Earthquake Facts for San Francisco and the Bay Area

Find information on earthquake facts for San Francisco and the Bay Area. Learn more on what causes earthquakes and famous earthquakes from this region.

I've lived in San Francisco for a number of years and am always asked about earthquakes. Since I've lived here, I've only really felt about four earthquakes. Of those, only one experience was a little scary. It also happened to be the largest one in the area since I've lived here.

San Francisco Earthquake Facts

What I didn't realize when I moved to San Francisco was that there are a number of earthquakes everyday throughout California. The good news is that most of them are a 3.0 or smaller, so you can't even feel them.

The smaller earthquakes are necessary and welcome since they help relieve some of the tension in the fault lines. If the tension gets too high, then larger earthquakes occur. Learn more about What Causes Earthquakes.

In a year, California has tens of thousands of earthquakes. Another one of the earthquake facts is that around 5,000 or more of those are in and around the San Francisco Bay area. Even though there are a large number every year, the likelihood of you feeling an earthquake while you visit San Francisco is pretty small.

There are 5 to 6 large fault lines that run through the region and many other smaller fault lines that branch out from these larger ones. The most notable and recognizable is the San Andras fault, which runs under the Santa Cruz Mountains, up through the Peninsula, near the Golden Gate Bridge, through part of Marin County and then out to the Pacific Ocean.

Another notable fault line in the area is the Hayward fault. This one runs through the east side of the San Francisco Bay area. It runs through Hayward, up through Berkeley (the Berkeley football stadium runs right on top of this fault) and north into the bay.

The other fault lines around the area are not as well known as the San Andreas Fault or the Hayward Fault.

Famous Earthquakes in San Francisco

One of the known earthquake facts is that San Francisco has had a couple of notable earthquakes. Geologists also predict that the 'big one' is yet to happen.

The most famous of the San Francisco earthquakes is the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The second most famous San Francisco earthquake is the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

When Is The Big One Going To Hit?

So, you are probably also wondering about when the next one is predicted to happen. Well, this is a tough one to answer. Based on a report released in 2003, geologists estimate that there is a 62% chance that a 6.7 or larger earthquake will hit the area in the next 30 years.

This is a tough statistic to grasp, since there are a lot of 'ifs' involved. However, they do estimate that the chances of the next big one hitting is more likely than it not hitting.

They also predict that it will hit closer to an urban area than the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. If this is true, then a lot more damage will occur than in 1989.

Tips for Handling an Earthquake

I thought it would be helpful also to provide just a little advice for you on what to do if you find yourself in an earthquake while visiting San Francisco. Here are some earthquake facts and tips to remember:

1. Stay Calm: The first thing is to remember to stay calm, since most of the earthquakes are small and do very little damage.
   
2. Protect Yourself: Another one of the earthquake facts that most people don't realize is that most injuries during an earthquake are caused by flying objects. Protect yourself by crawling under a table and protecting your neck and head. Step away from the walls, windows, TVs or other large objects that could fall over or fly off the wall. DO NOT run outside, down the stairs or try to take the elevator during or shortly after an earthquake.
3. Listen to Instructions: If you encounter an earthquake while you are in your hotel, listen to the announcements on the loud speaker at your hotel. They will instruct you if you need to leave the building or if the damage is insignificant and you can stay in your room.
   

As I mentioned before, the odds of you finding yourself in an earthquake while visiting San Francisco are very, very small. If you do feel an earthquake, it will most likely be a really small, short earthquake with little or no damage.