1. The Hayward Fault: A Ticking Time Bomb
The Hayward Fault slices through the heart of California’s Bay Area, quietly lurking beneath cities like Oakland, Berkeley, and Hayward itself. While the San Andreas Fault grabs headlines, the Hayward is the true “ticking time bomb,” according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). In a 2024 update, the USGS estimated a 31% chance of a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake along the Hayward within the next three decades—a risk far from negligible given the region’s dense population. The last major rupture on this fault was in 1868, and experts at UC Berkeley warn that the fault is overdue. This fault runs directly below critical…..