Are you ready for the big California earthquake?

Earthquakes strike California everyday, but according to experts the “Big One” has yet to come. According to researchers at the University of California, destructive earthquakes strike California every 150 years; however the last destructive earthquake struck 300 years ago, which means that the “Big One” is long overdue.

Furthermore, the US Geological Survey predicts that the upcoming earthquake of a magnitude of 7.0 or higher will have devastating effects. The USGS predicts that there will be 1,800 deaths, 53,000 injuries, 1,500 collapsed buildings and 300,000 damaged buildings. Thus, they suggest that people become prepared. They recommend having a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, 1 gallon of water per person per day, and an emergency plan. Survival may depend on these preparations.

When asked if his family was prepared, Angel Gastelum, a junior in the Technology and Media Academy and a reporter, said, “I would say good enough as far as water and a fire extinguisher go, but… sometimes parents and other people don’t realize that an earthquake can happen at any second, so they don’t realize the importance of an emergency plan or first aid kit.”