Navigating Fault In California: A Guide For Car Accident Responsiveness

On October 21, 1868, an earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale struck the San Francisco Bay Area. Although the area is relatively small, the Hayward Fault earthquake was one of the most destructive in California history. 150

The anniversary of the 1868 earthquake, and all historical earthquake anniversaries, are an opportunity to remind people that we live in an earthquake-prone country and that we all need to prepare for the next big earthquake. A study from the U.S. Geological research suggests that similar earthquakes from the Hayward Fault have rocked the area repeatedly in the past, and the fault may be poised to produce another 6.8 to 7.0 earthquake. An earthquake like this can suddenly change people’s lives and affect the Bay Area’s infrastructure and economy, but updated building and repair codes, as well as planning, community education and preparedness, will help reduce the impact of these earthquakes. future Hayward Fault earthquake.

Faults: Where Earthquakes Occur

Strong shaking during the 1868 Hayward Fault earthquake caused the collapse of the second floor of the Alameda County Courthouse in San Leandro (and photo courtesy of Bancroft Library, University of California). The inset image shows the courthouse before the earthquake. (Public domain.)

In the early hours of October 21, 1868, seismic waves caused by a powerful earthquake hit the fog-shrouded San Francisco Bay area. Those who ran out of their homes, the animals and the firemen’s horses were scared and ran away. The powerful tremor lasted more than 40 seconds, destroying many towns in the East Bay. Masonry buildings, walls, and chimneys also shook in Oakland, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, and San Jose, and there was extensive damage in Napa and Hollister. Many witnesses reported seeing the land moving in waves. The earthquake was felt as far away as Nevada, and aftershocks shook the Bay Area for weeks. Although the area was sparsely populated at the time, the 1868 earthquake killed 30 people and caused extensive property damage. This earthquake was one of the most destructive earthquakes in California history, but it was not the end of the story. Hayward’s mistake will strike again, and maybe soon.

Major Earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area. The section of the Hayward Fault that caused the 1868 Hayward earthquake is shown in yellow. Area size indicates the current relative population size of a city. (Public domain.)

A vertical laser image, taken using a technique called light detection and ranging (LIDAR), of part of the Hayward family (red line) in Berkeley. The fault runs through the University of California Berkeley football stadium (left), and past earthquake motions have significantly offset Hamilton Gulch (center). Arrows indicate relative movement on the fault. (Public domain.)

East Bay Fault Is ‘tectonic Time Bomb,’ More Dangerous Than San Andreas, New Study Finds

The 1868 earthquake on the Hayward Fault ended a decade-long streak of seven more powerful earthquakes in the Bay Area. The ground cracks caused by this earthquake occurred for 20 miles along the Hayward Fault, from Warm Springs north of Fremont to San Leandro. Geological survey data show that the fault ruptured as far north as Berkeley, with an average horizontal displacement of about two meters.

The shaking from the 1868 earthquake was the most powerful shock experienced by new and growing Bay Area cities. Until superseded by the Great Earthquake of 1906, the 1868 event was known as the “Great San Francisco Event.” The area affected by the strongest tremor covered around 1,000 square kilometers. In San Francisco, the largest city in the West with a population of 150,000, five people were killed and property losses were considerable. Many of the brick walls, courtyards and heavy architectural elements of the city’s buildings were torn down, and the US Customs House and many other buildings were built on land reclaimed from the former Yerba Buena Bay (now the Commercial District ) suffered severe damage. But as it was in 1906, well-built houses on solid ground were not badly damaged.

Cities in the East Bay suffered the most damage. Almost every home in Hayward, then a town of about 500, was destroyed or badly damaged — few places would pay the price to have an insect named after them. In San Leandro, with a population of about 400 people, the second floor of the Alameda County Courthouse collapsed and several other buildings were destroyed. At Mission San Jose, south of Fremont, an adobe church was built in 1809 and other mission buildings were destroyed. Oakland, a city of about 12,000 people and most of its buildings made of wood frames, suffered less damage than San Leandro and Hayward. San Jose, a city of about 9,000 located several miles south and west of the fault’s path, had few damaged buildings but several collapsed chimneys.

Because the seismograph had not yet been invented, there were no records of the 1868 earthquake. Much of what is known about the 1868 earthquake was documented in a chapter of a special report on the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, published in 1908. A review of this chapter the description of surface faults, collecting reports of injuries and feelings, and interviewing people who survived the earthquake. incident.

Scientists Solve The Big One: Why The San Andreas Fault Is Sleeping

And other researchers have used the 1908 report, as well as historical journals, photographs, pioneer diaries and letters, to understand the impact of the earthquake and measure the magnitude of the 1868 earthquake. the land is hard enough, it is necessary. to consider the construction of damaged buildings, whether they are brick, brick or wood. Combining these intensity estimates with current knowledge of earthquake effects and geology allowed researchers to create a “ShakeMap” showing the estimated intensity of shaking across the region in 1868, which can also be used to predict damage to modern homes. The map shows that the strongest shaking occurred in Hayward, Fremont and San