DR. WALLACE: My teen friends and I love to watch movies both at home and on the big screen at our local mall, and in particular we really enjoy disaster movies. By disaster I mean the kind where a group of people are trying to overcome an earthquake, a tsunami, a hurricane, tornado or any other type of natural disaster. I'm 13, and my friends are all either 13 or 14 right now, and we love to watch movies as a group and then talk about them afterward.

We always root for the people who are in danger and feel good at the end of the movies when at least some of the people become heroes who survive and who do great things to save others.

After one of these movies, my friend asked me if our family was prepared for a large earthquake at our family home, and I said that I didn't really know. So that night, I asked my father, and he told me that since we don't live in California we don't need to worry about earthquakes. He did say that he has a tornado plan that includes supplies and stored food in a shelter area.

I felt better to know he's ready for a tornado, but I thought there could be an earthquake anywhere. Do earthquakes only occur in California in America? — Not So Sure, via email

NOT SO SURE: California has the most earthquakes that do damage, so there's a much greater awareness of that state's temblors. The state that actually has the most earthquakes per year is Alaska. And Alaska is also where the largest magnitude earthquake in U.S. history occurred. There was a 9.2 magnitude earthquake in Alaska in 1964!

So, California is second, and Hawaii typically ranks third per year in domestic earthquakes here in America. Rounding out the top five states are Nevada and Texas, but earthquakes can literally occur at any time anywhere in the world, not just in the United States.

I'VE NEVER SEEN HER LIKE THIS

DR. WALLACE: I'm a female college student, and one of my friends who lives in her own dorm room about a mile from where I live just went through a really rough breakup with her boyfriend of over a year. I say rough not because of anything physical, but rather due to the emotional toll their parting has had on her. I've known her since high school and seen her go through a few breakups before, but never anything like this one.

I can't get her to respond to me as often as she used to, and she stays in her room almost all the time. Her parents live two states over, and I'm not sure they are aware of how much she had emotionally invested herself in this guy.

I don't want to butt into her life too much, but I've never seen her like this. I keep hoping she will snap out of her funk soon, but so far, she remains a recluse. Any ideas? — A Good Friend of Hers, via email

A GOOD FRIEND OF HERS: Be sure you let your school's counseling office know about the details you've explained to me in your letter. Your friend could be deeply depressed, and it's important that she be checked on quickly and regularly.

Also, let that office know that her parents live out of state, and be sure her parents are contacted immediately, especially for her own safety. If she emerges from her reclusive behavior and scolds you for "overreacting," so be it. It's far better to overreact than to underreact.

You should also seek to find her on her way in or out of a class so that you can make direct contact with her as soon as possible. Insist on taking her out for coffee, tea or a flavored water drink so that the two of you can relax and talk together. If she won't go out, do your utmost to be invited to her dorm room to spend time with her.

To wallow continually in her current state as you describe it may present danger to her. As a good friend, you need to take these actions immediately. This is what good friends do, and it's important to take action right away.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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