California has laws that require structures that were built after a certain year to be strong enough to survive a certain level of magnitude, because it is a state that is subject to many, and powerful earthquakes. Call in when you have developed some compassion.
At 4.5, no. At 5.8, which is what hit DC, yes. Huge difference in magnitude between 4.5 and 5.8, and while 5.8 would be no biggie in an area that has strict construction guidelines and zoning, it would truly huge in a place where quakes are a rare "surprise" like DC... and indeed would be a killer in those foreign lands where they build with mud and unreinforcerd concrete block..