San Francisco Earthquake
From LoveToKnow SanFrancisco
The possibility of a San Francisco earthquake is one of the biggest drawbacks to visiting/living in the Bay area. At this point, sadly enough, it’s a frighteningly real prospect—seismologists and geologists have been saying for some time that we are due for a big one. Why is San Francisco such an earthquake-friendly place? Two factors play a big part in this notoriety. The first one is that much of the city lies on top of manmade landfills consisting of matter that can shift quickly if moved—sand and mud primarily. The second factor is that the city lies in close proximity to both the San Andreas and Hayward faults, both of which are major sources of earthquake activity. Luckily, lessons have been learned from the city’s past quakes, and there are solid plans laid out for residents and visitors on how to survive should a new quake hit, as well as how to cope in the aftermath. Below you’ll find an article that examines the history and consequences of the city’s two biggest quakes—the 1906 quake and the 1989 Loma Prieta quake—plus information on earthquake safety.
The 1906 Earthquake
This cataclysmic earthquake nearly leveled all of San Francisco when it struck on the morning of Wednesday, April 18th. The main quake occurred along the San Andreas fault and was felt as far as Los Angeles and Oregon, but the epicenter occurred most closely to the city by the bay. It measured a whopping 7.8 on the Richter Scale, and although early estimates put deaths at somewhere close to the 500 mark, today it’s widely believed that close to 6,000 people perished in quake. Between 20-25,000 people were displaced by the quake, and forced to live in temporary relief encampments of homes built from nearby redwood trees. While the earthquake and its aftershocks were indeed devastating, what caused so many deaths, as well as massive property damage, were the fires that burned out of control all over the city as a result of the heavily shifted grounds. Ruptures in natural gas mains caused many, and many were also the result of arson. A large majority of building owners at the time had insurance that covered fire damage but not earthquake damage, so matches were struck and property was set ablaze to ensure the rebuilding. In the end, 500 city blocks were wiped off the map, most of which lied between the downtown financial district and stretched to the main thoroughfare of Van Ness Avenue.
The 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake
The Loma Prieta quake struck San Francisco on October 17 at approximately 5:04 PM. Many people across the country remember seeing the quake occur in real time, due to the fact that a World Series game involving the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants was being televised live at nearby Candlestick Park. The San Francisco earthquake measured 6.9 on the Richter Scale, lasted for close to 15 seconds, and caused over 60 deaths and 3,000 serious injuries. A large majority of the quake’s damaged occurred in the city’s tony Marina District, a neighborhood that’s built primarily on soft soil. A section of the Oakland Bay Bridge—a major bridge that connects cities in the East Bay to San Francisco collapsed, and miraculously, only one person was killed as a result. Damages and deaths were not restricted to San Francisco, however—buildings crumbled as far south as Santa Cruz, and all in all, the quake affected an area spanning 70 miles. Over six billion dollars in property damages were reported shortly after the quake, making it at the time the costliest natural disaster in the history of the United States.
San Francisco Earthquake Preparation
Needless to say, panic is the first thing to set in when an earthquake hits—many people find themselves stunned into paralysis and unsure of which way to turn. Don’t let yourself be one of these people! Below is a step-by-step guide to the actions you should take should an earthquake occur.
- Immediately drop to the floor, and cover your head with your hands and arms.
- Take refuge inside a doorway, next to an interior wall, or underneath a piece of furniture. If you crawl under a piece of furniture, take hold of it, and be prepared to move with it as the quake occurs.
- Wait until you’re sure the quake is over, then briefly inspect your home for damage. Make sure your telephones haven’t been jostled from their receivers. After you have done this cautiously leave the building you’re in. Be careful upon opening a door to the outside world, for your never sure what awaits you as far as structural damage to the ground, electrical wires, and surrounding buildings goes.
- Do not use an elevator if you are high up in a building—always take the emergency stairs.
- If you are downtown and surrounded by high rises, either stay inside the building your in, or take refuge in one. It is extremely dangerous to be outside if you are downtown during an earthquake—windows in high rises can shatter, and the glass does not always immediately travel down to the ground—many times it gets swept up in the wind and can be carried great distances.
- If you can’t get inside a building, find the nearest outdoor space that is some distance away from buildings, power lines, and trees. If you’re in a car when a quake hits, pull over into an open space that is not close to tall buildings or trees.
Additional San Francisco Earthquake Resources
USGS: The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
Virtual Museum of San Francisco: 1989 Earthquake Reports & Photographs
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