Uncertain Ground
Most of the unreinforced masonry buildings in San Bernardino are in a three-mile-wide area, roughtly bounded by Base Line and Orange Show Road to the north and south and Tippecanoe and Mount Vernon avenues to the east and west, that seismologists consider moderately or highly susceptible to liquefaction because of high groundwater. The San Jacinto Fault, the most active in California, runs through the area. Experts warn that when a quake hits, the ground can turn soupy and buildings may collapse. Most of the buildings are small businesses, but the high-hazard zone also includes churches, restaurants and industrial plants. This interactive map shows where they are.
