January 1, San Francisco Quakes Spike Fault Line Worries

Wyatt’s Take

• The Bay Area was rattled by a dozen earthquakes Monday morning.
• Seismologists say it’s the 10th recorded swarm in that spot since 1970.
• Experts aren’t sure if more danger lies ahead for the region.

Several small earthquakes shook the San Francisco Bay Area early Monday, the biggest measuring 4.2 just after 7 a.m. near San Ramon. Locals felt the shaking from San Francisco all the way to Oakland and Richmond, but there were no big reports of damage.

The U.S. Geological Survey recorded over a dozen tremors, starting before sunrise and lasting for more than an hour. “It’s a gradual creation of a fault that’s going to take 100,000 years,” said seismologist Lucy Jones.

Earthquake swarms have happened in this area many times, with 87 quakes over magnitude 2 just in November and December. Jones explained that while folks worry about a bigger earthquake after these swarms, “We’ve had swarms ten times in the last 50, 55 years in the (San Ramon) area and none of those were followed by a bigger earthquake.”

Bay Area trains slowed down to check tracks for damage, but life mostly carried on. Experts also pointed out these swarms sometimes involve magma or fluids, like in volcanic mountain areas, and don’t always follow a major-aftershock pattern.

Nobody knows for sure if these quakes signal bigger problems, but the ground rumbling in earthquake country has everyone watching.

Keep an eye out for new updates, and always have a plan for your family’s safety when Mother Nature acts up.

Wyatt Matters

Living with Mother Nature’s surprises is nothing new for Middle Americans. Watching out for your family, preparing for emergencies, and sticking together matters just as much on the coasts as it does on the plains.

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