You've heard of the San Andreas Fault, of course, and most of us in the Bay Area have heard the refrain that the Hayward Fault is likely going to be then next to bust and cause a major earthquake. But much like last summer's Napa quake, the smallish quake that happened on Sunday and rattled much of the inner Bay Area was caused by a lesser known, small fault, the Concord Fault the Napa quake occurred along the West Napa Fault.
USGS Seismologist Dr. David Schwartz talked to KCBS news yesterday and called the Concord Fault possibly "the most urban" fault in the East Bay, with the potential for much more damage than the Napa quake if a temblor of 6.0 or greater were to happen there. The fault runs from beneath the Mount Diablo foothill to the Carquinez Strait.
This is, of course, just one more in a laundry list of worries you can chalk up when it comes to Bay Area quake potential and as has been discussed many times, a major quake along the Hayward Fault could likely be next, but we are overdue for ruptures and co-ruptures on any number of local faults, with a 100 percent chance of a 5.0 or greater magnitude quake hitting us in the next 30 years. There is also, upsettingly, a 76 percent chance of a 7.0 or greater quake.
Once again, this is a good time to get together your earthquake kit! And that should include spending cash in small bills, as well as a battery-powered radio and seven days worth of food and water.