Earthquakes may be par for the course in California, but even for those who’ve grown up with them, they can still rattle the nerves.
A magnitude 3.9 earthquake struck just outside L.A. Sunday night, jolting people who just a couple of hours earlier were celebrating the 97th Academy Awards.
Annenberg Media spoke with students across the University Park Campus to learn about how they felt the tremor -- if at all.
Brandon Phan, a junior business major from nearby Rosemead, was unfazed by the shake: “I slept right through it.”
Communications graduate student Megan Wall was about an hour away from visiting home when the quake happened.
“I’m from Orange County area,” Wall said, “so maybe it was a little bit less than here in L.A. So it probably varies per person.”
But some California natives, like communications major Jillian Wright, did get shaken up.
“I was in my room working on homework,” Wright said. “I was definitely caught off guard, because it was very intense, and kind of all at once. It’s been a while since we’ve had an earthquake.”
Kat Ramirez would have thought she’d feel the quake -- after all, the environmental studies major is from L.A.
“I was surprised, because I usually feel earthquakes, but I was deep in conversation,” Ramirez said.
What should a student do if the Big One decides to strike?
According to the United States Geological Survey, the best thing to do is find cover and stay there. Cover could be a table, a desk, or even a doorway. If caught outside during a tremor, try to avoid power lines, chimneys, or other hazards that could create dangerous situations.
The USGS also warns to be mindful of falling rocks in mountainous regions, and look out for signs of a tsunami in coastal neighborhoods.
The “Big One” refers to a massive earthquake with the potential to cripple infrastructure; no one knows when such an earthquake will hit, but the possibility of a large earthquake striking the region has been predicted for years.
Experts suggest residents always have a go-bag prepared in case of emergency, and to be aware of evacuation routes in their local communities.