On 04/14/2011 03:04 PM, bpnjensen wrote:


Being in a seismically active area is not quite the same as being on a
fault line. Fault rupture is, at any given time, a more serious issue
to local buildings than the ensuing ground shaking - it will break
your structure in two; but if you are not on a fault line, then
shaking is your key problem if you are not in danger of a landslide,
tsunami or liquefaction. A building can be built to withstand almost
any foreseeable level of shake.

Surface cracking is localized. It is not the actual fault opening up.
EQs occur a mile or more below the surface.