We can't prevent earthquakes from happening, at least at this point in our scientific development.
What we can do is provide some warning before the full force of an earthquake hits. Notice the vagueness of the term "some".
Several earthquake early warning systems are in development and early use on the West Coast, but their approaches and results differ. How much of a warning is possible? We put that question to Sarah Minson, a research geophysicist for the U.S. Geological Survey at its Earthquake Science Center in the Bay Area. She gives us a preview of her coming lecture in the "other Bay Area," January 24th in Coos Bay.