sparked confusion and panic Thursday morning.

According to an alert from the US Geological Survey (USGS) just after 11am ET (8am local), a powerful 5.9 magnitude earthquake was recorded just east of Carson City, Nevada.

This false alarm set off alerts and seismic warnings in California‘s Bay Area, less than 200 miles away, which has been preparing for a massive earthquake for decades.

Read more: Earthquake alarm sparks panic from Nevada to California with warning of 5.9-magnitude shock