Hi Todd,

Maybe you're right. But you know when the recent swarm occurred it was foo-fooed in the press as just an ordinary occurrence, which of course fuels the apathy. But I'll tell you what really works. Several 5.0 or larger earthquakes in California in a short period of time. That sets the alarm bell like nothing else. I've seen it before. It's a real motivator.

But the next time this happens I'd like to hear a two fold message: 1. a scientist who will say "while this is not a major earthquake, we could have one at any time on an number of faults in the state." 2. Have someone say something about earthquake preparedness which enters into the same article. A clear message needs to include both and that might be more successful than just the discovery of another dangerous fault in an article with nothing about preparedness.

I am a realist in understanding too many people are not ready now and will not be ready whenever. The rest of us will have to make due consideration of them. Like we haven't in the past, right?

Petra