Be Prepared When Moving to Hayward

You may have heard of the 1868 Hayward Earthquake, one of the worst natural disasters to hit America’s West Coast. It measured around 7.0 on the Richter scale, and devastated Hayward. Luckily, Hayward has not experienced an earthquake of this magnitude since, but its proximity to the San Andreas Fault means tremors are a part of city life. Well-travelled expatriates will probably have experienced this before, but if you haven’t it can be a scary experience. Before moving to Hayward, familiarize yourself with earthquake safety drills and make sure you know who to call in case of damage. Invest in good locks for your cupboard doors, so they don’t swing open at the slightest disturbance, and keep any delicate valuables in a safe and secure place. For more advice on how to deal with tremors and natural disasters, check out the InterNations’ discussion groups and forums, and speak to other expats with experience of living on a fault line.

Expats Working in Hayward

Many expats living in Hayward will actually commute to nearby San Francisco. Just a 40-minute drive away, Hayward is unsurprisingly full of ‘Frisco’ professionals, who have moved to Hayward for the laid back lifestyle and the more affordable property. But equally, Hayward has its own long-running industries, mainly in manufacturing and retail. Traditionally the city was known for its huge cannery, but this closed in 1981. Now, its proximity to Silicon Valley means that many local jobs are directly or indirectly linked with the tech industries. Find out more about working in California by talking to other expatriates in Hayward via InterNations’ forums and discussion groups or read up on more general expatriation related topics in our Expat Magazine.