Are we prepared for the big event? – NBC 7 San Diego

Southern California has been hit by a series of earthquakes in recent weeks, causing concern among residents that a larger quake might be imminent.

“Smaller earthquakes certainly help us understand the behavior of the fault, but we cannot yet make any predictions from them,” says geoscientist and civil engineer Ignacio Sepulveda.

Although the exact time, location and magnitude of an earthquake remain unpredictable, scientific and historical data can help estimate the likelihood of future seismic activity, which is critical for improving infrastructure, Sepulveda explains.

“Since we know how often earthquakes of a certain magnitude can occur, we can use this information to plan our cities, because this information about frequency can be converted into the probability of earthquakes. These probabilities can be used to plan buildings and ports…” Sepulveda added.

By applying this knowledge to urban planning, Sepulveda says we can better prepare for the reality of seismic risk.

“Here in San Diego, we have to understand that the last major earthquake in the southern San Andreas Fault was in 1680 and was a magnitude of 7.8… this area typically has an earthquake every 140 to 150 years, which means this place can produce an earthquake at any time and we need to be prepared when that day comes,” Sepulveda explained.

In addition to the long-overdue earthquake on the southern San Andreas Fault, there are also parallel faults in San Diego County that could be less severe but potentially more destructive.

“Although these faults can trigger earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 to 6.5, the problem is that they are very close to the city and can therefore still cause major damage,” warned Sepulveda.

Sepulveda advises that you should prepare: “Instead of worrying, you should act as you always do and try to prepare for an earthquake that can happen at any time.”

You can prepare by having an emergency plan, stocking up on at least three days' worth of water and nonperishable food, putting together an emergency kit, having cash on hand, designating a family meeting place, and securing large pieces of furniture in your home.