Earthquake prediction is a new technology soon to be added to the other adjustments which can be used by a community to cope with the earthquake hazard. Governmental and business organisations will be faced with new challenges when a specific earthquake prediction is issued for their area. Research on organisational response to such a prediction indicates that there will be significant positive and negative consequences. With an extended lead time of several years the risk of death and injury can be brought to near zero but the resulting local economic recession will be of major proportions.