A magnitude 6.5 earthquake slammed central California Dec. 22, killing at least two people in Paso Robles and affecting the water supplies for many residents, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Hardest hit was the city of Paso Robles in northern San Luis Obispo County. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger toured the devastated areas Dec. 23, and declared a state of emergency. Divers there were planning to check a reservoir's concrete walls for possible cracks. Officials closed the reservoir and asked the town's 26,000 residents not to irrigate, but said tap water is drinkable, the article said.