Earthquakes are the sudden movements of Earth’s crust that usually occur at plate boundaries. You may have never experienced an earthquake, but you probably have heard about the devastation caused by the large one that struck Port-au-Prince, Haiti on January 12, 2010. The first of many earthquakes to strike this region struck just before 5 p.m., and toppled buildings and homes, caused casualties, and affected more than a million lives!

Earthquakes happen every day around the world. Many release a small amount of energy only detectable by specialized instruments. Other earthquakes, like the one that struck Haiti, can be so devastating that there is a call to action for the world to unite, reach out, contribute to disaster relief efforts, and help rebuild a nation.

Living in seismic zones, areas where earthquake activity occurs frequently and consistently, can be dangerous. Geologists and engineers are working hard to understand how earthquakes work and are using this information to construct buildings that can withstand these types of natural disasters.