Hi All. There seems to be some difference of an opinion as to whether or not USGS personnel can predict an earthquake, or not.

After talking with the USGS today I was told that there is nothing that says they can’t make a public earthquake prediction, but they do so at their own peril. The proper procedure is to submit it to a board with the date, location, magnitude, probability and data to support the prediction. To date the board has never sanctioned a prediction. Also no prediction that has been submitted to the board has ever come to pass.

Some advisories have been issued. One was for the possibility of a major quake on the San Andreas fault after the Hector Mine quake, and one for 5 days following the foreshocks to the Loma Prieta quake. Take Care…Don in creepy town