Hi 2 Cents,

The California Earthquake Prediction Council evaluates earthquake predictions brought to them by members of the scientific community only. They would be the same as the one that Canie posted. Scientists who believe the potential exists for a large earthquake, which may affect the lives and property of the citizens.

As you can imagine it must be very difficult for those members to sit down with a possible quake in the making and try to make a determination as to whether to issue a public warning. Keep in mind to do so means that they have to place all public services on alert. This encompasses a lot of personnel. It could mean that police and fire workers may not be able to go home for the night, or hospital workers may have to set up special provisions. All of this costs money also. Not just government money, but for every agency affected they have to pay over-time to all of these workers. So its more than just issuing a prediction.

But if you go down the middle of the road instead of making the big play, the citizens have the opportunity to take a part in preparedness and a chance to get ready.

The other thing we also must take into consideration is that in CA more hospitals are built on fault lines than probably anywhere else in the world. They would be better off with fewer staffers at the time of the earthquake so more could be there when needed, provided they could get there.

There probably have been dozens of requests to issue warnings, but in the short amount of time these members have to review the data that is presented to them means that they are at an obvious disadvantage. We all know a cluster, swarm or what-have-you does not mean a big quake is coming, so you have to wonder what they need to make that decision to provide a warning. I have no idea.

Petra