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Earthquake Time?
updated: Aug 16, 2012, 2:03 PM

By Edhat Subscriber

Apparently we are at a high risk for a big earthquake according to this website. Not sure how accurate or credible it is though. We just moved here from the midwest so we haven't experienced an earthquake yet so we're a little anxious. Thoughts?

QuakePrediction.com

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

ROGER DODGER	2012-08-16 02:12 PM
I need lorzepam...
COMMENT 309113	2012-08-16 02:13 PM
That site is completely fake, confirmed. There is always a risk for a quake in this area, but that site is complete junk and has no basis in any actual science.
COMMENT 309114	2012-08-16 02:15 PM
Fogettaboutit
COMMENT 309118	2012-08-16 02:17 PM
I agree animals can provide a few seconds warning. But making date-specific predictions of 6+ magnitude events is absolute rubbish. Luke Thomas sells a lot of advertising space on his website, I think that is his real motive.
COMMENT 309119	2012-08-16 02:17 PM
Always be prepared with first aid, flashlight, etc. for a major earthquake. I notice people who come from lesser quake areas seem to notice the smaller magnitude quakes and will sometime freak out. Just know that those small ones are constant and after awhile become unnoticeable.
COMMENT 309120	2012-08-16 02:18 PM
I moved here in 1996 and have barely felt two earthquakes. Don't spend your days worrying about it. When it happens (and it will), it'll happen. There has never been an accurate earthquake predictor, and anyone claiming to be able to predict them is lying. Some may APPEAR to be more accurate than others, but they are "accurate" in the same way that horoscopes are accurate. My advice is to chill and enjoy the SB climate. No more midwest and tornadoes. No southeast and hurricanes. No northeast and blizzards. It's funny how those areas suffer from those natural disasters EVERY YEAR, yet the people that live there say that they would never live in California because of the earthquakes. I don't get it.
COMMENT 309124	2012-08-16 02:20 PM
Bring it on !! Ive missed earthquakes
COMMENT 309126	2012-08-16 02:22 PM
Earthquakes are unpredictable, at least to the degree that these kinds of websites claim to be able to. I've heard testimonies and interviews from people that run websites such as this. They go on TV/Radio and claim to know exactly what day and a range of magnitude for an Earthquake. The host asks them to return to the show after the predicted date, and the guy always agrees cause he's 100% sure...then the date passes and he doesn't go back on the show...OR he goes back on the show and says "turns out my calculations were slightly off, it's actually next month"... They are just crazies.
AWESOME BLOSSOM	2012-08-16 02:23 PM
You know, alarmist things like take normal statistics and blow them up just to scare people. We live in the Pacific Rim of Fire. There is NO predicting when or how big an event will be, but we know for certain there WILL be an event. The more little events we have the better. Here's a link to a really good site that will help you a little,,pure science, no hokey alarmist ploys to scare you: http://www.scecdc.scec.org/
TISHERSELF	2012-08-16 02:26 PM
124-you obviously have never cleaned up after a major earthquake!!! The ride is bad enough!
COMMENT 309133	2012-08-16 02:28 PM
That "quake prediction" website does not seem credible at all. It's run by Luke Thomas, a guy living in Florida, who bases his predictions on ground temperatures ... his theory is underground friction heats the air above it. This guy has no scientific background. I can't post links, but watch the second link in his video section titled "KABC - TV7 Interview: April 13th, 2010". The USGS rep says Thomas' prediction theory doesn't hold up. I recommend you do a search using the keywords "earthquake preparedness checklist".
COMMENT 309135	2012-08-16 02:32 PM
We moved here from Houston. We will take earthquakes over hurricanes any day!
COMMENT 309136	2012-08-16 02:34 PM
Well, he has made very specific predictions for today and tomorrow here. I'm sure if nothing happens, he will print a large retraction on the site Saturday.
COMMENT 309139	2012-08-16 02:37 PM
How about some more practical advice? Several good things you can do to help yourself out are: (1) Keep a pair of slippers right next to your bed. In the Northridge quake, loads of people ended up with glass cuts on bottoms of their feet, thanks to jumping up out of bed, and running off barefoot. (Sturdier slip-ons might be best.) (2) If you sleep in the nude, better have a robe handy, too. Or a pair of pants and a top to grab as you run out of the house. (3) Have a set place to meet up with your family, should earthquake happen while you are all at work or play. This applies only if earthquake is a really damaging one. (4) Have a small kit ready, in your home, car and at work. A few essentials might make your life easier, if quake aftermath is chaos. (5) Keep extra water on hand. (6) Keep collars, id tags on pets. Have pets microchipped. We are long overdue for a big quake. Preparedness is a smart tactic.
COMMENT 309140	2012-08-16 02:37 PM
havent felt one in a while. good. means pressure is building. bad. could be a long time until the next one. good. could be tomorrow. bad. could be a small roller. good. could be major upheaval with collapsed buildings, roads with fissures and total destruction followed by huge tsunami reaching halfway up the 154. very bad. who knows.
COMMENT 309147	2012-08-16 02:46 PM
I've lived here for fifty years. The biggest local quake I experienced was about 5.3. It definitely made you sit up and take notice but there was little real damage. Of course the past fifty years say nothing about the next fifty years. The experts say that some day a really big one will strike a dense residential area in Calif. The more recent California construction practices provide quite a bit of protection.
COMMENT 309153P	2012-08-16 02:53 PM
That site has predicted major earthquakes every couple of days up and down the state and they don't happen so don't worry about it. Its a good idea living here to be prepared though red cross and other sites will have all the info you need to know.
COMMENT 309155	2012-08-16 02:53 PM
I've have lived in Cali all my life, and have experienced several earthquakes. I was at the A's vs Giants World Series (oct '89) as well as visiting family members in Northridge (Jan '94). Take whatever emergency measures you feel necessary. But two things I can say for sure to try and do - add at least a hundred bucks in small bills to your home emergency box and try to keep your car gas tank above at least 1/4 tank. In a big one the power takes a while to restore and as always, cash is king.
COMMENT 309157	2012-08-16 02:55 PM
Huge earthquake will happen in 30 seconds to 300 years. Have those bedside things in a bag tied or velcroed to the bed post so they will not be thrown across the room where you cannot find them in the dark and aftershocks. Include a dust mask as there will be much plaster and house dust. Include a whistle to call for help if you are trapped. A flat pry bar is good for opening jammed doors. Be prepared, not scared!
BURNTTHISTLE	2012-08-16 03:01 PM
better pack up quick. There is one coming soon
COMMENT 309162	2012-08-16 03:04 PM
Work with your neighbors. They should know where to meet up with you with your kids or animals that are home when one hits, and you for them in case your home and they are not. Get a copy of your insurance & other house papers to a friend or relative out of the area. Your contact person should be out of the area. This is the person you call to tell all is well and communicate to meet up with your family. Have crates for each animal. throw in bowls, toys, blankets and store where you can get to them. don;t forget meds for family and animals. the SB County has all this and more on their website. enjoy Santa Barbara!!!
COMMENT 309174	2012-08-16 03:15 PM
@157 said it best, "Be prepared, not scared!"
TISHERSELF	2012-08-16 03:28 PM
How many people have the 'quake key' attached to the gas meter? You want to get the gas turned off asap.
COMMENT 309190P	2012-08-16 03:37 PM
The site predicts quakes daily. In case you did not notice, they are trying to sell product. Relax!
COMMENT 309194	2012-08-16 03:47 PM
I think if I moved to the midwest I would be really really worried about tornados...cause I just dont understand them. Being a Californian, I dont worry about earthquakes I just roll through them. Have a plan, for your family, and it will be ok. To me a much more real disaster is fire...our hills can be very scary.
COMMENT 309196	2012-08-16 03:49 PM
Here's another tip. After an earthquake, water is your most precious commodity, not food. Your largest store of water is your water heater. Use the relief valve at the bottom of the heater to get at that water. But valves on older water heaters may leak after use. To avoid losing all your water, go to the hardware store and buy a plastic cap to screw onto the relief valve's spout. The cap will have a hose thread and is really cheap.
COMMENT 309201	2012-08-16 03:57 PM
BRING IT!!!!
COMMENT 309210	2012-08-16 04:16 PM
@139 - they're from the Midwest, so they don't sleep nude...yet. ;-)
MTNDRIVER	2012-08-16 04:18 PM
If you have valuable (sentimentally or otherwise) breakable things on open shelves or your mantlepiece, etc, stick them down with double-sided tape. Tall bookshelves should be attached to walls. It's been a long time since we've had a quake that made things fall off shelves around here, but it's good to be prepared. Have some water and canned goods on hand, flashlight, portable radio, etc. The normal emergency kit agencies like the Red Cross recommend and nobody ever seems to actually have on hand! And like others have said, that site is hogwash!
MTNDRIVER	2012-08-16 04:21 PM
And also, it is good to know what to do if there is one. Here's a USGS site with lots of resources: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/prepare/
COMMENT 309219	2012-08-16 04:33 PM
I moved here from Oklahoma. I will take one quake every four years over the 200 days a year of tornado warnings, hail that smashes car windows, extreme humidity in the summer and freezing temps in the winter. Welcome to California.
COMMENT 309226	2012-08-16 04:53 PM
There is always a good chance for a earthquake here. Best to have supplies and prepare for what will happen some day.There are big earthquakes that happen here like 7.+ plus gorman had a 9. in the 1800,s, Animals are a good indicator, There is a book called when snakes awake, it is a good read and a eye opener.There is a geoligist named Jim Berkland His site Syzygy.job Is the best for info on earthquake prediction, ther are a lot of posters that get a little caught up in them selfs. It is not a firm science but there are times when we get a small clue just before they hit,Check it out and learn Santa barbara earthquakes are precursored by strong oders of oil and tar. And there is usually a few 4.0 quakes 24 hrs before the bigger ones Check out the histoy and see for your self, That all said we have no need to live in fear of them just be prepared as best you can and enjoy your days
COMMENT 309236	2012-08-16 05:20 PM
The last major quake in the area was 3/13/78. I think it was about 7.0 magnitude. Bent the train tracks and caused a derailing. The last one before that was 11/4/1927. It was offshore and caused a small tsunami.
COMMENT 309237	2012-08-16 05:23 PM
The Mid West and the rest of the country get big, destructive quakes too but on a period of centuries not decades. The main difference is that in ca we build buildings to get the occupants out alive and a demo crew in. Single story wood frame buildings do particularly well in quakes. The forecast deaths for the great so cal quake are only a few thousand and there are many millions living here. You may be safer from earthquakes now that you've moved to 'earthquake country'. :) Lots of great advice here. Prepared not scared, 157
COMMENT 309244	2012-08-16 05:56 PM
USGS has an earthquake map for California that's updated in real time. It's very useful for looking up earthquakes and their magnitude. What we feel may be a much larger earthquake far away that could nonetheless generate a tsunami or aftershocks. Or it could be an extremely local earthquake that's felt only within a few miles of the epicenter. I hate it when people tell me to relax and forget about XYZ that may occur. We're basically the luckiest people on earth to live in the time we live. Luck eventually runs out so it's wise to have back up plans and not forget about the possibility of disaster. The catastrophic fires gave ample warning that we can't evacuate from here very easily if at all.
COMMENT 309256	2012-08-16 06:36 PM
If you're from the midwest, treat it like a tornado or snow storm. Keep a supply of emergency water and food for 3-5 days, blankets, flashlights (with extra batteries), hand crank radio, etc. Make plans with loved ones for a predetermined meeting spot if you are not all at home when it hits. Know where your gas shut off valve is, and use it if you smell a gas leak. The only thing that can hurt you is stuff falling on you, so firmly attach bookshelves to the wall, and if you feel a rumble and shake, go under a sturdy table, desk, or doorway and wait it out. Kinda fun if you look at it right.
COMMENT 309257	2012-08-16 06:37 PM
Imagine what would happen if fracking becomes widespread around here.
COMMENT 309258	2012-08-16 06:37 PM
Quakes are no problem.... if your house falls on you all that happens is that you inhabit that address for the rest of eternity as a Zombie Flea.
COMMENT 309261	2012-08-16 06:49 PM
If it is all of so cal you will want 2-3 weeks of food not days. The road and rail access will be cut by landslides and if it at a time of winter storm we may be on our own for weeks.
COMMENT 309274	2012-08-16 07:53 PM
i have lived here for 17 years and came from the east coast. everyone was like "OH MY GOD I WOULD NEVER MOVE TO CALIFORNIA WITH ALL THE EARTHQUAKES" i can say that i have felt (maybe) 2 earthquakes since i have been here. i was scared with the first one (although it just felt like a truck crashed into our house). now, when i watch the news with all the destruction of hurricanes and tornados....i would rather live here. i am ready for an earthquake but living here is no different than living anywhere else. there are always chances of something happening. i tell people...."oh yeah, don't move here because of the earthquakes, stay away, it is so scary" :)
COMMENT 309278	2012-08-16 08:28 PM
Manhattan Island is formed by a large fault that has not moved since the white man came. When it does, hundreds of thousands will die from massive un-reinforced buildings collapsing. Much safer in ca.
SBJULES	2012-08-16 08:37 PM
do make an earthquake kit. I have lived in CA all my life and the ones I remember are the northridge & sylmar. both were felt here. I have always kept ground coffee in my house because we lost power in the Northridge Quake and I could not use my electric coffee grinder.
COMMENT 309289	2012-08-16 08:54 PM
A 7.0 is the LA Basin is possible every other day of the year too... Quack.
COMMENT 309303P	2012-08-16 10:04 PM
great tips 139- thanks! Also, always check where exits are when you go into crowed places. Drop and cover down between the seats in a theater or anything firm as falling objects will hit that first. Stand in a threshold. Don't run outside while the earth is shaking because of falling debris. Stay away from powerlines. Get into a open, clear area if you can. Turn off the gas!!!
CORKY	2012-08-17 06:46 AM
We're always due for a big one in CA.
COMMENT 309378	2012-08-17 07:47 AM
A major earthquake would result in massive changes along the coast. The impact of these modifications to shoreline cliffs, coastal access, the snowy white plover and other concerns have not been reviewed or approved by the California Coastal Commission. Until the EER (Earthquake Environmental Review) has been presented, earthquakes are forbidden.
COMMENT 309397P	2012-08-17 08:16 AM
I went through several good-sized quakes in LA; never lost power, etc., however, it's smart to be prepared. The Red Cross sells an earthquake kit, but you can duplicate it yourself. Google "Earthquake Preparedness Kit" and you'll find information on what to keep close at hand (including the bedside) or stored somewhere that will continue to be accessible in the event of structure damage. Fluids are especially important. I also heard that it's smart to keep a comfortable pair of walking shoes in the trunk of your car in case you get stuck somewhere. Also, know how to turn off your natural gas supply. Ignore the don't worry, be happy folks. Don't worry; be prepared - and then be happy.
COMMENT 309402	2012-08-17 08:25 AM
Lots of great tips here, I second the suggestions to keep cash on hand, gas in the car, and ground coffee! Don't forget to keep a good supply of TP, toothpaste, diapers for the kids, and other personal products. If the power is out, the ATMs, gas stations, and grocery stores may be down for awhile.
COMMENT 309411	2012-08-17 08:36 AM
You should move back to the midwest, its terrible here. Earthquakes every single day.
COMMENT 309428	2012-08-17 09:08 AM
Between midnight and 9am today, there have been 78 earthquakes worldwide, of those, 15 were in the State of Callifornia. The smallest was 1.1 and the strongest 3.0 on the richter scale. You will live thru earthquakes and most of the time, never know they happened.
COMMENT 309448	2012-08-17 09:24 AM
Have you seen the earthquake girl on tv lately? Her name is......cornelius! Actually it's something like suzy brown. She sure is a cutie now!
COMMENT 309462	2012-08-17 09:40 AM
MOVE BACK to the midwest so those of us FROM here can afford a home!
MESAJIM	2012-08-17 10:15 AM
It's not only common for the smaller quakes, but also preferred--the smaller ones relieve tension on the faults. You go an extended period of time without ANY activity on a fault, THAT's when you know you're due for a bigger pop, and you'd better make sure your Zombie Apocalypse Kit is in order.
RHS	2012-08-17 10:33 AM
Has no one noticed that today is a classic "Earthquake Weather" day? Stay out of brick buildings until Monday.
COMMENT 309529	2012-08-17 11:00 AM
The first one you experience is scary. Mine was a 7.1 in Seattle in 1949. Ignore the edhat jokesters and take the advice of sensible comments. Be prepared the same as you would in any emergency.
COMMENT 309542	2012-08-17 11:20 AM
No such thing as "earthquake weather" as this rumor abounds at this time of year, when the Indian Summer or Santa Ana Winds disrupt our weather pattern. You need to be prepared anyway. If you don't have the drill and what to do in case of ready, do so now. Earthquakes, as far as any seismologist will tell you, can strike at any time.
COMMENT 309571	2012-08-17 11:57 AM
There's a critical typo; the correct name is QuackPrediction.
ROGER DODGER	2012-08-17 12:17 PM
EarthQuaketopia..
COMMENT 309611	2012-08-17 01:07 PM
Do NOT stand in a doorway unless you are in an unreinforced masonry building such as adobe or brick. This is ancient and dangerous advice. Violently swinging doors do damage such as crush hands. Seek cover NEXT to but not under something solid, preferably near an exterior wall to aid rescue.
COMMENT 309746	2012-08-17 06:47 PM
I'm the reverse. Grew up in SB, now live in the Midwest. Tornado's are probably a more reasonable concern here than quakes in Barbara Town. And if the big one does hit there. LA and Bay areas will probably be the areas rocked the hardest.
COMMENT 309802	2012-08-18 06:43 AM
746- When the New Madrid fault rips, Ca may feel it, but the Midwest will be rubble. Way too many un-reinforced masonry structures there. You have a lot more to prepare for in the Midwest than we do in ca.

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