More than a million San Francisco Bay Area residents would face extensive damage to their homes after a major earthquake on the Hayward fault, according to a new earthquake scenario developed by the U.S. Geological Survey.

The USGS findings, which were developed with contributions from partners that include the California Earthquake Authority, are part of a HayWired earthquake scenario report that describes likely impacts from a rupture of the Hayward Fault in the Bay Area.

Authors of the report use a hypothetical magnitude 7.0 earthquake with an epicenter in Oakland that strikes on April 18 at 4:18 p.m. and ruptures the Hayward fault along a 52-mile length.

The title “HayWired” also reflects the scenario’s impacts on technology and communications systems.

Dozens of organizations reportedly assisted the scenario-development team in identifying community vulnerabilities.

CEA supplied information on residential earthquake insurance in California and the progress of its residential mitigation programs.

Read more