Rattled San Ramon residents attend town hall over quakes

SAN RAMON, Calif. – Hundreds of San Ramon residents attended a town hall Friday to speak about current swarms of earthquakes which have rattled the area.

They heard from first responders and a seismologist who admitted there is no such factor as forecasting quakes.

Not potential to foretell quake exercise

What they’re saying:

“So we can’t tell you that there’s going to be another big earthquake – and we also can’t tell you that there’s not going to be another big earthquake,” Dr. Angie Lux of the Berkeley Seismology Lab mentioned. “We do know that this has been a very energetic swarm.”

Chief Jonas Aguiar of the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District mentioned, “She doesn’t have the ability to predict earthquakes, neither do we. But we don’t try to predict earthquakes. As you said, we try to be prepared for when that incident will take place.”

First responders say preparation is essential

What they’re saying:

San Ramon Mayor Mark Armstrong, a former FEMA official mentioned, “That’s why I wanted to emphasize about being informed, about having making a plan, and getting a kit and doing the things that individuals can do to be ready for a big earthquake.”

Don Parker, a former Oakland assistant fireplace chief and PIO and Vallejo fireplace chief who’s now a director with San Ramon fireplace district mentioned there are methods to organize for quakes.

“Make sure you have contact people to talk to outside the area because you recall, you lose power. Everyone’s trying to call in, everyone’s trying to call out,” Parker mentioned.

San Ramon resident Mark Lucas mentioned he realized one thing new.

“I grew up thinking I should go under a door frame – no. Go under a desk, go under a cabinet,” he mentioned.

Other residents say they had been reassured by what they heard on the town hall.

“I know that they can’t be predicted, and deep down I hope the big one isn’t coming, but it did make me feel better to know that I did things to prepare myself,” mentioned resident Molly Abreu.

Lux, the UC Berkeley seismologist, says one factor is for sure.

“Be prepared for that next big earthquake,” she mentioned. “We don’t know which fault it’s going to be on, but we do know that we can expect a big earthquake.”

Henry Lee is a KTVU reporter. E-mail Henry at Henry.Lee@fox.com and observe him on X @henrykleeKTVU and www.fb.com/henrykleefan