After two of the largest earthquakes in decades hit Southern California over July 4 and its holiday weekend, government officials, engineers and geologists continue to assess the extent of the area’s structural damage. Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy’s largest air weapons testing facility, the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake located near the temblors' epicenters, remains in mission essential personnel status.

By July 15, the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) had completed assessments for 70% of 1,384 buildings located on 1.2 million acres of Navy property. On July 10, the base’s Armitage Airfield resumed operations with a first round of U.S. Navy fixed-wing aircraft deployment, said John Scorza, Navy chief mass communications specialist.