Scientists have determined a mega-earthquake happens every 100 years on average in California. The last time a Big One — like a magnitude 7.8 quake, like the stuff of nightmares — the last time one of those hit Southern California, it was about 164 years ago. Back then, L.A. had a population of just over 4,000 people. The metro area is now over 12 million. So to coach us through earthquake anxiety, we’re getting together today with L.A. Times reporters Rong-Gong Lin II, Rosanna Xia and Alex Wigglesworth, who cover wildfires, the coast and, of course, earthquakes. It’s our monthly panel of peril, our colleagues of catastrophes. In this episode, it's the second installment of our series — cue ominous voice — "Masters of Disasters."

More reading:

Read "Unshaken," the L.A. Times' guide to earthquake preparedness

Where would a major tsunami strike? Malibu, Venice and Long Beach, get ready 

From the archives: 112 years ago: Images from San Francisco’s devastating 1906 earthquake