The USGS HayWired Earthquake Scenario explores the physical, technological, and societal impacts of a hypothetical magnitude-7.0 earthquake on the Hayward Fault (and its aftershocks).

It’s a tool that shows the set up and facilitation of earthquake preparedness meetings. Loaded with data, this tool can guide community members to understand their own risks and how to mitigate them.

Role-play assignments brought participants into the scenario. Each group had a business which was severely impacted by an earthquake on the Hayward Fault. We learned a great deal from each other as we worked through the questions, such as what areas of our building are prone to fire ignition after an earthquake, and what do we have onsite to mitigate or prevent a fire?

We all became aware of an important point: what about the businesses surrounding us? We can’t be safe from fire if they are not safe from fire. How can neighboring businesses (and neighbors in a residential area) work with each other to make sure we’re ready for a big earthquake?