Den californiske halvø hviler på en brudzone, San Andreas-forkastningen, som efter lang tids inaktivitet vågner til dåd. Kontinentalpladernes sammenstød skaber et dommedagsagtigt jordskælv, der opsluger hele Los Angeles. I et hidsigt kapløb mod den altødelæggende naturkatastrofe flygter den tapre helikopterpilot Ray og hans ekskone, Emma, nordpå mod San Francisco for at finde og redde deres datter.

I en lille ørkenby går livet sin vante gang indtil en række at områdets beboere pludselig begynder at forsvinde på mærkelig vis. Valentine og Earl undersøger sagen og opdager at ørkensandet er hjemsted for gigantiske og meget sultne orme med store, spidse tænder. Sammen med landsbyens øvrige overlevende indleder de en desperat kamp for at undslippe.

Når en miskrediteret LA Seismolog advarer om en forestående 12,7 jordskælv, ingen tager hende alvorligt. Nu på hendes egen, hun løb desperat at få sin familie i sikkerhed før jordskælvet bryder Los Angeles bortset fra fastlandet.

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.