KEEP YOUR EARTHQUAKE PREP UP TO DATE: “Grim Seismic Scenario:” California’s ‘Big One’ Could Be Caused by 2 Faults Combining. But remember that there are faults outside California — the New Madrid is overdue, for example. Some earthquake-preparedness stuff is rounded up in this post. And I actually keep some supplies, and one of these, in a shed so that if the house is knocked down by a tornado or earthquake, they won’t be buried.