In Wake Of Hurricanes Irma & Harvey, Could A California Earthquake Be Next?

Massive 8.1 Quake Hits Mexico Rattles Some Californians 

By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Blogger

With all the fury nature has been throwing at the USA, one thought is running through the minds of many Californians: Are we next?

Watching news and social media reports of Hurricane Irma and prior to that, Hurricane Harvey, one cannot help but wonder if this state is next in line for a natural disaster. And, as Californians are aware, with earthquakes there is no buildup to them, no storm tracking and no preparations and evacuations that can be made ahead of time.

They just hit.

One earthquake already did occur during Irma. A massive 8.1 earthquake hit the southern Mexico town of Juchitan on Thursday, just as Irma was ravaging the Virgin Islands and Caribbean.  According to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, it was the strongest earthquake to hit the country in 100 years.

And Mexico, even southern Mexico, is not all that far from California.

This has rattled some people in the Golden State to ponder the possibility of one striking in this state, saying half-jokingly things like “gee you think we’re getting an earthquake” among friends about it.

“I’ve thought about that. I’ve totally thought abut that,” said one California resident and native of the state.

Another resident, who has lived in California for 20 years said, “that’s what everyone is thinking, but nobody wants to really say anything about it.”

So while Californias are watching the disaster in Florida – as they were the one in Houston – and worrying about friends and relatives in those and other hurricane-affected areas, they are also quietly thinking of themselves.

Because they know an earthquake is every much a realistic possibility in this state as hurricanes are in other states and areas. Life goes on – and outsider would not be able to tell anything is stirring in the minds of locals – but it’s in the minds of some of the residents.