Generations of Californians have been "putting down roots" along one of the world's most famous faults- the San Andreas. However, few Californians have experienced a major San Andreas earthquake. In Northern California, the last major earthquake was 100 years ago in 1906. Over 3,000 people were killed and 225,000 people were left homeless. In Southern California, the last major earthquake on the San Andreas fault was 150 years ago (1857), rupturing the fault from Central California to San Bernardino. Few people lived in the area, so there was very little damage.

Further south along the San Andreas fault, from San Bernardino through the Coachella Valley to the Salton Sea, over 300 years have passed since the last major earthquake (around 1680). Another major earthquake is likely to happen on this section of the fault within our lifetime, and will shake all of Southern California. A study led by the U.S. Geological Survey describes in great detail the extensive damage and casualties that result from such an earthquake, and recommends many ways that we can keep this natural disaster from becoming a catastrophe.

While the San Andreas is most likely to be the source of our largest earthquakes, there are hundreds of other faults throughout Southern California that could also cause damaging earthquakes. Some may happen before the next San Andreas earthquake and could be even more destructive if they occur directly beneath densely populated areas.

This handbook provides information about why we should care about earthquakes in Southern California, what we should do to be safe and reduce damage, and also what we should know about earthquake basics.

Credits

	Why should I care? Southern California is Earthquake Country Southern California Earthquakes and Faults Future Earthquakes One Plausible Big One Recovering from a Big One
	What should I do? The Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety The seven steps to earthquake safety STEP #1: Identify potential hazards in your home and begin to fix them. STEP #2: Create a disaster-preparedness plan. STEP #3: Prepare disaster supplies kits. STEP #4: Identify your building's potential weaknesses and begin to fix them. STEP #5: Protect yourself during earthquake shaking- drop, cover, and hold on. STEP #6: After the earthquake, check for injuries and damage. STEP #7:When safe, continue to follow your disaster-preparedness plan.
	What should I know? Earthquake Basics Earthquakes and Faults Locating and measuring earthquakes Earthquake shaking Information available after earthquakes
	The Resource Mine Web resources

Copyright 2008, Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) at the University of Southern California. Reproduction by permission only.

SCEC is a research consortium supported by the National Science Foundation and the United States Geological Survey, headquartered at the University of Southern California.

Disclaimer: The suggestions and illustrations included in this document are intended to improve earthquake awareness and preparedness; however, they do not guarantee the safety of an individual or a structure. The writers, contributors, and sponsors of this handbook do not assume liability for any injury, death, property damage, or other effect of an earthquake.

Prepared by the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) and the Department of the Interior United States Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the California Earthquake Authority (CEA), with contributions from many members of the Earthquake Country Alliance

Writers: Lucile M. Jones, USGS and Mark Benthien, SCEC

Producers:Mark Benthien and Robert de Groot, SCEC (second edition) and Jill Andrews, SCEC (first edition)

Contributors: SCEC (USC): Ilene Cooper, Thomas Henyey, Tran Huynh, John Marquis, Suzanne Perry, Glenn Song, Brion Vibber; USGS: Dale Cox, Kenneth Hudnut, Sue Perry, Ken Rukstales, Michael Rymer, Bob Simpson, David Wald, Lisa Wald; FEMA: Hassaan Sughayer, Dennis Sylvester, Doug Bausch, Jeffrey Lusk; California Office of Emergency Services: Greg Renick, Deborah Steffen, James Goltz; California Geological Survey: Jerry Treiman, Chris Wills, Charles Real; California Seismic Safety Commission: Fred Turner; California Earthquake Authority: Nancy Kinkaid; Insurance Information Network of California: Candy Miller; American Red Cross: Peggy Brutsche, Rocky Lopes; County of Los Angeles; Joyce Harris, Phyllis Tan, Larry Collins; Caltech: Vikki Appel, Egill Hauksson, Margaret Vinci; Harvard: Andreas Plesch, John Shaw; KFWB: Jack Popejoy; Trevco: Dean Reese, Brian Lowe, Jeff Primes; and many other members of the Earthquake Country Alliance.

Special thanks to members of the 1906 Earthquake Centennial Alliance for improvements implemented in the San Francisco Bay Region version of this handbook, many of which now have been adopted in this Southern California edition.

Design: Denton Design Associates: Margi Denton, Elizabeth Burrill

Illustrators: Daniel Clark (p. 18); Todd Connor (p. 14, 15, 21); Ann Elliott Cutting (p. 11, 17, 19, 20, 22, 23); Fuel Creative Group (p. 13); Dale Glasgow (p. 24); Min Jae Hong (p. 29); Stephanie Langley ( p. 4, 6, 10, 18, 20, 21, 26); Punchstock (p. 22); Jere Smith (cover, p. 2, 3, 32); and Robert Zimmerman (p. 14, 16, 18, 20).