Unfortunately, the terrible earthquake and tsunami in Japan, has people thinking "Could that really happen here?" The answer is; Yes. Although it wouldn't be 8.9 in magnitude, the local faults here could produce an earthquake in the 7s. This isn't anything new, but I am sure your local real estate agent hasn't mentioned it. Seismic hazard zone disclosures are required in any real estate transaction, but are usually scant and buried somewhere in a mound of paperwork. To be honest, Los Angeles is riddled with faults, but the major ones of concern are:
1) Santa Monica/Malibu Fault
2) Newport/Inglewood Fault
3) Elysian Park Fault
4) Whittier Fault
5) Palos Verdes Fault
6) Northridge Fault
and of course,
7) San Andreas Fault
In reality, there are many unknown faults in Los Angeles called blind thrusts (buried beneath the surface), that are invisible. The Northridge Earthquake of 1994 is a previously undiscovered blind thrust fault. Anyplace in the city where small hills or mountains exist, is due to faulting. For example, The Culver Crest Area in Culver City has great views, because it sits at the end of the Newport/Inglewood fault. Even though most people prefer not to think about earthquakes when buying a home, it should factor in your decision. The LA Basin happens to be one of the most seismically active areas in the world.
So which area would be most impacted? It depends on the fault in question. Perhaps, the 2 faults of most concern are; the Santa Monica/Malibu and Newport/Inglewood Faults. Not the San Andreas Fault. The San Andreas Fault, capable of a magnitude 8 earthquake is located over 60 miles away. Our local faults, although smaller, are located right here. The Santa Monica/Malibu Fault extends from Los Feliz, all along the Santa Monica Mountains west, to Malibu. From there, it continues offshore into the Santa Monica Bay. If a magnitude 6 or 7 earthquake occurs offshore, we almost certainly will have a tsunami. The most affected would be the low lying areas of:
Malibu (Malibu Colony)
Santa Monica (Ocean Park)
Venice (Oakwood/ Boardwalk Area)
Marina del Rey (Entire area)
Playa Vista & Culver City (Ballona Creek)
Mar Vista (Marina del Rey Adjacent)
Playa del Rey (Jungle Area)
El Segundo (Strand)
Manhattan Beach (Strand)
Hemosa Beach (Strand)
Redondo Beach (Strand)
Marina del Rey especially, would take the worst hit.
The Newport/Inglewood Fault, capable of a 7.0 earthquake, would devastate the communities from Newport to Culver City and its surrounding areas. It too, extends offshore along with the Palos Verdes Fault, and both are capable of a tsunamis.In conclusion, I would consider a few things about earthquakes and tsunamis before buying a home close to Santa Monica Bay. First, avoid subterranean parking at all cost. They are known to collapse in severe shaking. Secondly, buy earthquake insurance. If it is not available, find another home. Third, pay attention to Tsunami Zone and Earthquake Zone Maps. They are there for a reason. If you want an ocean view, elevate yourself some, rather than being oceanfront at ground level. Lastly, always make sure the homes' foundation is solid and hasn't been damaged in the past.
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