Thursday's and Friday's quakes were so powerful, they were buildings, cracked streets and foundations, and caused fire outbreaks and gas leaks.
How did no one see this coming? Well, scientists say they have no way of predicting earthquakes. The US Geological Survey says its scientists can only calculate the probability that a significant earthquake will occur in a specific area within a number of years.
That does not mean it knows and earthquake is coming.
And without long-term data and observations of animals, researchers are not sure whether the unusual behaviors relate to earthquakes or some other kind of chance in the animals' populations.
"You are safer practicing the drop, cover and hold on maneuver under a sturdy piece of furniture like a strong desk or table," the USGS says.
The ground does not open up during a quake
] We all thought it was possible after watching Dwayne Johnson's dramatic rescues in the movie "San Andreas." But the USGS says that only happens for Hollywood characters – not in reality. While shallow crevasses can form, do not open during an earthquake, the USGS says.
"Gap faults exist only in movies and novels. The ground on the two sides of the fault slide each other, they do not pull separately, "it says.
California will not get into the ocean
Here's some California resident contemplating a permanent relocation.
The USGS calls the idea that the state will be swept out to sea "absolutely impossible."
What will happen, however, is the slow – about two-inches-per-year slow — northward movement of southwestern California toward Alaska, as it slides past central and eastern California.
"The Pacific Plate is moving to the northwest with respect to the North American Plate," USGS says.
One day, 15 million years later, Los Angeles and San Francisco will be neighbors. Seismologist Lucy Jones speaks at the Caltech Seismological Laboratory following the 6.4 Searles earthquake near Ridgecrest. ” data-src-mini=”//cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/190706071252-01-ridgecrest-earthquake-lucy-jones-0706-small-169.jpg” data-src-xsmall=”//cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/190706071252-01-ridgecrest-earthquake-lucy-jones-0706-medium-plus-169.jpg” data-src-small=”http://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/190706071252-01-ridgecrest-earthquake-lucy-jones-0706-large-169.jpg” data-src-medium=”//cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/190706071252-01-ridgecrest-earthquake-lucy-jones-0706-exlarge-169.jpg” data-src-large=”//cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/190706071252-01-ridgecrest-earthquake-lucy-jones-0706-super-169.jpg” data-src-full16x9=”//cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/190706071252-01-ridgecrest-earthquake-lucy-jones-0706-full-169.jpg” data-src-mini1x1=”//cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/190706071252-01-ridgecrest-earthquake-lucy-jones-0706-small-11.jpg” data-demand-load=”not-loaded” data-eq-pts=”mini: 0, xsmall: 221, small: 308, medium: 461, large: 781″ src=”data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhEAAJAJEAAAAAAP///////wAAACH5BAEAAAIALAAAAAAQAAkAAAIKlI+py+0Po5yUFQA7″/>
