Earthquake assessment on the Central Coast

Monday’s 4.0 magnitude earthquake in the Bay Area is leaving some on the Central Coast rattled. Many are wondering if a large earthquake could happen here. A local geologist says there’s a chance that quake could have an effect here.

The 4.0 quake originated on the Hayward Fault Line. It’s a branch of the much larger San Andreas Fault Line that stretches from Northern California to the Gulf of California.

“These faults are all sort of connected together,” Bob Barminski, a geologist at Hartnell College said. “Like if you shattered a pane of glass, the way you’d get that pattern of glass.”

Salinas is sandwiched between two fault lines. To the west of the city in Monterey Bay is the San Gregorio Fault Line. East of the city is the San Andreas Fault. With that, comes a chance of a quake here.

“We’ve got this connectedness,” Barminski said. “If you move one, it will eventually affect the other. So it would increase the potential for another earthquake on another interconnected part of the fault.”

Barminski said the San Andreas is one of the most studied fault lines. New research has shown the strongest possible earthquake it could produce is a 7.9. The 1906 San Francisco was a 7.8. And he says, we’re due.

“62 percent probability in the next 30 years of a magnitude, I think it’s six or larger,” Barminski said. “So it’s a two out of three chance.”

Emergency crews want to remind people to get a plan in place, and have enough food in case of an emergency.