| Diego County Residents - Do You Need to Worry | | | | La Jolla. A little further south and inland, the La Nacion |
| About an Earthquake Destroying Your Home or | | | | Fault runs through South San Diego, Chula Vista and |
| Business? | | | | National City. In the East County mountains and |
| | | | deserts, you need to be aware of the Elsinore, Aqua |
| If you live in California, the US Geological Survey has | | | | Caliente and San Jacinto Fault Zones. |
| said that Southern California will most likely be hit | | | | So, depending on where you live, there is varying |
| with a big earthquake within the next 30 years. They | | | | danger of fault movement and earthquake shaking. If |
| said that there is a 99% chance that we'll experience | | | | you live close to a known fault, you should be aware |
| a quake with a magnitude of at least 6.7. They also | | | | of the possibility of a large jolt damaging your |
| said there is 46% chance that we will have a 7.5 | | | | property. However, there are two other risk factors |
| magnitude quake - or bigger. | | | | as well, they are landslide and liquefaction. During an |
| So what does that mean for San Diego County | | | | earthquake, especially after wet weather, the violent |
| residents? Even though the "big one" is supposed to | | | | earth shaking may trigger a landslide. However, of |
| have an epicenter somewhere in Southern California, | | | | more importance is what your home or business is |
| most San Diego residents are not highly at risk. Well, | | | | built upon. |
| at least compared to Orange County and Los | | | | Many San Diego homes and businesses are built on |
| Angeles (LA) residents. One indicator is earthquake | | | | sand or on fill and are vulnerable to what is known as |
| insurance rates. In San Diego versus LA, the average | | | | soil liquefaction. During a quake these kinds of soils |
| premium cost in San Diego is only $251 per year | | | | can act like jello, amplifying a quake's movement |
| compared to Los Angeles and Orange Counties which | | | | more than a home built on rock or settled land. |
| is $693 per year. | | | | Because of liquefaction, a home that is close to a |
| According to a recent San Diego Union Tribune | | | | earthquake epicenter that is built on rock may |
| article, a 'Big One' in California would not be like the | | | | experience less shaking and damage than a home |
| recent big quake in Chile. Because California's seismic | | | | that is much further away that is built on sand or fill. |
| plate tectonics differ from Chile's, our region is not | | | | How can you find out what is under your home and |
| subject to the large magnitude quakes that they | | | | what danger is neighborhood is in? |
| experience down there. In California the plates slide | | | | Here is a good map to give an idea of real world |
| sideways while in Chile they slide under each other. | | | | danger if you live in San Diego County. This map |
| Additionally the crust is a lot thinner here than in Chile. | | | | combines liquefaction areas with known fault zones. |
| Because of those two factors, seismologists predict | | | | Another great online resource to check out your |
| a maximum 8.1 quake at the worst for Southern | | | | specific neighborhood is this SANGIS interactive map |
| California. | | | | to find fault lines, landslide and liquefaction zones in |
| The San Andreas Fault, which extends from the | | | | your San Diego community |
| Salton Sea to the town of Parkfield in Monterrey | | | | It’s a little complicated to find the dangers in |
| County, provides the greatest seismic threat. Luckily | | | | your San Diego neighborhood. Start by clicking on the |
| though, the Salton Sea area is a long distance away | | | | "custom map" button. On the right side scroll down |
| from most San Diego residents. In addition, the San | | | | and then click on Faults. Next click on Geologic |
| Andreas Fault is inland and would not result in a | | | | Hazards. That will activate those map layers. Then hit |
| tsunami, which caused much of the recent damage in | | | | Refresh at bottom of page on the right side. |
| Chile. There are several off shore faults near San | | | | Now is the fun part. Finding your neighborhood. Using |
| Diego but they are very small and do not present | | | | the PAN and ZOOM IN controls, navigate around the |
| much risk. | | | | map and zoom in to find your neighborhood and its |
| If a big jolt did indeed hit the San Andreas Fault near | | | | geologic hazards for fault zones, liquefaction and |
| the Salton Sea, San Diego City residents would | | | | landslides. You can zoom in to your specific block to |
| definitely feel it, but most likely would not experience | | | | get an idea of the earthquake related threats around |
| catastrophic damage or casualties. Despite that, we | | | | your home or business. |
| do have a few smaller local faults that have the | | | | If you are clear of all those, you probably don't need |
| potential to generate a pretty big jolt. The most | | | | Earthquake Insurance as much as someone whose |
| worrisome San Diego County faults are the Rose | | | | home is in a liquefaction zone adjacent to an |
| Canyon Fault on the east side of Pacific Beach and | | | | earthquake fault. |