The past few weeks the local stations have been doing specials on the 1906 Earthquake and Fire in San Francisco. On Tuesday, April 18th at 5:12 am, it will be 100 years since the earth shook with a 7.9 earthquake and became an integral part of San Francisco’s history. That will be a different diary.
For now – I’m going with the more personal side of earthquakes. What it means to live in earthquake country.
Read on and see what it is like…
I’ve been in California since 1974 and all but one year has been in the SF Bay Area. The other year was in LA. When I moved here I was 18 and didn’t think about earthquakes. I’m not sure that I even realized they were a big deal until I’d been here a few years. During the next 15 years, there were a few ‘shakers’ as we would call them that I experienced. Something between a 3.5 and 4.5 and nowadays they would be good for betting on. If you saw the movie “Volcano” and the crews betting on magnitude and epicenter…well it really happens! And for the record…Richter 10 was just bizarre. There was one earthquake greater than 7.0 during these 15 years. I’ve listed the 7+ quakes below.
Don’t get me wrong – we take 5’s and 6’s seriously. These quakes generally cause large amounts of property damage in areas where there are unreinforced buildings. But the “Big One” is always going to be defined as 7 or greater (I included Northridge because of the amount of damage sustained).
So the “7’s” since 1974:
- 7.2 Nov. 8, 1980 West of Eureka (offshore) Injured 6, $1.75 million in damage
- 7.1 Oct. 17, 1989 Loma Prieta 63 killed
- 7.3 June 28, 1992 Landers 1 killed, 400 injured, 6.5 aftershock
- 7.2 April 25, 1992 Cape Mendocino (offshore) 6.5 and 6.6 aftershocks
- 6.7 Jan. 17, 1994 Northridge 61 killed, $15 billion in damage
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So with knowledge of only one big earthquake in my 15 years, and that one off the north coast, why would I worry.
And then it was October 17, 1989
It was an ordinary day – for a CPA firm near the SF City Hall. We had just finished the last of any tax returns with final extensions. It was a hot, muggy day. The air was still which was unusual for SF. For some of you to understand – it’s the heavy feeling just before a big thunderstorm is about to break after a hot sultry day. Very still. We joked at lunch that it felt like ‘earthquake weather’…because this is not unusual for little quakes.
End of the day. I was one of 10 or so closing up the office and getting ready to go home. It was 5:04 pm and it was opening day of the World Series: SF vs Oakland. Most of the U.S. was home getting ready for the game. Most of my office was AT the game. I’m walking down the hall to the kitchen with my coffee cup to put it in the dishwasher. The floor shook hard – like a semi-truck had run into the building. Then it stopped. Then it was a rolling shake that continued for a really long time. Trust me, 30-45 seconds is long time when the floor is moving!
I had moved to a doorway and stood watching ceiling tiles and metal framing around those tiles fall to the floor. Stood watching books fall off of bookcases and fans fall of shelves. Then it stopped. We all called out to make sure others were okay. Yep…no worries…some stuff fell that’s all. Then the power went out. The few of us carefully went through and turned off computers at the surge protectors. Turned off light switches, and went down 2 flights of stairs to go home.
On the streets…brick facades had collapsed…some windows had broken but no big deal. Then we crossed the street. Huge cracks had appeared in the walls of a couple of old buildings. Cracks, 1-2 inches wide, that were 8-12 feet long, running diagonally up the side of 3 story buildings.
A lot more concerned now we walked the half block to the parking garage, no power, dark basement, dripping pipes over the cars, but no noticeable damage. Okay – hugs to co-workers and get home to families. Me – north across the Golden Gate Bridge…another east across the Bay Bridge. I made it home in about 35 minutes – due to collapsed buildings in the Marina access to the GG Bridge and traffic problems in the financial district. My friend Stu – well a section of the Bay Bridge collapsed. He ended up driving from SF to San Jose and then back up the far side of the bay to his home in Castro Valley. That night it took him 4 hours. The folks at the game…3-4 hours also because of the damage in SF and to the bridge.
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What happened that October forever changed my understanding of people in times of crises and governments when people are in need.
The lights were out on the streets of SF as I worked my way to the bridge. People had stepped to the intersections and were directing traffic. Somebody was stranded and the local coffee shop gave them a place to wait. There were 2 women waiting at the last bus stop before the bridge – and the buses were not going to be there that night. I drove them to their stop 20 miles up the road.
- When the Cypress freeway collapsed, everyone that could helped. And miracles happened when people were brought out of the collapsed freeway.
- When the entire downtown of Santa Cruz (near the epicenter) collapsed, trucks of food and water and supplies were driven in by strangers.
- When they declared the Marina district homes uninhabitable – hundreds of trucks and thousands of volunteers showed up to help strangers move to a new place.
- When we called to volunteer – it was the local governments – Oakland and San Francisco that organized the help. Don’t ask me about the Red Cross – that’s a rant diary.
- Was there Federal assistance – I don’t know. The City of SF coordinated everything I saw. It all went through the Office of Emergency Services.
So before I continue….a picture…
This neighborhood was built on landfill and collapsed due to liquifaction. This is the Marina District with beautiful view of SF Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. For more information visit the website for Loma Prieta, from SF Museum History
Same area…up the hills looking back to the bay
So…what did I learn…
- I live in one of the most caring, sharing and loving places on earth.
- That each of us are neighbors and we helped each other.
- That local governments, properly managed, and aware of their geographic risks, can be prepared for an emergency.
- That each of us as individuals has a responsiblity to be prepared for an emergency.
Each day I’m aware of the earthquake potential, but relish each day that I’m here. I’m aware of my neighbors and friends and we have refined our preparedness. We can not walk in fear of the disasters that may befall us. We can only walk in the beauty around us and in us.
So when the “Big One” comes, we’ll pull together as neighbors, be it anywhere in California. We’ll pick up and go help, and we’ll help each other rebuild. We have 100 year history to live up to….and we are up to the task.
As the 100 year anniversary approached I found myself thinking about disasters. I remembered Loma Prieta, and thought about Katrina.
Such different responses. Such different results.
After what I experienced I believe in the people I call neighbors and DO NOT believe in FEMA.
What are you experiences with disasters?
I remember the 1989 earthquake, I was definitely watching the World Series on the teevee. It was frightening watching it then; post Katrina, I think it would have been even scarier.
Despite my relatively young age, I’ve been through hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanoes, and blizzards, and I have to say that in each and every case, I’ve found that the citizenry and local govnerment is much more prepared for handling disaster than is the state or federal government.
I grew up with blizzards in UT and was in South Carolina during the edges of a Hurricane in 1974.
It is scary…but it makes us think about what we are doing as neighbors and locally.
The numbness of seeing the Cypress collapse was the worst. I spent several years driving that freeway daily…that to see it down freaked me out.
Locally – we are ready – maybe not as well as we can be but close.
I bet they had better infrastructure in place back then than Brownie and Company provided last year to NOLA.
I remember tornado season in Oklahoma when I was really young, it was terrifying. Given that, I also remember being shown videos on emergency preparedness as well as hearing the sirens tested every Friday at noon. There was a system in place.
Thanks for the diary, SallyCat!
That’s the answer isn’t it. I see the tornado watch stuff on tv, and the hurricane centers, and yet we have disasters like Katrina.
Our only systems here…reinforce, retrofit, and respond. But it seems to work.
This is a great diary, SallyCat because it really touches on community.
The fact of the matter is, no matter where you live, the community is there. I really believe this. There are hundreds of stories of people helping each other out from New Orleans and 9/11. I can tell you many stories of my own, but two, come to mind right off the bat.
The first was when I was visiting NYC and a blizzard struck. I was on my way home from a club and cars were stuck all over the place. I, my friends, and many strangers spent hours pushing cars off the roads and into safe spots while this beautiful snow blanketed the city. It was both beautiful and communal.
The other was at a festival called Burning Man. This event happens in the far desert of Nevada and is subject to extreme dust storms and winds. At one point, we were in the midst of a white out and were frantically trying to hold my structure together when a guy appeared out of no where and helped me tie my shelter down. He was just wandering the streets looking for poor souls like me who needed help.
These are rather benign examples, but both showed me that in adversity, people became people and they help one another in adverse situations.
I moved the California in 1990, right after Loma Prieta and I have made it a point to talk to everyone I can who was here. They all report the same thing. No matter what, they either helped or were helped by their fellow people. It’s astounding and beautiful and gives me the strength to keep living here.
Over the past 15 years, I have felt earthquakes and they frighten me to no end. There is something really unbelievably frightening when the very earth we live on moves like that. It is a feeling I am unable to describe to people who have never experienced one. At first, I would freak out and run out of the house. Now, I am an expert at judging the magnitude and the distance. Just two or three weeks ago a small earthquake hit the east bay and I was the only one in my office who felt it. I had to go to the internet and confirm it for them to believe it. I am hypsersensitive to them now.
While part of me wants to leave this area because I am terrified of “The Big One”, what keeps me is knowing that if it happens, we will work together and make the best out of a bad thing. That and no matter where you live, nature has a way of packing a wallop.
So, if the Big One hits and I’m still here, I will work right along beside you Sally to make sure people are rescued, fed and sheltered.
In writing this up and looking at the numbers I was surprised at the number of people that didn’t die. Loma Prieta 63 out 12+ Million in the bay area at the time. Northridge 61 died.
You were here for picking up the pieces and being in Oakland, the collapse of the Cypress was terrifying. But miracles happened and people were rescued from that collapse.
So hang in there…start thinking…hmmm 3.5 San Jose $2 bet! That’s what got me through some of the 4’s and 5’s. We accept that there will be damage but most people don’t get hurt.
I’m looking forward to seeing you again sooner than an earthquake though! And we’ll all pull together when one happens.
Wonderful diary SallyCat! Community is key. I grew up in tornado laden land. Seems like dad was forever cutting up downed trees and limbs. Neighbors helping neighbors clean up afterwards.
Went through a Tsnami warning only two months after moving to KAuai. We were awkened by bullhorns yelling You must evacuate immediately. We were living so close to the ocean one could spit into it from our lanai. We packed what we could into the 4Runner and went to higher ground. This occured because of the 8. earthquake in Japan. After four hours we were told it was safe to go home.
Last week a really strange thing happened. My whole building shook so hard that the blinds were swaying back and forth and Smokie the Cat felt it before I did. He crouched down immediately. It was if a wrecking ball had hit the side of my building. Almost all of San Diego county felt it. Latter we were told on the news that there was absolutely no siesmic activity registered. None of the bases would cop to sonic booms or rockets being launched. Not knowing just what it was is scarey. I have the feeling it was underground testing of some sort. I know I take being prepared for granted but since moving to CA four years ago have felt several little tremors and have stocked up more than ever before. I also have to be prepared to assist my tenants and that is a huge responsibility.
Miss you my friend!
Bookmark this: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/
S’where the media gets their information. The are incredible. Southern Cal had 115 earthquakes in the last week.
Thanks for the link rba. They list what I felt as SD: Sonic Boom? but not info. Who knows. The government sure isn’t going to tell us if they were testing something. Unless of course it helps them in some way.
even underground testing creates seismic waves. Unless it was some super secret test, I can’t imagine why USGS didn’t report the info…and why.
On the tenants – has the property management company set up a storage area for water and other supplies? It might be cool to write up a storage / supplies list from the listing in the front of the phone book, and recommend it to the property managers. This would be a good idea for any building managers. Also does the complex have an evacuation area to go to? I would think the parking lot behind the buildings could be used.
I’m hoping to be done with the last of the taxes tomorrow – then I can spend some time emailing and calling. I wouldn’t have missed coming to SD for anything – but now I’m doing penance of late tax returns for clients! ;^D
Hugs my friend!
It’s always been about community, and SF’s history is the main reason the City is so well-prepared. We felt the Loma Prieta quake over here in the valley, and noticed the same “earthquake weather”. (Lived here pretty much all my life). We knew it had hit the fan when network tv went down. The sight of private citizens crawling under that mass of concrete on the bridge was a sight to behold.
I worked Northridge for awhile doing damage assessments. Nearly everyone – renters and owners – had visits from no less than six inspectors, and most didn’t have to evacuate. It still took months to get relief through the various governmental pipelines to those in need.
We’ve been lucky out here. There are some disasters that are beyond human capability to plan for.
Great diary, SallyCat. I am still trying to get my heart to slow down after reading it.
In 1989, I was a first year student at UC Santa Cruz. I was born in SoCal, but moved to NJ when I was 10, so I hadn’t thought about earthquakes for years. On the afternoon of 10/17, my friend Alex and I went downtown to shop and get pizza. We were in a pizza shop at the corner of Pacific and Soquel when it hit. Everyone ran out of the 4 (?) story brick building as it started to cave in a bit. Alex and I held onto a tree at the edge of the sidewalk as we watched the street move in S waves. It was bizzare. Alex was from NYC and we both immediately thought “Subway!” for a split second before we realized what was happening. We were scared but okay. I think everyone who was in the building we exited was okay as well. I saw people covered in blood crawling out of the downtown shops. I had nightmares for over a year.
The coffee house I was to work at just a month or two later collapsed. All three employees were killed instantly when the large beam above the counter/register came down on them. It took 3 days to find their bodies. It was awful.
We couldn’t sleep in our dorms for a few days, so we got to camp on the big soccer field. I think I would have enjoyed it if the aftershocks weren’t so scary. I wasn’t able to get through to my parents in NJ for 2 days. They were, um, a bit worried. People were wonderful, though, and both the Santa Cruz and university communities really came together (from my experience, anyway).
On a side note, I went to see R.E.M. just a week or two later up in Contra Costa County and we had to take 9 because the 101 and other major roads were still closed. We didn’t have tickets, and when we finally arrived at the ampitheater around 6:30, they opened up the orchestra pit seats and we got front row seats 🙂 My one happy memory from the quake…
I was also in Hollywood when the Northridge quake hit. I’ve never felt anything so violent and thought the apartment building I lived in was going to come crashing down on me. I moved back to NJ a few months later. That fall, someone slammed our garage door too hard – the house shook – and I was out in the front lawn in my PJs in about 10 seconds. It sticks with you, huh?
Okay, must go do something happy to get my mind off of earthquakes…
Big hugs CN {{{{CN}}}} All I can say is WOW.
Being in the downtown buildings in Santa Cruz would have been tremendously scary – and I can understand that fear. My step daughter was at UCSC and lived a couple of blocks from Pacific. She had power and telephones and called. Yet we knew owners of some of the businesses on Pacific Avenue…totally wiped out. Yes it stays with you. Most of us are subconciously aware of doors, things that might fall, ceiling fixtures, etc.
I am so glad you were safe both in Loma Prieta and Northridge. Have a quiet cup of tea and think of the Socal beaches instead.
Be safe in NJ but be sure to come back to the Golden State periodically. Being a little snarky here…I’d probably wait until Bush is out of office. We don’t need his FEMA Trifecta!
{{{CN}}}
Been in greater Los Angeles all my life, but the 6.5 Sylmar quake in 1971 was the first that I remember.
There had been several small earthquakes in the Santa Monica Bay on January 15 and 16, 1994. When awakened in West LA by the first jolt on January 17, and running for the doorway (instinctive since 1971) and wedged in with hubby for the second jolt, we thought that the epicenter was again in the Santa Monica Bay. We thought that we were taking the worst of the shaking, and that it wouldn’t be so bad in other areas.
With shoes on (in case of broken glass in the kitchen – and there was plenty) and flashlights in hand we made our way out to sit in our car and try to find news. When I heard that Northridge, miles and miles away in the San Fernando Valley, was the epicenter, I started crying thinking that nothing would be left of Los Angeles. We waited until dawn to see what the damage would be. Later, the neighbors sat and slept on their lawns rather than endure the aftershocks inside. It was pleasant weather – unseasonably warm winter weather, earthquake weather.
My husband swears he heard the collapse of the Santa Monica Fwy overpass at La Cienega and Venice. His strongest memory is the deafening roar of the earthquake. Mine is of the floor striking the bottom of my bare feet – the vertical movement of the shock waves instead of the usual lateral movement. Our little wood-frame stucco house made in through intact, although not the sewer line. Electricity came on after 8-10 hours.
Both relatives and co-workers lived near the epicenter, without electricity and water for many, many days. Friends, neighbors and family opened their doors. Utilities were restored, FEMA arrived, then the SBA with offers of disaster loans, and the freeways were reconstructed.
For several months fellow employees ducked under desks when after-shocks hit, and we had the occasional hysteria from one tremblor too many. We had telephone calls when an after shock shook one caller, and we counted the seconds until the other would feel it. We avoided stopping beneath an overpass, and would not enter parking structures in Santa Monica. We saw the collapsed roof of a non-descript building in Santa Monica, one we rarely glanced at before, and were thankful that there had been no one there. We took walks on the beach, and looking at the Santa Monica mountains (hills, really) we thought about how beautiful and treacherous and surreal our home was.
I have been fortunate in that the major earthquakes I experienced have been in the early, and very early morning. My parents had stories of the 1932 Long Beach earthquake which struck in the late afternoon, luckily after school hours. A recurring tale of my mother’s childhood was attending Van Nuys Elementary School in tents because of the damage inflicted by the 1932 quake – and it’s a very long distance from Long Beach to the San Fernando Valley. As a child I had nightmares after watching the movie “San Francisco” with its graphic scenes of the 1906 earthquake. There were tales of the Tehachapi quake, and the guessing games if our house was shaking because Rocketdyne was testing missile engines or if it was really an earthquake.
It’s only a matter of time before we experience another “significant event” in California. Tonight, I will recheck our emergency supplies and make sure there is cash hidden away for when the ATMs are unavailable due to power failure, and give hubby an extra hug.
Born and lived in SoCal all my life. Thankfully though, never too close to any of those Big Ones you listed. Sylmar was the first one in my memory too – I was 6 and I still remember waking up in my bed with the headboard banging against the wall. We lived in Westminster at the time. Since 1980 I have been in San Diego so always far enough away from the others that I cannot say I have experienced anything like you did in ’89.
One funny story though – at my office we now refer to one meeting room as The Earthquake Room because over a three year period there were three earthquakes that occurred when we were in there. The first time there were out of town constultants who totally freaked. The last two we barely missed a beat other than to start a pool to guess the magnitude 🙂
Another funny side note is that I have always had bottled water on hand. Waaaay before it was trendy!!