The World Series Quake or Loma Prieta as it’s formally called, occurred 22 years ago today.
The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake occurred at 5:04 PM on October 17, 1989. The epicenter for the magnitude 6.9 quake was located near Loma Prieta peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains, about 60 miles south of SF.
Those present say shaking from the quake lasted between 10-15 seconds. It interrupted the first game of the World Series (participants: The SF Giants and the Oakland A’s), killed 57 people and injured almost 4,000. It also caused the collapse of a section of the Bay Bridge and the Nimitz Freeway, and an overall estimated $6 billion in damages.
As ABC7 reports, to mark that occasion a symposium on recovering from natural disasters is being held at SF’s City Hall today.
According to Bay City News, the discussion was part of a commemorative conference to remember community actions that helped the city recover after the quake and urging similar cooperative efforts in future disasters.
“We promised those we lost and their families that we would be better prepared, so since Loma Prieta, we’ve made great strides … we’ve built the city better,” California Emergency Management Agency Acting Secretary Mike Dayton said today.
Dayton said the agency is working to send the message to San Francisco residents that preparedness is key for future earthquakes and other emergencies.
Federal Emergency Management Agency Deputy Administrator Rich Serino echoed Dayton’s words, highlighting the critical role of “neighbors helping neighbors” in increasing survival rates during emergencies.
“The most important part of the team is survivors and the public at large,” he said. “They have to be involved in taking care of themselves and taking care of their communities.”
Serino and San Francisco Department of Public Health Director Barbara Garcia said it’s also crucial that members of the public, government and private businesses–from large supermarkets to small local restaurants — work together to help cities recover from catastrophes.
Police and firefighters are also set to commemorate the quake at an open house event beginning at 3 p.m. today at the San Francisco Fire Department Museum.
A large earthquake drill will also be held in SF this Thursday, as residents, employees and businesses will take part in the Great California Shake Out.
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