The California Geological Survey's first new fault map in 16 years features more than 50 new surface earthquake faults in the Golden State.
Hopefully the map will guide future development and emergency planning, officials told the Los Angeles Times:
The new faults range from small ones that don't pose much threat for major temblors to very large ones, like the one responsible for the 7.1 Hector Mine earthquake that shook Southern California in 1999. Most of the faults have been known to researchers and contained in scientific files.
"I think every classroom in California should have these maps on the wall," Caltech seismologist Lucy Jones told the newspaper.
"I don't think we do enough to educate the general public about these features. We turn it into something for the specialists, as if science is only for scientist. But if you're going to buy a house, would you like to know what fault is under your house?" Jones said.
