Earthquake risk elevated in Southern California. Here’s why and what you can do

It was the news no one in Southern California wanted to hear.

After experiencing two major earthquakes in little more than a day — one 6.4 magnitude and the other 7.1 — seismologists said more significant quakes were likely and there was even a chance of another huge temblor.

Friday’s quake was felt over a wide area, much of the Southland and even into the Bay Area and Nevada. That got everyone’s attention.

But the forecast for potential more big seismic activity has people on edge.

Why is the quake risk so high now?

There’s a constant in earthquake science: Earthquakes make other earthquakes more likely.

It’s particularly obvious for a large temblor — a magnitude 7 is likely to be followed by one or more magnitude 6 aftershocks, many more magnitude 5 aftershocks and many, many more magnitude 4 aftershocks, and so forth.