Earthquakes
California earthquake faults and recent earthquakes, and how they affect Milpitas, San Jose, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Did You Feel It?
This is a U.S. Geological Survey project to collect information about ground shaking following significant earthquakes. Following an earthquake, please tell us what you felt by filling out the questionnaire for the appropriate earthquake. Best site to find information about a very recent earthquake.
Advice
Earthquake Information
Earthquakes Recently
History
Kids Earthquake Links
Maps
Public Seismic Networks
Advice
Are you ready for an earthquake?
The next time disaster strikes, you may not have much time to act. Prepare now for a sudden emergency. Learn how to protect yourself and cope with disaster by planning ahead. From the Red Cross.
Earthquake Engineering
National Information Service for Earthquake Engineering provides this technical site to provide latest research on how to build in a fault zone.
Earthquake Program
The City of Milpitas Building and Safety Department has a program to help you make your house safer. We will provide interested homeowners with a Prescriptive (Cookbook) Plan Set that may be used to strengthen older homes and for obtaining their building permit.
Make your own earthquake preparedness kit
In order to prepare for a major earthquake, SFGate has compiled a list of supplies the American Red Cross recommends you keep on hand.
Protect Yourself During an Earthquake…Drop, Cover, and Hold On!
OFFICIAL RESCUE TEAMS from the U.S. and other countries who have searched for trapped people in collapsed structures around the world, as well as emergency managers, researchers, and school safety advocates, all agree that “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes.
Protecting Your Family From Earthquakes–The Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety (in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean)
Developed by American Red Cross, Asian Pacific Fund, California Earthquake Authority, Governor?s Office of Emergency Services, New America Media, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency, and U.S. Geological Survey.
Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country
This popular 32-page earthquake science and preparedness handbook has recently been updated. The new version features current scientific understanding of when and where earthquakes will occur in California, and how the ground will shake as a result. Updated maps of earthquakes, faults, and potential shaking are included as well as instructions on how to get information after earthquakes.
Earthquake Information
ABAG Resilience Program
Analysis of Bay Area hazards and how we can prepare for a bad quake.
California’s Earthquake Forum
The home for California earthquake information. A place to ask geologists about western fault information.
Earthquake Outlook for the San Francisco Bay Region 2014–2043
72% probability of one or more M ≥ 6.7 earthquakes from 2014 to 2043 in the San Francisco Bay Region. Earthquakes this large are capable of causing widespread damage; therefore, communities in the region should take simple steps to help reduce injuries, damage, and disruption, as well as accelerate recovery from these earthquakes.
Northern California Earthquake Data Center
The NCEDC is a long-term archive and distribution center for seismological and geodetic data for Northern and Central California.
Recent Earthquakes in California and Nevada
Earthquakes recorded for the last week (168 hours). Times are local (PST or PDT). The most recent earthquakes are at the top of the list. Click through for details.
UC Berkeley Seismological Laboratory
You can even make your own seismogram!
History
1906
The Great 1906 Earthquake And Fire
Original sources and timeline from the Museum of San Francisco.
Story of an Eyewitness
Collier’s, May 5, 1906. Jack London went to the scene of the San Francisco Fire & Earthquake and wrote the following dramatic description of the tragic events he witnessed in the burning city.
1989
1989 Earthquake Reports and Photographs
Fascinating original source material from the Museum of the City of San Francisco, such as 911 reports, photographs, and more.
The October 17, 1989, Loma Prieta, California, Earthquake-Selected Photographs
This publication provides images for use by the interested public, multimedia producers, desktop publishers, and the high-end printing industry.
1998
Mission Peak Landslide of 1998
Report of the engineering firm retained by the City of Fremont to make a preliminary evaluation of the landslide sufficient to guide the city in emergency response and future planning decisions. (Picture)
Kids Earthquake Links
California Has Its Faults
A fault is a fracture along which there is movement. Some faults are actually composed of several fractures called fault branches. Collectively the branches are a fault zone.
Candy Quakes
A lesson plan using a variety of candy which you will quish in a number of ways to demonstrate forces on earth rocks. Clean up is the best part.
Make Your Own Earthquake Crossword Puzzle
Add, edit, delete clues, and customize this crossword. Print copies for an entire class. All in 5 minutes.
FEMA for Kids: Earthquakes
Most of the time, you will notice an earthquake by the gentle shaking of the ground. You may notice hanging plants swaying or objects wobbling on shelves. Sometimes you may hear a low rumbling noise or feel a sharp jolt. The computer simulations include a total of seven earthquake scenarios: three magnitude 6.8 scenarios with different starting locations (epicenters), three magnitude 7.0 scenarios with different starting locations, and one magnitude 7.2 scenario.
Maps
Milpitas located in area where freeways make a capital H
ABAG’s Resilience Program – Earthquake Map Santa Clara County
Several active faults present potential hazard to Santa Clara County. On the northwestern boundary, the San Andreas Fault runs through the hills separating the County from Santa Cruz County. In the central county, the Hayward/Rodgers Creek and Central Calaveras dominate the earthquake threat. The Greenville fault dominates in the northeastern portion of the county.
Bay Area Shaking Hazard Maps
The “On Shaky Ground” supplement report lets you select a city (say, Milpitas) and a large quake on a number of Bay Area fault lines. It then shows you a map of how intense various neighborhoods would feel that quake.
San Andreas Fault Facts
California’s sleeping giant, the San Andreas Fault, marks the slippery yet sticky boundary between two of Earth’s tectonic plates. It is responsible for the biggest earthquakes in California, up to at least magnitude 8.1.
Santa Clara County Earthquake Hazard
Several active faults present potential hazard to Santa Clara County. On the northwestern boundary, the San Andreas Fault runs through the hills separating the County from Santa Cruz County. In the central county, the Hayward/Rodgers Creek and Central Calaveras dominate the earthquake threat. The Greenville fault dominates in the northeastern portion of the county.
Public Seismic Networks
Public Seismic Network of San Jose
Dedicated to the promotion of awareness and information about earthquakes. It is part of the growing worldwide PSN which connects amateur seismologists, persons interested in earthquakes and seismic activity with information resources; from general history to detailed plans for constructing monitoring instruments and systems.