Quakes in SF

[andyadhi01]

Originally Posted by headingwest236

When there's the big one everyone's talking about, will you have to evacuate the city, and why? I assume bridges would be unsafe so everyone would have to take 101/280 down the peninsula. I also don't plan on owning a car, so should I be worried about getting out?

LOL....this CA not Japan. The buildings and infrastructure here are antiquated and not built to stand a magnitude 7 earthquake, let alone a big one. Most residential structures in SF are as high tech as a log cabin out in the woods! If the big one hits SF chances are that most of the residents will be dead! Even the BART tunnels are vulnerable to collapse from a strong earthquake.

[andyadhi01]

Originally Posted by California Vagabond

As you mention concern about fire from a gas leak, you might also check with your landlord-to-be to insure that the building has an automatic gas shut-off valve.

Once again we are talking about slum infrastructure here. Out here in bay area gas lines explode and kill people for no reason at all. I would be more worried about man made disasters due to poor construction and crumbling infrastructure than any natural disasters.

[Deconstrukt]

Earthquakes do kill people. but most people tend to die due to fires/tsunamis in most major earthquakes, I'm not saying Earthquakes alone don't kill though.

Tsunami concerns should be a big issue in San Francisco too, but the city is in an advantage with all the big hills, it's easier to escape one then say Japan.

Just be prepared.

[Isebiel]

The San Andreas and Hayward faults are strike-slip faults, while the faults around the eastern side of Japan are subduction faults. Subduction faults produce much more energy, and when underwater, much, much larger tsunamis. There's a reason that's a Japanese word! Nine out of the ten biggest earthquakes in the last 100 years were on subduction faults.

California's geology doesn't have the destructive earthquake potential Japan's does. The 1906 quake was notable mostly because of the fires.

Being prepared is wise, but I don't think it's worth worrying about or avoiding the area.

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by andyadhi01

LOL....this CA not Japan. The buildings and infrastructure here are antiquated and not built to stand a magnitude 7 earthquake, let alone a big one. Most residential structures in SF are as high tech as a log cabin out in the woods! If the big one hits SF chances are that most of the residents will be dead! Even the BART tunnels are vulnerable to collapse from a strong earthquake.

How much of a "big one" are you talking? 9.0+?

I was here for the 1989 quake, just a few days shy of 13 years old, and remember it VERY well. Our home (in San Mateo Park) at the time was built in 1906, and withstood only minor damages - one collapsed brick chimney, a burst water pipe under the garage, and various broken household items. We were without power for maybe a day or two, but otherwise fared quite well considering. Aftershocks are always a concern after big quakes, although they're typically much smaller and less damaging than the "host."

No biggie when it comes to day-to-day life here, and most of us longtime locals aren't thinking about them too often. Heck, I'd rather deal with an occasional (and usually harmless) quake than annual hurricanes, tornadoes, and major winter storms!

[andyadhi01]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

How much of a "big one" are you talking? 9.0+?

I was here for the 1989 quake, just a few days shy of 13 years old, and remember it VERY well. Our home (in San Mateo Park) at the time was built in 1906, and withstood only minor damages - one collapsed brick chimney, a burst water pipe under the garage, and various broken household items. We were without power for maybe a day or two, but otherwise fared quite well considering. Aftershocks are always a concern after big quakes, although they're typically much smaller and less damaging than the "host."

No biggie when it comes to day-to-day life here, and most of us longtime locals aren't thinking about them too often. Heck, I'd rather deal with an occasional (and usually harmless) quake than annual hurricanes, tornadoes, and major winter storms!

That 1989 quake was only 6.9 which is actually pretty weak. I think a magnitude 8 will destroy most of the physical infrastructure here and it will make hurricane Katrina look like a walk in the park! CA has some of the most dilapidated and poorly designed infrastructure in all of US.

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by andyadhi01

That 1989 quake was only 6.9 which is actually pretty weak. I think a magnitude 8 will destroy most of the physical infrastructure here and it will make hurricane Katrina look like a walk in the park! CA has some of the most dilapidated and poorly designed infrastructure in all of US.

At least they're finally rebuilding the Bay Bridge... I used to commute across that bridge (from SF to Richmond) every day, and you can literally feel the shaking & swaying even when there's no quake happening. I'm not a very religious person, but I would often say a prayer before heading across it.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by andyadhi01

That 1989 quake was only 6.9 which is actually pretty weak. I think a magnitude 8 will destroy most of the physical infrastructure here and it will make hurricane Katrina look like a walk in the park! CA has some of the most dilapidated and poorly designed infrastructure in all of US.

Realistically M8s don't happen very often here. Another post described our tectonics very well and was accurate.

We are going to see many 5s, a few 6s and the odd 7. 8s are very few and far between. Given that fact, having an 8 in a populated area is not likely any time soon.

[headingwest236]

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

Realistically M8s don't happen very often here. Another post described our tectonics very well and was accurate.

We are going to see many 5s, a few 6s and the odd 7. 8s are very few and far between. Given that fact, having an 8 in a populated area is not likely any time soon.

I read somewhere else that the area is overdue for an 8, since it's been over a century since the 1906 quake. Sounds like a scare tactic to me, but I just wanted to get your opinion on that. And I assume there's a good chance of an 8 in the next 70 years or so.