This post was updated Oct. 11 at 12:36 a.m.

Every resident of Southern California lives within 10 miles of an active earthquake fault.

The numerous faults make the region highly susceptible to earthquakes – a fact residents of the Los Angeles area were reminded of when several hit in August and September. While these earthquakes may be minor, they serve as gentle reminders that we need to be prepared for future seismic activity, said Scott Brandenberg, a professor of civil and environmental engineering.

Jonathan Stewart, another professor of civil and environmental engineering, said California’s high seismic activity is due to the presence of a major plate boundary – the San Andreas Fault.

“Everything to the east side of that fault is the North American plate, and everything to the west side of it is the Pacific plate,” Brandenberg said. “Here at UCLA, we’re actually on the Pacific plate, and we’re slowly moving north towards San Francisco.”

Anywhere there is a plate boundary, there are many earthquakes, Brandenberg said. Not all these earthquakes happen on the San Andreas Fault, as there are many smaller faults parallel to it, he added.

The Aug. 12 Highland Park earthquake felt by many was one example of an earthquake caused by a smaller thrust fault, Stewart said.

Jessie Ma, a first-year physiological science student, said she felt the Highland Park earthquake around 12:20 p.m. that day.

“I was taking a nap and I woke up,” Ma said. “I was like, ‘Oh, what’s this?’”

Laura Ngo, a UCLA alumnus, also said she felt the Highland Park earthquake, with her pet cats hiding under her bed in response to the ground shaking.

Ma, who grew up in Southern California, added that she doesn’t feel earthquakes have impacted her day-to-day life so far.

However, a major San Andreas Fault earthquake may be in California’s near future, Stewart said, with the last major earthquake on the fault line occurring in 1906.

“The southern end of the San Andreas Fault is really far overdue. It’s been over 300 years, and they happen about every 150, so we can expect it almost anytime,” he said.

Jon Gudel, the senior emergency services coordinator at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services’ Earthquake Early Warning Program, said earthquakes do not give notice before striking.

“These latest string of earthquakes is just another example of the unpredictability of earthquakes and why it’s important to be prepared,” he said.

Gudel added that it is important for residents to have a plan about where to meet up or evacuate in a potential disaster. He said he recommends people prepare an emergency bag with items including medications, cash, phone chargers and enough water and food for 72 hours.

Stewart said he hopes people will take these recent earthquakes as an opportunity to improve their earthquake preparedness. He added that the first thing to do in an earthquake is to “drop, cover and hold on.”

“Getting down and protecting your head from falling objects is the best thing you can do,” Stewart said.

Running out of a building during an earthquake when debris could be falling is inadvisable, Stewart said, adding that it’s better to remain indoors and leave after the shaking stops. Brandenberg added that building collapse is much less likely than sustaining an injury while trying to run during an earthquake.

Schools should inform students of earthquake procedures, including where to find resources in the case of a major earthquake, Ma said.

Gudel said he recommends the Earthquake Warning California website as a one-stop shop for all earthquake preparedness tools. He added that everyone in California should download the free earthquake early warning app MyShake, which he said could buy someone enough time to take protective actions like “drop, cover and hold on” just before an earthquake strikes.

“It’s a lifesaving tool, and there’s really no reason not to have it on your phone, especially if you’re living in seismically active areas,” Gudel said.

September was also National Preparedness Month, during which the Federal Emergency Management Agency conducted disaster preparedness outreach.

Gudel added that in October, Cal OES will travel the state to promote the Great California ShakeOut, which will be at 10:17 a.m. on Oct. 17 this year. At that exact time, participants will practice the “drop, cover and hold on” drill. Cal OES’s promotions for the ShakeOut will involve a 7.0 earthquake simulator, he said.

“It’s a huge campaign and a tour to remind folks … to always be prepared,” Gudel said. “You just never know when that next earthquake is going to strike.”