California Is Due for a Katrina-Style Disaster

October 21, 2008 marks the 140th anniversary of the "1868 Hayward earthquake", the first great “San Francisco earthquake” and one of the most damaging earthquakes in the nation's history.

Recent work has shown that the average interval between the past five large earthquakes on the Hayward Fault is 140 years. In 1868 the "East Bay" was sparsely populated. Those in the know believe that when the Hayward fault shakes the next time it will do exponentially more damage. USGS geologist Tom Brocher says "A Hayward fault earthquake will change the Bay Area. It's likely to be one of the nation's biggest natural disasters." READ MORE

1868 Earthquake Alliance