May 02, 2006

The fault across the street

A friend of mine sent me a link to an exhibit on the Hayward fault. I was initially excited cuz I was like, "Cool, it's just across the street". But the exhibit is actually just a hole... in the ground... that you walk down into... that shows the fault... the Hayward fault... Which is right across the damn street from my office. Oh, I'm so screwed. I work on a freaking fault line. A fault line that is well overdue for it's pressure release.
Posted by jherr at May 2, 2006 02:22 PM
Comments

THAT is terrifying. We lived near (50 miles from ?) the New Madrid fault when I was growing up in Poplar Bluff and we all had "earthquake preparedness" kits to help us survive in the event of an earthquake. The big one (in 1811-1812) lasted for four months and made the Mississippi River flow backwards for three hours. I can't imagine any kind of kit protecting you from a fault right across the street. Eeeeek.

Posted by: Jacqueline at May 3, 2006 08:04 AM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't California pretty much just one big fault line? I recall seeing maps at one time that there were pitifully few areas that were not on or within feet of a fault line. I guess living there, you play the odds and hope the one you live one doesn't want to shift anytime soon!

Posted by: eigga49 at May 3, 2006 09:51 AM

Regarding earthquakes:


Depending on the type of ground motion, in some cases being close (but not on) the fault will reduce certain types of ground motion.

http://ww
A very important factor in a quake experience is the type of soil. I highly recommend this URL for those who live in the SJ/SF bay area:


http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps/mate.html

That URL will show how the ground will generally amply ground motion in a quake.


BTW Jack: Your office looks like it is in the yellow (Moderately high amplification) zone. It could be much worse. Where I work in Milpitas, I am on the edge of a yellow zone surrounded by much worse.


I used those maps to help influence where I live and work. As you look around the SJ/SF bay, you can find certain islands of stability in a “sea of Jell-O”. The degree of damage in Sunnyvale in 1989, for example, matched well to those motion maps.


For a mode detailed ground motion map based on various fault models, see:


http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps/pickcity.html

Of course, you really should have your Home Quake Safety Toolkit in order:

http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps/fixit/fixit.html

Moreover, I highly recommend visiting:

http://www.72hours.org/

See also:

http://www.redcross.org/services/prepare/0,1082,0_241_,00.html


chongo says:


Be prepared! Be ready to be on your own, without most government services, for at least 72 hours.


Don’t wait until tomorrow to start, quakes don’t care if you “intended” to prepare very soon. Start preparing today and improve tomorrow.

Posted by: chongo at May 3, 2006 03:43 PM
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