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While the rest of the country might jeer at our naïveté, we Southern Californians pride ourselves on our paradoxical relationship with nature. Proximity to the mountains and the sea are touted as a major regional advantage, but it was sheer human will in the face of ecological challenges that helped build this city. And the ever-present prospect of earthquakes makes living in Southern California even more, well, special.
The utter unpredictability (and potentially huge impact area of tremors) heightens the fear factor. Until now. So LAist doesn’t know which is worse—knowing credible evidence that one might be on the way, or complete blissful ignorance.
In the interest of keeping California citizens informed and safe, Senator Barbara Boxer’swebsite includes a page dedicated to earthquake preparedness. Senator Boxer also sent an email to remind her constituents that “one scientist, who has made other successful earthquake predictions, has forecast a quake for the desert portion of Southern California by autumn.” Between this forecast and the recent arrival of West Nile Virus in our midst, maybe it’s a good time to plan that late summer vacation. Those of heartier mind and spirit should resist the paranoia and stick it out.
