tectonic plates

Minute-by-Minute Breakdown of What Could Happen When California’s ‘Big One’ Earthquake Strikes

Recent increased earthquake activity in California has rekindled fears of the long-anticipated "Big One." This major quake, expected to hit along the 800-mile-long San Andreas fault, could cause catastrophic destruction, with estimated death tolls reaching 1,800, injuries exceeding 50,000, and damages surpassing $200 billion, according to the California Earthquake Authority. Although predicting the exact timing of such an earthquake is impossible, geologists believe the state is overdue for a major quake. Geologic evidence shows that a significant tremor along the fault typically occurs every 150 years, and it has been 167 years since the last one.