4Los Angeles, California
Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Venice Beach attract millions of visitors, but Southern California also has one of the highest earthquake risks in the United States.
The famous San Andreas Fault is only part of the story. Numerous other faults run beneath or close to the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
Possible consequences include severe ground shaking, damaged roads, fires, power failures, broken water lines and liquefaction in susceptible areas.
California nevertheless has strict building codes, extensive monitoring and earthquake warning systems that can provide precious seconds of notice in some situations.
Traveller tip: If your phone receives an earthquake warning, react immediately. A few seconds can be enough to move away from glass and take cover beneath a sturdy table.
