Earthquakes can happen anywhere along the California coast. An earthquake occurs when the ground suddenly begins shaking. Deep inside the earth are layers of rock that move and crack. It is the moving and cracking of these rock layers that causes earthquakes. Each year, many small earthquakes affect California. Even though most people normally can¡¯t even feel small earthquakes, large earthquakes have the capacity to cause major damage. They can cause buildings, bridges, and homes to fall down.
Because earthquakes are so common, buildings need to be built in special ways. Although this helps protect buildings from earthquakes, damage is still possible. Recently, large earthquakes have shaken several cities in California. For example, one woman recollected a memory for us about a large earthquake that happened in 1994. First, she heard a loud crack. Then, the dining area of her second-floor apartment moved downward. ¡°I felt like I was falling,¡± she recalled. ¡°Until I was outside of the building, I was unsure of what had happened. The earthquake had completely crushed the first floor.¡±