The greater risk is the Hayward, which generated a magnitude 6.7 quake in 1868 directly beneath what is now the eastern edge of Silicon Valley. By Patricia Grossi. An earthquake is likely to occur in the greater San Jose region. The fault runs more than 800 miles from the Salton Sea to Cape Mendocino. Anderson Reservoir, the largest reservoir in Silicon Valley, must be completely drained starting Oct. 1 due to the risk of the 70-year-old dam collapsing in an earthquake… According to U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Hayward fault is a “tectonic time bomb.”. San Jose has similarly older and wooden housing stock as the Southern California community of Northridge. As Goebel describes it: “the up and downs in earthquake rates followed ups and downs in injection rates.” “Overall, the earthquake risk level in the Bay Area is among the highest in the country,” says analyst Jill Gonzalez. “Our cities and towns are highly connected and large earthquakes in the San Francisco Bay or Los Angeles urban areas will affect each region, not just a few cities or towns,” says USGS research geophysicist Brad Aagaard. ... including much of Silicon Valley… The shaking from a major San Jose earthquake can move everything inside your home. CEA flexible and affordable earthquake insurance policies not only help repair damages. The 2015 Napa Earthquake M6.0 is now considered the largest earthquake in the area since Loma Prieta. SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Worried that an earthquake could collapse a big dam south of San Francisco, officials have ordered its reservoir to be completely drained by October to reduce the risk … As the USGS reports, “there is a 72 percent probability (or likelihood) of at least one earthquake of magnitude 6.7 or greater striking somewhere in the San Francisco Bay region before 2043.” And quakes don’t exactly respect city borders. For the record, Columbia, MD was ranked the single safest city in the country while St. Louis, MO came in dead last, as the most dangerous place to be. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Nearly 3 million people currently live along the fault. These soil deposits lose their load-bearing strength and behave like a liquid. That city is number one, with the highest earthquake risk in the nation. The range of housing costs could reach $100 million. Consider the following facts when, not if, a major earthquake hits: Earthquake Insurance can help reduce the stress and financial burden of experiencing a devastating earthquake. It is one of the fastest creeping fault segments in the San Francisco Bay Region. San Jose and the surrounding communities are very vulnerable to earthquakes. ... Calif. U.S. officials are worried that an earthquake could collapse a big dam near Silicon Valley. Whether it is the Hayward, Calaveras or San Andreas faults, activity could cause great devastation for the Bay Area communities. The Associated Press . In 2015, UC Berkeley researchers suggested that the Hayward fault may be connected to the nearby Calaveras fault, which, if true, would mean the potential for a more powerful quake. The likelihood that the next great earthquake in this area would result in significant economic impact is high. Cover. Toll Free: (877) 797-4300, Privacy & Social Media Policies  |  Terms of Use  | Site Map, California Earthquake Risk Map & Faults By County, List of Notable and Major California Earthquakes, Mobilehomes & Manufactured Homes Coverages & Deductibles, Around 40 earthquakes rattle California-Nevada border, including 5.1 magnitude quake, The 5 Best Earthquake Insurance Companies of 2020, Southern California Hit by Three Earthquakes in a Single Day, Magnitude 5.5 earthquake shakes Nevada, California state line. New studies show San Jose earthquake risk includes dangers of liquefaction and landslides for the region. Silicon Valley’s technology epicenter would also be affected if the Hayward Fault were to rupture. On the bright side for the South Bay, the capital of Silicon Valley is a place where money isn’t a constant worry for everyone. The Hayward fault runs through the East Bay hills from Richmond to San Jose. If there isn’t a table or desk nearby, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building. March 4, 2020. Protecting investors against earthquake risk in Silicon Valley. That’s why the personal-finance website WalletHub has released a report on 2019’s Safest Cities in America. The scary news is that some Bay Area cities are at a very high risk for natural disasters, such as floods, storm surges, wildfires and, of course, earthquakes. Fear has become a fact of life in America today. ... including much of Silicon Valley… The Calaveras fault produced the M6.2 Morgan Hill Earthquake in 1984. Find out your home’s risk and nearby geological hazards by learning about the faults near you. Based on the collected damage information from the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, the Associated Bay Area Governments (ABAG) estimates San Jose can expect 30,000 living units damaged or vacated. Most of the major global technology headquarters, such as Facebook, Google, and Oracle, are within 20 miles of the fault. Learn About Liquefaction And How To Prepare Your House. Posted: Feb 25, 2020 / 01:31 PM CST / Updated: Feb 25, 2020 / 03:08 PM CST. Also on the positive side of the ledger, San Francisco has a low percentage of unemployed people and low rate of traffic fatalities and Fremont has one of the lowest rates of uninsured people. FILE – In this Feb. 21, 2017 file photo a sign is submerged in the water from Coyote Creek in Morgan Hill, Calif. U.S. officials are worried that an earthquake could collapse a big dam near Silicon Valley. For the record, there are places at higher risk than San Jose, such as Morgan Hill and Gilroy in this analysis, but the capital of Silicon Valley ranks higher because of its far larger population. Posted: Feb 25, 2020 / 02:35 PM EST / Updated: Feb 25, 2020 / 04:08 PM EST. Earthquake risk prompts order to drain California dam National. In Silicon Valley, there will soon be an app called QuakeAlert that can give up to 2-20 seconds of warning of an impending earthquake. Stay inside and in place until shaking stops. Are you ready for an earthquake to strike San Jose? In 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) released new earthquake hazard maps that raised the risk of earthquake damage in San Jose and the South Bay communities. ... including much of Silicon Valley… schwit1 shares a report from Bakersfield Californian: In a dramatic decision that could significantly impact Silicon Valley's water supply, federal dam regulators have ordered Anderson Reservoir, the largest reservoir in Santa Clara County, to be completely drained starting Oct. 1. Posted: Feb 25, 2020 / 01:34 PM CST / Updated: Feb 25, 2020 / 03:11 PM CST. USGS named both of these faults as particularly “ready” (more likely to rupture). (Tero Vesalainen/iStock ) The biggest reservoir in Santa Clara County must be completely drained starting October 1st due to the risk of its dam collapsing in a major earthquake, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. February 25, 2020, 4:04 PM . Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The two plates crisscross with many active and passive earthquake faults. It should also be noted that many experts say that the entire Bay Area is at grave risk. Be prepared with emergency plans and supplies. Close by the city is the Calaveras fault, which winds through eastern Santa Clara county. The cost of San Jose earthquake insurance depends on the amount of coverage you choose, the location of your home, the home’s structure, and the amount of deductible you select. Choose your policy today with a free estimate. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window). Many people in the San Jose region live in lowland basins that are subject to liquefaction, where water-saturated Earth is shaken strongly during earthquakes. Earthquake risk prompts order to drain California dam National. What they found was that earthquakes in San Ardo tended to occur near wastewater disposal wells and that changes to the rates of wastewater injection were shadowed by changes in earthquake activity, with a delay of around 13 to 17 months. Discover CEA affordable and flexible home earthquake insurance policies that: Typical home insurance policies and tenant insurance don’t include earthquake coverage. Several major faults intersect in San Jose and nearby communities. The Santa Clara Valley Water District says the order will deplete groundwater and harm endangered steelhead trout. Only Anchorage, Alaska is worse off. Earthquake risk prompts order to drain California dam National. Protect the investment in your home and valuables. She has a Master's Degree in Journalism from UC Berkeley. Fremont is third in the country, and Oakland is number ten, according to this report. Close to the top of the list of worries is the availability of affordable healthcare, according to WalletHub, which 80 percent of Americans worry about either a “great deal” or a “fair amount.”. It measured M5.6 and with a VI (Strong) intensity. The 240-foot earthen dam, built in 1950 and located east of Highway 101 between Morgan Hill and San Jose, poses too great of a risk … Buildings and other structures can be damaged when their foundations sink into the soup-like sands. When a major San Jose earthquake strikes, you may get a warning of 10 or 15 seconds. Earthquake risk prompts order to drain California dam ... earthquake could collapse a big dam near Silicon Valley. ... Scientists are getting better at detecting earthquakes early. Keep your family safe and prevent the injury of your loved ones by getting ready today. Back then, it leveled a few sparsely populated towns and startled the cattle. Long bridges and tall buildings are vulnerable to longer wavelength of ground shaking. Learn about premium discounts. Worried that an earthquake could collapse a big dam south of San Francisco, officials have ordered its reservoir to be completely drained by October to reduce the risk … It’s not enough to be prepared physically when the ground shakes. ... including much of Silicon Valley… Prepare for next earthquake by considering the safety of your home. New studies show San Jose earthquake risk includes dangers of liquefaction and landslides for the region. While these faults contribute to San Jose earthquake risk, the movement of these intersecting faults relieve the grinding between the Pacific and North American plates. The probability of the next big earthquake in California is more than 99%. In the past 200 years, the southern half of the central section of the Calaveras fault has been the most active part of the fault, according to the USGS. Earthquakes and other natural disasters also play a key role in the analysis. The research supporting the hazard maps showed that longer wavelength ground shaking found in sedimentary basins that rest beneath San Jose. Earthquake risk prompts order to drain California dam National. Sign up with an emergency alert app today. Earthquake data is from the 2018 Natural Hazard Housing Risk Index. Bay Area cities crack the top ten for earthquake risk in the U.S. Mountain View renters get eviction reprieve ahead of big residential redevelopment, Industrial center in San Jose lands county as tenant, Sponsored: Updated home in Santa Teresa neighborhood on the market for first time ever. A recent ABAG study found that for every $1 spent on mitigation, homeowners can save $3 in earthquake losses. She is a four-time Pulitzer juror, a former USC/Getty Arts Journalism Fellow and a longtime member of the Glickman Drama Jury and the American Theatre Critics Association. Even if you live miles from an active fault, the damaging effects of earthquakes can travel miles from the epicenter. But if the same quake happened today, the consequent destruction would dwarf the economic havoc wreaked by Hurricane Katrina. The probability of the next big earthquake in California is more than 99%. Federal authorities announced Monday the largest reservoir in Silicon Valley must be drained. Unfortunately the East Bay city also has a low number of law enforcement employees. Without earthquake insurance, you will have to pay from savings to repair and replace earthquake damage to your home and valuables, and finance needed temporary housing. 27 Feb. At that time, the event was the largest in the San Francisco Bay Area since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, which measured M6.9. “Financial safety is where San Jose fares best,” says Gonzalez. The data set ranges from assaults per capita to unemployment rate to road quality and home and community safety. Earthquake Risk Prompts Order to Drain California Dam. “Many surrounding cities that they did not include in their list have similar earthquake risk to those cities that are included in their study.”. Plus, the city has a very small number of personal bankruptcy filings per capita, and the lowest share of underwater homes.”. Considered to be 30 million years old, it divides the state: The fault moves two inches per year and has the potential to unleash a devastating San Jose earthquake, home to Silicon Valley and the headquarters the biggest names in technology. Thousands of residents live near active fault zones. In California, the homeowner or renter needs a separate earthquake policy to cover damages from an earthquake. It produced the October 30, 2007 Alum Rock earthquake in San Jose. Loss of use coverage covers the costs of temporary shelter and additional living expenses so that families can get back on their feet quicker. Karen D’Souza is a writer for the Bay Area News Group papers, covering healthy living, Bay Area culture and other lifestyle topics. SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Worried that an earthquake could collapse a big dam south of San Francisco, officials have ordered its reservoir to be completely drained by October to reduce the risk of floodwaters spilling into Silicon Valley. Certainly some people struggle but others feel financially stable, the report suggests. That city is number one, with the highest earthquake risk in the nation. They are followed closely by Oakland. Repair or replace your personal belongings. The Calaveras fault system runs over 80 miles, from south of Hollister into the Danville-Walnut Creek area. Sacramento, CA 95814, Phone: (916) 325-3800 Earthquake Risk Prompts Order to Drain California Dam. SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Worried that an earthquake could collapse a big dam south of San Francisco, officials have ordered its reservoir to be completely drained by October to reduce the risk of floodwaters spilling into Silicon Valley. In 1979, the 5.7M Coyote Lake Earthquake ruptured to the south of the 1984 and 1911 earthquakes. San Jose is the largest city on the north San Andreas Fault Line. San Francisco (#31) is the best placed city in the Bay Area in that regard.”. San Jose earthquake risk is caused by three connected faults: Hayward, Calaveras, and San Andreas. The city of San Jose has several tall buildings: the 18-story City Hall, 27-story Marriott Hotel and the 22-story Fairmont Hotel. That city is number one, with the highest earthquake risk in the nation. Hold On. 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