La falla de San Andrés acaba cediendo ante las temibles fuerzas telúricas y desencadena un terremoto de magnitud 9 en California. Ante tal catástrofe, el piloto de helicóptero de búsqueda y rescate Ray y su ex esposa Emma viajan juntos desde Los Ángeles hasta San Francisco para salvar a su única hija, Blake. Pero su tortuoso viaje hacia el norte solamente es el comienzo del desomoronamiento de todo lo que creían firme en su vida.
Hick handymen Val McKee y Earl Bassett apenas pueden ganarse la vida en la aldea Nevada de Perfection, por lo que deciden irse de la ciudad, a pesar de una advertencia de una estudiante de sismología que está aprendiendo extrañas lecturas de su equipo. En poco tiempo, Val y Earl descubren lo que es responsable de esas lecturas: gusanos carnívoros de 30 pies de largo con una tendencia a chupar a su presa bajo tierra.
When a discredited L.A. Seismologist warns of an impending 12.7 earthquake, no one takes her seriously. Now on her own, she races desperately to get her family to safety before the earthquake breaks Los Angeles apart from the mainland.
When a series of strange earthquakes hit California, a seismologist named Kimberly Stevenson is sent to the Angeles Forest to investigate the epicenter. This might prove to be her biggest task so far, but also the one that will bring her renown. She brings along her son, Justin, who was recently involved in a car accident with his father. In the wilderness outside Los Angeles, the two of them find a man named Michael Brandeis, who seems to know an awful lot about what is happening. As expected, these are not natural earthquakes, but the work of a dangerous company selling nuclear weapons.
When a group of seismologists are taken prison, the forces that be know that there is only one team of rescuers to turn to--the highly elite Delta Force. Upon beginning this difficult mission to track down and save the hostages, the men on the Force are met with several surprises--surprises that lead them to think this may be one mission they cannot get out of.
This 46-minute film includes dramatic historical footage, colorful animations, and interviews with earthquake experts. The catastrophe of the great 1906 quake spurred a century of progress in earthquake science and engineering. Current and future research includes drilling through the San Andreas Fault at depth in the SAFOD Experiment. Learn what you can do to reduce the risk to yourself and family. Shock Waves received recognition as an outstanding documentary at the 2006 Telly Awards and has been nominated for an Emmy.