Santa Cruz County - 1906 Surface Fault Rupture Effect

This photo shows a house in Santa Cruz County which was destroyed by surface fault rupture during the 1906 earthquake.

One of the reasons geologists map out the location of Quaternary-active faults is that surface fault rupture during an earthquake can substantially damage or destroy structures built on or across a fault, like this house in Santa Cruz County which was broken apart by fault rupture during the 1906 earthquake.

Because of the danger of surface fault rupture, California has strict laws governing the construction of new structures in known, active fault zones.

Learn more about the California fault rupture hazard zones.