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Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country

Southern California Spring Edition

This popular 32-page earthquake science and preparedness handbook was first published in 1995 by the Southern California Earthquake Center, and has been updated yearly since 2003. The handbook is now available in both English and Spanish, and features current scientific understanding of when and where earthquakes will occur in Southern California, and how the ground will shake as a result. Updated maps of earthquakes, faults, and potential shaking are included as well as instructions on how to get information after earthquakes.

A comprehensive preparedness section is organized according to the "Seven Steps on the Road to Earthquake Safety." These steps provide a simple set of guidelines for preparing and protecting people and property, and to survive and recover from a damaging earthquake.

Individual copies may be available for free at home improvement centers in southern California, and copies of the Spring 2006 edition can be requested for free at www.earthquakecountry.info/roots. The handbook is also available via this website as web pages and also as a downloadable PDF document.


Read Online:
in English | en Español
Download PDF:
in English | en Español
Request Free Handbook(s):
in English | en Español


San Francisco Bay Region Edition

The U.S. Geological Survey has adapted material from previous editions of Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country to create a version of this handbook specifically tailored to the San Francisco Bay Region.

Please go to http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/nca/prepare/index.php to access this publication.



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