The ultimate disaster that's always on the back of the minds of Californians has happened.

The big one hit in Turkey and Syria.

Rescuers are racing to find survivors in the rubble of thousands of buildings,

brought down by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake and multiple aftershocks.

At the time of this recording, over 35,000 people confirmed dead, and the counts rising.

With morgues and cemeteries overwhelmed in many areas of the Turkey quake zone,

bodies lie wrapped in blankets, rugs and tarps in the streets of some cities.

Rescue teams from all over the world quickly descended upon the wreckage, including those from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

President Joe Biden says the U.S. is providing $85 million in initial earthquake aid to Turkey

and Syria.

It's one of the deadliest earthquakes so far in the 21st century, and the carnage in Turkey

and Syria has many of us in California and beyond thinking.

How could we prepare when something like this happens here?

I'm Gustav Ariano.

You're listening to The Times, Essential News, from the L.A. Times.

It's Monday, February 13, 2023.

Today, we explore the aftermath of this earthquake,

look at some of the deadliest ones in history,

and ask whether we ever learn from them.

Now, this is technically an episode of Masters of Disasters, zzazars.

But I'm not going to ask for music at this time, Maestro.

Because honestly, I'm scared.

...