Hi Todd. Assuming that if it occurred in the area you stated there probably wouldn’t be a high death toll. However it could occur much closer to the LA area then any of the past quakes.

Assuming the quake occurs it does not necessarily mean that it will occur in the projected area. A little further to the north would put it very close to high-density populated area. Further to the south would not necessarily put in a densely populated area.

Note: the statement says; “An earthquake on the southern San Andreas of magnitude-7.5 or larger could kill thousands of people in the greater Los Angeles area and cause damage estimated in the tens of billions of dollars, experts have said.” The greater Los Angeles area covers quite a bit of territory.

The Loma Prieta quake killed more people in the San Francisco area, which is about 80 miles from the epicenter of the quake. I didn’t hear of anyone being killed in the areas of Morgan Hill, or Gilroy, which are less then 15 miles from the quake. It depends on the direction of energy propagation and the type of soil and construction. Liquefaction was and is the problem in some areas of San Francisco. It is a greater factor in the greater Los Angeles area. Just because the last quakes in the Los Angeles didn’t kill a whole bunch of people doesn’t necessarily mean the next won’t. Take Care…Don in creepy town