Earthquakes’ sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. They can happen anywhere, but they’re most common in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The California coast was shaken by seven earthquakes in less than 24 hours, raising concerns among residents about the potential arrival of "The Big One." The United States Geological Survey (USGS) detected a 3.

A series of small earthquakes hit near a Bay Area city on Thursday, with the most recent being a magnitude 3.7, according to the US Geological Survey.