By Juliana Campbell
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Published: March 09, 2010

When people think of California, one of the first words that usually comes to mind is earthquake.

The San Andreas Fault, which snakes uncomfortably close to Orange County and other large cities along much of California’s length, has been relatively quiet for the past 150 years but that could end very soon.

“California will have an earthquake, it is not if, but when,” said David Bowman, chairman of geological sciences at Cal State Fullerton. “California actually has earthquakes daily, they are just too small for us to feel.”

The San Andreas is not the only fault along which an earthquake can occur. It is just the largest fault of a large complex of faults making up the San Andreas Fault Zone.

“There are lots of faults and in various sizes, most are small. The San Andreas Fault, Ellsinore Fault, Whittier Fault, Newport Fault and Inglewood Fault,” said Bowman. “At CSUF we sit on top of Puente Hills Fault then there is a little portion that is called the Coyote Hills Fault.”

Although CSUF students and faculty are well aware California will eventually face another earthquake, few are prepared for a disaster.

“Count how many bridges you go under or cross on the way home,” said Dr. Brady Rhodes, geology instructor. “If those bridges are impaired then you wont be able to get home. Also figure out how you are going to get food and water when buildings are no longer accessible.”

Since 1857, the San Andreas Fault has not had a big earthquake. That leaves California over 150 years past due.

The Fort Tejon earthquake, which occurred on Jan. 9, 1857, was the biggest earthquake California experienced. The amount of fault slip gave the earthquake a moment magnitude of 7.9. Although the area was not that populated, it still was recorded as extremely destructive.

“I would rather be at home when an earthquake happens,” Rhodes said. “People do not realize how dangerous an office space or their surroundings are. Look in your office, classroom or personal space and see all of the things that can shift and move. Things will fall and break, essentially your printer or laptop can be in your lap.”

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake, which occurred July 28, 2008 definitely, shook things up, said Administrative Lieutenant John Brockie. The earthquakes epicenter was located about three miles west of Chino, Calif. and about 28 miles east of Los Angeles.

“When the July 28 earthquake happened I was standing in front of the old Police Building,” Brockie said. “There was minor damage in multiple buildings but nothing structural. The library was definitely a mess with all the books on the floor, but that was a given due to the shaking.”

Although Brockie stated that no one was hurt physically he did mention they were very visibly scared.

The CSUF Police Department is designed to act in concert with the other services available on the campus, to protect and provide a safe environment for the students, staff and faculty of the campus no matter what the situation may be but for material things such as batteries and pillows students will be on their own.

“California is going to get a big earthquake because we are on a major fault system,” associate professor Phillip Armstrong said.

“Southern California is more at risk, rather than Northern California because the San Andreas Fault is close to us. Southern California should expect a 7.0 magnitude, if not higher.”

Many can still remember the Northridge earthquake, which occurred on Jan. 17, 1994 in Reseda, a neighborhood in LA, that lasted for about 20 seconds. The earthquake had magnitude of 6.7, but the ground acceleration was one of the highest ever instrumentally recorded in an urban area in North America.

Seventy-two deaths were attributed to the Northridge earthquake, with over 9,000 injured. In addition, the earthquake caused an estimated $20 billion in damage making it one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history.

“I am not prepared for an earthquake,” admits English major Raymond Reyes. “I am scared what it may do and where I can go. Even though I consider myself to be self-sufficient regarding my condition being paraplegic, I am afraid how would I get around in my wheelchair. That is one of the last things people think about when these things strike.”

California State Northridge had students on hold with their studies until the university could clear their buildings and make it safe for re-occupancy after the 1994 earthquake. Many students in the dorms were reported sleeping inside their cars and the quad until it was safe to go back in their rooms.

“There are models that predict loss of life and monetary figures but we really do not know how many people are really going to be hurt and what the damage is going to be when we get this earthquake,” Armstrong said.

According to Brockie CSUF faculty and staff participate in emergency drills twice a year in case a disaster strikes. They go through routine exit routs and what to do in case someone is hurt.

“I think everyone should participate in a earthquake drill,” Reyes said. “Not just faculty and staff everyone handles things differently, you can have someone who you think will crack take action and the strongest person fall to their knees.”

The purpose of the Great California ShakeOut is to help people and organizations get better prepared for major earthquakes, and also practice how to protect themselves when they happen.

The next ShakeOut Drill is scheduled for Oct. 21 at 10:21 a.m.

The main goal of the ShakeOut is to get Californian residents and students prepared for major earthquakes, so use the ShakeOut as an opportunity to learn what to do before, during, and after an earthquake. Visit Earthquakecountry.info/roots/seven_steps.html for tips on how to prepare, protect and recover.

“We cannot predict earthquakes, they just happen. People want to hear that there is an earthquake on Thursday,” Bowman said. “The San Andreas is locked and loaded, ready to go. It can produce a big earthquake today, tomorrow or fifty years from now, it’s time that people realize that.”