Plate Tectonics Press Release
Public Education on Earthquake Preparedness
By Krystle Wilson
March 28, 2014

Los Angeles, CA – Earthquakes occurs frequently in Los Angeles and its surrounding areas in California. I would like to take some time today to discuss earthquake preparedness and discuss descriptions of hazards associated with earthquakes in Los
Angeles. I will also discuss the origin and causes of earthquakes, relation to the shifting plates to the natural process of mountain building, relation of earthquakes to plate tectonics and faults in Los Angeles. I will share some historical disasters associated with past earthquakes and discuss potential of future earthquake events.

Descriptions of hazards associated with earthquakes in Los Angeles
Earthquakes occurs and it occurs where there are tectonic plates or fault lines. The main earthquake hazard is the effect of ground shaking. The ground shaking can create hazards with buildings that may potentially collapse, roads may be unleveled, ground may split open. Because of Los Angeles being a large city with large population of people and buildings, there are gas lines running underneath the city. If an earthquake occurs, it may cause rupturing of the pipe line which could lead to fires and explosions.
(Michigan Tech, n.d.).

Origin and causes of Earthquakes
“The earthquakes in California in general are caused by the movement of huge blocks of the earth’s crust – the Pacific and the North American plates.” (Earthquake County, n.d.).
What happens in this case is that the Pacific plate is really moving in the direction of northwest. Because of the Pacific plate moving northwest, it is scraping horizontally past
North America at the rate of about 50 millimeters, or two inches, per year. According to
Earthquake County, “About two-thirds of this movement occurs on