[Joe Hadenuf]

Will a big quake usually be the FIRST to hit, and then smaller aftershocks, or can you get little ones leading up to a big one too?

I'm no seismic expert, but generally the larger in a series will be first, then smaller. My experience is a large event followed by smaller after shocks...

Others here are much more knowledgeable than I when it comes to seismic events....Maybe someone else can answer that better....

[Merdoug]

Yeah; I don't know much about earthquakes myself, but I always thought that the "biggie" came first.

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

As a second generation Californian that has been around for 40+ years, I can verify that there can be what is called pre-quakes. A series of smaller quakes that can lead up to a big one.

My parents experienced this phenonoma(sp) in the late 80's or early 90's in El Centro. They had a small earthquake at about 8 or 9 in one night. Both decided to prepare for a major quake in the middle of night without informing the other. They carefully laid out clothes with flashlights readily available. Sure enough about 5 AM and a big one hit. I believe that it was an 8.1.
My Mom doesn't handle big earthquakes real well. She was unreasonable for about two hours after the quake. She finally lock herself in the car to "ride out" the after shocks. My Dad finally shipped her to my brother's place to get her out of the area.