What is your earthquake risk?
Most people on the Central Coast live less than 15 miles from either the San Andreas fault or the San Gregorio fault. When these faults or breaks in the Earth’s crust “slip”, earthquakes can occur. To find your risk level based on where you live, where you work, or where your children may go to school, visit CalOES’s MyHazards, an online tool to generate risk reports.
The Southern California Earthquake Data Center (SCEDC) also lists the most recent earthquakes in California and Nevada for those interested in historical data. SCEDC is operated out of the Seismological Laboratory at CalTech. They hold and have hosted seismological data since 1932, and are an easily searchable and accessible repository.
Another resource to learn more about earthquake preparedness is the Earthquake County Alliance (ECA) administered by the Statewide California Earthquake Center based at the University of Southern California. They provide easy to follow guides for earthquake preparedness including how to prepare and how to survive and recover from an earthquake in 16 different languages.
They also support the Great ShakeOut which is a dedicated statewide earthquake drill day for most areas which is usually scheduled on the third Thursday of October. Everyone from children to adults including your workplace can participate. The 2026 Great ShakeOut is planned for October 15, 2026, at 10:15AM local time. Organizations can learn more about the event and register to participate on their website.
The Seven Steps to earthquake preparation, survival, and recovery
We’ll only highlight two of the seven steps recommended for earthquake preparation, survival, and recovery in the remainder of this blog post. You should review the full plan on the ECA website.
The first step is: securing your space. This includes identifying hazards and relocating them to safer areas where they will not injure people nearby or securing them so they will not move during an event. This includes furniture like bookshelves and knickknacks that may be stored on high shelves. Historical data has shown that most injuries during an earthquake are caused by objects that fall or fly during shaking.
Step five is to: Drop or Lock, Cover, and Hold On! Depending upon where you are when feel shaking or receive an earthquake alert, it’s important to assess how to best “drop” to protect yourself. Folks who are not able to get on the ground or cannot get up again without assistance, those requiring canes or using walkers and wheelchairs will need to take extra care to have support nearby and/or lock their assistance devices and find things like pillows to help them take cover. “Cover” can include pillows, a table, or just your arms and hands covering your head and neck. Maintain these holds – “Hold On!” – until all shaking has stopped.
Do not run outside or stand in a doorway during an earthquake. These are outdated earthquake safety strategies and no longer recommended.
Additional resources
UCANR Earthquakes Fact Sheet (Schweitzer, 2022)
- General information on earthquakes and related resources
Earthquake Food Safety Quick Tips from UCANR Master Food Preservers (2019)
- Tips include how to prepare food for an earthquake as well as how to assess food after an earthquake.
ECA Central Coast – the newest region of the statewide ECA
- See how maps of the Central Coast faults and potential earthquake epicenters