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Loma Prieta Quake's 20-year anniversary: street parties and a million-man duck & cover
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During the 1989 quake, part of San Francisco's Bay Bridge collapsed.
This week, San Francisco commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake, with a mass “duck, cover and hold on” event tomorrow and street fairs in four neighborhoods on Saturday. Long-term residents can reminisce, while visitors get a taste of what it’s like to live in a city perched precariously on the edge of a major fault line.
On October 17, 1989, at 5:04 pm, a 6.9 quake lasting for 15 interminable seconds hit when something shifted along the San Andreas Fault. The quake killed 63 people throughout northern California, injured 3,757 and left thousands homeless.
The quake is also known as the 'World Series Quake' because it hit during the warm-up for the third game of the 1989 World Series, where two Bay Area teams--the Oakland As and the San Francisco Giants--were to face off. Sportscaster Tim McCarver was narrating taped highlights of the previous game when viewers saw the signal begin to break up. Another sportscaster, Al Michaels, chimed in, "I'll tell you what-we're having an earth-." He didn't get to say 'quake' on national TV; at that moment, the feed from Candlestick Park was lost, and ABC Sports quickly switched to their "rain delay" backup program, Roseanne.
Events commemorating the quake:
Thursday, 10/15 at 10:15 am: Everybody Drop and Cover
The Great Shakeout wants everyone to drop, cover and hold on at exactly 10:15 a.m. on October 15, 2009. They hope that millions will make this symbolic gesture to remind themselves and others of what to do when (there's no 'if' about it, if you listen to the experts) another quake hits.
If you're of a certain age, you may remember the 'drop and cover' drills at school, but they've added a third step to this disaster dance:
* DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!),
* Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and
* HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.
If there isn't a table or desk near you, advises the Shakeout website, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building. Do not try to run to another room just to get under a table.
Street parties on Saturday, 10/17
To loosen us up after that rather sober ritual, The Big Rumble is sponsoring street fairs in four neighborhoods on Saturday, from 11 am- 4 pm. Disaster preparedness information and firefighting equipment will be on hand, along with musical entertainment and activities for kids. Information on H1N1, its own kind of quake, will also be available.
Street party locations:
Bayview: Joseph Lee Recreation Center - Oakdale Ave. & 3rd St.
Entertainment includes: Sila, The Congress, Breakdancing Performance by Acrosports' All-City Team, The Big Rumble Hoops Challenge
Marina: West side of Marina Green - between Scott St. & Avila St.
Entertainment includes: Gaucho, Kally Price, Devine's Jug Band, Sony Holland
Mission: Parque Niños Unidos- 23rd St. & Folsom St.
Entertainment includes: My First Earthquake, Family Style, Locura Trio, Capoeira Exhibition by Aceituno Arts, Drum circle
Sunset: 20th Ave. & Irving St.
Entertainment includes: Music by The Slayers Club, Martial Arts Exhibition by U.S. Wing Chun Academy, Sunset Youth Services Studios, West Sunset RecConnect Steel Pan Drummers and Dancers
Further afield
The quake hit more than San Francisco, and the greater Bay Area, from Sonoma to Santa Cruz, is marking the anniversary. Check out the calendar for events.
Also see the Seven Steps to Earthquake Preparedness
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