Call to Action

 

WG99's conclusions from their 2-year effort are to appear in USGS Circular 1189, "Earthquake Probabilities in the San Francisco Bay Region: 2000 to 2030." Their finding that a major temblor is more likely than not emphasizes the ongoing need for the Bay region to prepare for earthquakes.

Large earthquakes in the San Francisco Bay region can produce sudden and tremendous loss of life and property, threatening the social and economic fabric of this region. Although quakes cannot be prevented, the damage they do can be greatly reduced through prudent planning and preparedness. Much preparation has already been done, but because a large quake is likely and could happen at any moment, further preparations should not be delayed. WG99's results will help business, government, and the public make informed decisions as they continue their preparations.

The work of USGS and other scientists in evaluating earthquake probabilities for the San Francisco Bay region is an ongoing part of the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program's efforts. These efforts help to safeguard lives and property from the earthquakes that will inevitably strike in northern California and elsewhere in the United States.

 


By

Andrew J. Michael, Stephanie L. Ross, David P. Schwartz, James W. Hendley II, and Peter H. Stauffer

Graphics by Susan Mayfield, Sara Boore, and Michael F. Diggles

Web design by Carolyn Donlin and Scott Haefner

COOPERATING ORGANIZATIONS
Association of Bay Area Governments
California Division of Mines and Geology
California Governor's Office of Emergency Services
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Geomatrix Consultants Inc.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
University of California at Berkeley
William Lettis & Associates
Many other institutions, organizations, and firms


For more information contact:
Earthquake Information Hotline (650) 329-4085
U.S. Geological Survey, Mail Stop 977
345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025

There is a USGS website where you can learn more about earthquakes and how to prepare for them.

See also Progress Toward a Safer Future Since the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake (USGS Fact Sheet 151-99)

Download a PDF version of this fact sheet (6.7 MB)



URL of this page: https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/1999/fs152-99
Maintained by: Michael Diggles
Last modified: May 6, 2005 (mfd)