Twenty years ago this month, the Bay Area shook. In 15 seconds the 6.9-magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake toppled buildings, collapsed freeways and a segment of the Bay Bridge, caused devastating fires in San Francisco’s Marina District, and killed 67 people.
Loma Prieta earthquake damage to the Bay Bridge
Despite the damage, the 1989 earthquake was much less intense than the 1906 earthquake that struck San Francisco. And chances are good, 63% according to the most recent predictions, that an earthquake of equal or greater magnitude will occur along a Bay Area fault within the next 30 years.
During an earthquake
Loma Prieta earthquake damage to the Old King Library in San Jose
- If you are inside when an earthquake strikes, drop, cover, and hold on. That means take cover under a heavy piece of furniture or drop to the floor against an interior wall. Protect your head and neck with your arms, then stay put until the shaking has stopped. In an earthquake, avoid exterior walls, windows, large hanging objects and mirrors, and large appliances.
- If you’re in bed, stay there and cover your head with a pillow.
- If you’re outside, move to a clear area if possible. Avoid buildings, power lines, and trees. Always assume that fallen power lines are live.
- If you’re in a car, pull over to the side of the road as soon as it’s possible and safe. Avoid anything that might fall on your vehicle, such as an overpass. Remain inside until the shaking has stopped.
And remember, as Emily White of the Red Cross said during a recent interview with the Chronicle, “Most earthquake-related injuries result from falling debris or people trying to move more than a few feet during the shaking.”
Before an earthquake
- Develop an earthquake plan. This includes identifying safe spots in every room in your home and practicing getting into these spots and dropping, covering, and holding on. Also make a plan for how you will communicate with and meet up with family members, friends, or roommates after a quake.
- Put together a disaster kit. This should include the supplies you’ll need to survive for 3 days on your own. Your kit should have bottled water (1 gallon per person per day); nonperishable food; first aid supplies; a flashlight with extra batteries; extra personal supplies, such as medication, contact lenses or glasses, and basic hygiene products; copies of personal identification and insurance information; a list of emergency contact phone numbers; something for warmth; and emergency cash.
- Look around your home for potential hazards, i.e., heavy objects or glass (in picture frames or mirrors) that could fall during an earthquake. Move these items away from places where people sit and sleep.
Related Links:
- How to prepare for an earthquake on SFGate
- Putting down roots in Earthquake Country from the USGS
- Complete SFGate Loma Prieta earthquake anniversary coverage
- What to do in an earthquake from UC Berkeley’s Office of Emergency Preparedness