SYNONYMY BUT PEOPLE REPORTED FEELING SHAKING FROM SAN DIEGO TO AS FAR AS PALM DESERT. THE U.S. HAS AN AVERAGE OF SIX EARTHQUAKES A YEAR, WITH THE MAGNITUDE BETWEEN 6 AND 7.0. THAT IS ACCORDING TO DATA. HERE IN THE BAY AREA, WE LIVE NEAR ACTIVE FAULTS, THE HAYWARD FAULT IS SEEN AS A TECTONIC TIMEBOMB FOR A LARGE EARTHQUAKE. IT RUNS THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST DENSELY POPULATE AREAS OF THE EAST BAY AS YOU CAN SEE HERE. SCIENTISTS RECENTLY WENT TO MEASURE HOW MUCH THIS FAULT HAS BEEN CREEPING. AS BRIAN HACKNEY REPORTS, ONE BAY AREA COUPLE CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE EVIDENCE OUTSIDE THEIR FRONT DOOR. >> Reporter: WHENEVER I VISIT THE HAYWARD FAULT , I ALSO TRY TO VISIT PHIL AND DARLENE. >> HOW ARE YOU? >> GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. >> Reporter: NOT ONLY ARE THEY GREAT PEOPLE, BUT THEIR HOUSE IS ALMOST RIGHT ON TOP OF THE CREEPING HAYWARD FAULT. >> WHEN YOU BOUGHT THE HOUSE AND 63, THEY HAD NO IDEA THE HAYWARD FAULT CAME THROUGH HERE? >> THEY DIDN'T TELL US. >> Reporter: THAT IS TRUE FOR MOST OF THE EAST BAY, WHICH WAS PLANTED RIGHT ON TOP OF THE 35 MILE LENGTH OF THE HAYWARD FAULT, BEFORE ANYBODY REALLY KNEW THAT IT WAS CREEPING. >> WHERE I AM STANDING HERE, THIS IS 20% OF ALL THE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE NORTH AMERICAN PLATE AND THE PACIFIC PLATE PASSING THROUGH MY LEGS ON THIS ONE NARROW ZONE. >> Reporter: AS FOR PHIL, IT CLIPS PART OF HIS GARDEN WALL. >> SINCE THE LAST VISIT IN 2009 -- >> IT'S A POWERFUL ADHESIVE. >> Reporter: IN THE 13 YEARS SINCE, I WONDERED IF THE GLUE HAD KEPT THE PACIFIC AND NORTH AMERICAN PLATES FROM SLIPPING. >> THE FIRST TIME WE TALKED WAS IN 94. >> IT'S BEEN A WHILE. >> YOU'LL BE BACK AGAIN. >> I EXPECT TO SEE YOU RIGHT THERE. >> YOU DIDN'T THINK WE STILL LIVE HERE, DID YOU? >> IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> Reporter: IS FILL IN THERE? IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> IT'S BEEN A WHILE. >> IT HAS BEEN A WILD. >> Reporter: PHIL BROKE HIS BACK IN A FALL A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, BUT HE AND DARLENE LOOKED GREAT. SOMETHING ELSE HAS NOT CHANGED, EITHER. >> THE FAULT IS STILL MOVING, AS FAR AS WE FEEL. THE SEPARATION OF THE SIDEWALK. >> THE SIDEWALK IS TERRIBLE. >> IT'S REALLY STARTING TO MOVE. >> Reporter: SURVEY CREWS RECENTLY VERIFIED THAT. >> Reporter: DR. AUSTIN ELLIOTT, FROM THE USGS. >> SO FAR OUR READINGS SHOW THERE HAVE BEEN 11 MILLIMETERS OF MOVEMENT THIS YEAR. THAT IS ABOUT NORMAL FOR THIS SITE. >> IS MOVING. >> Reporter: AT THAT RATE, PHIL'S HOUSE IS NOW ONE FOOT CLOSER TO ALASKA THAN IT WAS WHEN I MET HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1994. SOMEDAY, THIS FAULT IS NOT JUST GOING TO CREEP. >> THAT'S RIGHT. IT HAS BEEN NEARLY 160 YEARS SINCE THE LAST EARTHQUAKE ON THE HAYWARD FAULT, AND WE KNOW FROM GEOLOGIC STUDIES, THAT IT HAS EARTHQUAKES ON AVERAGE, EVERY 160 YEARS. WE ARE WITHIN THE WINDOW WHEN WE EXPECT TO EXPERIENCE A LARGE EARTHQUAKE ON THE HAYWARD FAULT. >> Reporter: HAVE YOU GUYS EVER HEARD OF THE HAYWARD FAULT? >> YES. >> DO YOU WORRY ABOUT IT? >> NOT REALLY. >> Reporter: THAT IS KIND OF HOW PHIL FELT ABOUT IT, BACK THEN. >> HOW WORRIED CAN I BE? >> Reporter: AND NOW. >> Reporter: DO YOU WORRY ABOUT IT? >> NO. >> NO. >> NO. >> WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? >> IT'S SLOW. >> Reporter: EVEN THOUGH THAT THING IS JUST OUTSIDE THE WINDOW? >> NO. >> Reporter: YOUR PHILOSOPHY IS, -- >> SO BE IT. >> Reporter: SO, UNTIL WE MEET YET AGAIN. >> I HOPE
