Seismologists have said that California is long overdue for “The Big One,” a major earthquake that would cause significant damage, and officials believe parts of the Santa Clarita Valley may be at risk of liquefaction.

Aside from preparing an emergency kit, Santa Clarita Valley residents should also make sure their home is safe by knowing which type of soil on which their house is built.

There are areas within the valley under homes, businesses and schools that are in liquefaction zones, which means there is a transformation of granular material from solid state to a liquefied state as a consequence of increased pore water pressure, according to City of Santa Clarita officials.

The areas are primarily found near the Santa Clara River and its tributaries where there is a high groundwater table.

During the intense shaking of an earthquake, any structures sitting on this soil will surely face the possibility of major damage, tilting and even collapse, according to the United States Geological Survey.

Liquefaction resulting from the San Fernando earthquake in 1971 of 6.6 magnitude caused damage in the towns of Newhall and Saugus resulting from the ground shaking on graded alluvium, according to Santa Clarita officials.

Alluvium is a deposit of clay, silt, sand and gravel left by flowing streams in a river valley or delta, typically producing fertile soil.

The Northridge earthquake in 1994 of 6.7 magnitude also caused liquefaction ground settlement, abundant ground fractures and sand blows in Potrero Canyon in Val Verde, according to officials.

Related: Earthquake Alert App Being Created To Warn Residents ‘Moments Before Impact’

Additionally, the 1994 earthquake caused concentrations of structural and pipeline damage in Pico Canyon and the Newhall area.

When a destructive earthquake would strike is unpredictable, so how do you prepare while living in a seismic hazard zone?

Depending on the use and occupants of the structure, the degree of hazard and topographic setting, one must understand the hazards and take action, according to officials.

Modifications can be done to properties through “improving” the ground so that it is less susceptible to liquefaction, fortifying structures to withstand liquefaction of underlying soils and purchasing insurance to cover anticipated losses, according to the USGS.

In a 2008 study by the USGS, scientists determined that the chance of having one or more magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquakes in the California area over the next 30 years is greater than 99%.

Such quakes can be deadly, as shown by the 1994 magnitude 6.7 Northridge earthquake.

The likelihood of at least one even more powerful quake of magnitude 7.5 or greater in the next 30 years is 46%, according to the USGS.

The study reported that such a quake is most likely to occur in the southern half of the state, which highlights the urgency to prepare now for the powerful quakes that appear to be inevitable in California’s future.

See if your home lies on a liquefaction zone here.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.