California: Theoretical Earthquake (and after) Scenarios

[Return of the J.D.]

I found this article interesting. Describes what are regarded as likely kinds of damage and injury, etc., if the Californian "Big One" earthquake hits. Worth thinking through, especially if you spend time around a fault zone.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/calif_quake_scenario

 

[norcalblacktail]

Cool article thanks.

 

[KILLAFORNIA]

Thanks, nice article, but I'm tired of waiting, if it doesn't get here soon I'm moving!!!
Actually I'm beginning to believe the "big one" is an urban legend designed to keep people out of California, but it isn't working

I'll just keep my fingers crossed. I love earthquakes!

 

[Third°]

Eventually everything East of the San Andres Fault will plunge into the Atlantic Ocean!

 

[Salamander42]

I'm waiting for the New Madrid Fault to let loose.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Madrid_Seismic_Zone

The history section about the 1811/1812 quakes was fascinating to me. The Mississippi River changed course so drastically that a settlement ended up on the opposite side of the river. If that thing ever lets go again like it did almost 200 years ago it's gonna be ugly. People in the south and midwest aren't prepared for anything like that.

 

[lambertiana]

I moved from St Louis to San Francisco two days before the 1989 Loma Prieta quake (7.1). I had just gotten on the freeway in Redwood City when it hit, and, since that freeway was built on bay mud, I could see the ground waves, and other cars were running into each other. I thought "cool, my first earthquake!" When I got home in San Francisco, all the power was out, and the house across the street had lost its chimney. Other than that, I didn't realize how big it was until I saw all the damage around the bay later.

When I lived in St Louis, I would tell people to watch out for the New Madrid fault. At least people are somewhat prepared in California, with strict seismic building codes. But all of the older buildings in cities like St Louis and Memphis are unreinforced brick, and another quake like the 1811-1812 quakes would be devastating.

 

[shecky]

Yeah, the prospect of a New Madrid quake gives me the willies, and I live in CA! Next time that big one hits, it's gonna mean some serious hard times for lots of folks.

I grew up almost literally a stone's throw from the San Andreas Fault in L.A. county. I don't relish the thought of any quake bigger than 6.0, let alone a larger one that lasts several minutes, as speculated by the article. Bug out plans break down in such an event.

 

[Watchful]

Eventually everything East of the San Andres Fault will plunge into the Atlantic Ocean!

You know--I *almost* wrote a response correcting that before I realized you got me. :thumbup:

 

[tholiver]

Ever hear of the Cascadia subduction zone? Stretches from BC-California.
I saw a documentary about it on the discovery channel.
Last major rupture was in 1700.
Caused a major tsunami that hit Japan.
Wiki says the fault rupture was 600 miles long, 600 miles that suddenly DROPPED about 20 metres (about 68 feet)!
Its supposed to repeat ever 300-900 years.
Scary stuff!


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1700_Cascadia_earthquake