California Geologists: Recent Quakes Should be Wake-Up Call

The science indicates that something is coming

We should be prepared that we can have a quake this size in California. —Professor John Rundle, UC Davis Dept. of Geology

October 8, 2009
Will Frampton
ABC News 10

SACRAMENTO, CA - The seismograph in downtown Sacramento had a busy afternoon Wednesday.

Even though it was charting activity from across the Pacific Ocean, it nonetheless showed several areas of major seismic movement, just as it has on several other occasions in recent days.

Even though that activity is happening thousands of miles away, UC Davis Geology Professor John Rundle said we should be paying attention.

"Earthquakes can trigger other earthquakes," said Dr. Rundle. "Earthquakes can become correlated in space and time."

State Geologist John Parrish takes it one step further.

"The type of earthquakes that we're seeing in the far west Pacific right now are capable of being generated off California," he said.

Both experts say that it's not a question of if the next big one will happen, but when.

Even though quakes are interconnected, the recent events in the western Pacific do not necessarily have direct correlation with what happens in Northern California. However, they are a valuable indicator.

"We can certainly expect more activity in (the south Pacific) region, that's the most active seismic region on earth," said Rundle.

"We should be prepared that we can have a quake this size in California," said Parrish, referencing the recent activity in the far west Pacific.

The science indicates that something is coming, and some of us are likely to see it during our lifetimes.

Said Rundle, "We know that we're in the second half of a major earthquake cycle, leading up to another major earthquake in the Bay Area and also Southern California."

If you don't already have one, Rundle suggests developing an earthquake aftermath plan. Determine who you'd need to find, and how you would get to them, after a major quake hits. Also, look into buying earthquake insurance.

http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=68350&catid=2