No one can precisely predict when an earthquake is to happen. Since the 1994 6.7-magnitude Northridge earthquake in Los Angeles County that caused 72 deaths, 9,000 injuries and $25 billion in damages, Southern California has been anxiously waiting for "The Big One": a devastating quake predicted to be at least a 7.8 magnitude and 44 times stronger. Seismologists can only say that it may happen within the next 30 years.