Chances are, that over the course of your lifetime, you will feel an earthquake. Whether it is merely an interesting experience, or a cataclysmic event, depends on the strength of your earthquake preparedness.

Coping with earthquakes does not necessarily mean packing your bags and moving; there are very few places of refuge. Nearly all major cities live with the same degree of seismic risk involving major damage associated with a rare earthquake. Not that they all have the same chance of an earthquake (seismic hazard), but human nature being what it is, all cities drift to a level of earthquake preparedness consistent with living memory. Thus, Los Angeles, has had many earthquakes in the past hundred years, so it has much tougher building codes (but a chance of a really big overwhelming earthquake!), but Boston or New York City have many older buildings extremely susceptible to the earthquake damage of a seismic event that would be considered quite moderate by California standards.

The best chance you have to reduce your seismic risk is to choose your home location. You may have to live and work in California, but you can beat the odds. Check out the neighborhood and see if there was damage in previous minor earthquakes. If the house is cracking for a little earthquake, it's on resonating soft soil, so beware! The best place to live is on a solid foundation, such as rock. Failing that, you need a very well-built house.

The office and your commuting route bear close scrutiny. Remember those pictures of bridges and viaducts! The local schools are very well built in California. In other parts of the country, you do not have the benefit of previous earthquake experience, you have to avoid poor construction on soft soils.

Finally, have your personal preparations ready. There are numerous Internet links on how to create emergency kits. No matter where you live in the world, do not have big heavy things hanging or leaning over your bed!