By Brittney Hopper
NewsChannel 3

It's a question many people ask - "when and where will the next big earthquake hit?"

And for state and county officials, preparation is still of key importance in reducing serious injuries and death.

That concern was one of the main topics during an emergency preparedness conference in Ontario Wednesday.

"If you live near the San Andres Fault you've got to be prepared to experience a magnitude eight [earthquake]," says Dr. Lucille Jones, the scientist in charge of the Earthquake Program in Southern California.

Dr. Jones says now is the time to get prepared because large earthquakes typically happen every 150 years.

Jones says 2007 is the 150th anniversary of the last great San Andreas earthquake in Southern California.

It had a magnitude of 7.9.

"You will probably live through this earthquake but you may very well be bankrupt by this earthquake."

One of the main messages at the conference is to secure your stuff.

Dr. Jones says more than half of the injuries during the 1994 Northridge earthquake came from falling furniture or objects.

"If you follow the modern building codes, you're building will probably not completely collapse and kill somebody but you may have a complete loss in your investment."

If you're interested in hearing more about how you can prepare, Dr. Jones will be speaking at the Westin in Rancho Mirage Thursday morning at 10 AM.

Everyone is welcome.