When the accumulated energy grows strong enough, the plates break free. If the earthquake occurs in a populated area, it may cause many deaths and injuries and extensive property damage. Today we are challenging the assumption that earthquakes must present an uncontrollable and unpredictable hazard to life and property. Scientists have begun to estimate the locations and likelihoods of future damaging earthquakes. Sites of greatest hazard are being identified, and definite progress is being made in designing structures that will withstand the effects of earthquakes.
EQs occur at all times of day.
There have been damaging EQs both in the a.m. Many people believe EQs are more common in certain kinds of weather. In fact, no correlation with weather has been found. In the last 20 years we have been able to locate more EQs yearly because of the increase in the number of seismograph stations in the world and improved global communications. This increase has help us and other seismological centers to locate many small EQs which were undetected in earlier years.