October 1999 marked the 10th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake. Loma Prieta caused extensive damage throughout the San Francisco Bay Area: 63 people died; 3,757 people were injured; property losses were estimated at $5.9 billion.

Fortunately, there have been no large earthquakes in the Bay Area since Loma Prieta. However, we all know the question is when, not if, "The Big One" will happen. Alameda County is particularly vulnerable, having at least two major fault lines--the Hayward and the Calaveras--that could produce earthquakes as great as or even greater than Loma Prieta.

As a County supervisor and a former member of the California Seismic Safety Commission, I have a special interest in ensuring that Alameda County is prepared for future temblors. It's my goal to help make Alameda County become "The Most Earthquake-Conscious County in America."

To that end, this page provides earthquake information and seismic safety tips, including links to some of the many excellent sites available on the Web. This information will be helpful to you when preparing your home and family for future earthquakes.

Scott Haggerty, Alameda County Supervisor