Is California Ready For "The Big One"

All of my life, I have heard stories about huge Earthquakes that have raddled the State of California in the past and most experts agree that within the next 10 to 20 years - residents there will once again experience mother nature at her very worst. A TV commentator said once that there is a price for living in paradise when describing California and the ever present threat of the "Big One" striking is the price millions of California resident face as the biggest draw back to living in an almost otherwise perfect climate. Almost every month, small Earthquake rumble the ground under some parts of California - but the "Big One" will be nothing like any other Earthquake people alive in the United States have ever witnessed.

Over the past several month, CDC officials have predicted a death toll of millions if a massive pandemic hits the United States. In the same way a pandemic could killed millions of people, more than likely just as many people could die if the predicted "Big One" Earthquake occurs directly under the ground of Los Angeles or San Francisco. A category 9 or 10 Earthquake centered directly under downtown Los Angeles or San Francisco would likely kill one million people and injure millions more. Even though the U.S. federal government and State of California officials have worked hard over the decades to reinforce tall buildings in these two cities. A massive category 9 or 10 Earthquake that lasted for more than a few seconds might have the effect of crumbling many tall skyscrapers to the ground.

Tall buildings are not the only things that would crumble like dust during the "Big One". California's massive freeway system would collapse to the ground under the tremendous shaking and shifting of the soil it is attached to when the "Big One" strikes again. Decades ago, I remember watching a movie that depicted a huge Earthquake that was centered under downtown Los Angeles. In that movie, the late Charlton Heston showed the world exactly what might happen in modern day Los Angeles if and when a huge Earthquake occurs directly under this nations second largest city. From my point of view, it appears that all that can be done - has been done to protect California residents. The as yet unanswered question is, could Los Angeles or San Francisco survive a category 9 or 10 Earthquake today?

Honestly, I do not believe that mankind has the knowledge yet to protect huge cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco from the "Big One" - which could exceed even category 10 strength on the rictor scale. That means that when the next massive Earthquake shakes the ground under LA or San Francisco, hundreds of thousands or more than a million people could be killed within the span of one minute and scores more would die of the injuries they suffered over the next couple of days. The rugged landscape that is modern day California was carved out by previous large Earthquakes and it is very likely that the way we see California today will be much different than what future generations will see after the "Big One" occurs again.