New maps are out reflecting areas most likely to have earthquakes, how often they will occur and how hard the ground will shake.

The US Geological Survey says California is among 16 states at high risk with earthquake hazards extending over a wider area than previously thought. San Jose, Vallejo, San Diego and parts of the Los Angeles region are at greater risk and Santa Barbara, Irvine and Oakland less than thought.

Retired UC Riverside geologist and earthquake expert Doug Morton is concerned about ‘blind thrust’ faults such as the one beneath the Puente Hills.

“There will be a number to be located we don’t know about that will pose seismic hazards. The maps should be viewed as a 3-D data base that is never finished.”

Elsewhere, the new maps suggest the eastern US has the potential for larger and more damaging earthquakes than previous maps showed.

Story Date: July 24, 2014