Abstract
I was on my way home from one of the most earthquake-prone parts of the country (Santa Cruz, Calif.) when I heard news that a big one had hit the Los Angeles area. After inquiring about the epicenter, I quickly calculated its distance from my home and estimated the number of fault lines in between (since these act as shock buffers) and concluded that my wife and boys and pets, though shaken up, would almost certainly be safe from harm. Still, I was eager to get home to see for myself and offer whatever help might be needed.