Manic Monday #54 - Quake
It was the 1989 World Series and I had tickets. It was the third game and I decided not to go. That was October 17, 1989. The day that just about every baseball fan was sitting in front of the television watching the Battle of the Bay - the Oakland Athletics and the San Franciso Giants. It was also the day that the Loma Prieta earthquake struck. A magnitude 6.9 earthquake. I was in the valley, but it was so frightening I ran outside for fear the house would collapse. It was the strongest most horrific earthquake I've ever experienced, and I've experienced many. Although there were many heartbreaking events that took place I am only going to discuss two. These are the two that affected me the most. I was glued to the television for days as all the channels were covering the quakes aftermath. I remember seeing the video of the span of the Bay Bridge that collapsed and it showed a vehicle driving into thin air. The news channels played that same video over and over. The driver of that vehicle died and it just didn't seem right that they would keep showing the video over and over. It was heartbreaking.
Another horrific thing about this earthquake was the collapse of the Cypress Street Viaduct (Nimitz Freeway). This was a large double-decker freeway and when it collapsed it caused 40 deaths. Some were days later and that was the sad part. They wrote notes to their families and some talked with rescue workers and they gave messages to the workers to be given to their families. Crews just couldn't get to them in time.
The World Series helped in many ways too:I know it's just a matter of time before another horrific quake will hit this area, but as long as I live I will never forget the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989.Source: Wikipedia
- Due to the game, traffic was light on freeways that collapsed in the earthquake. Initial expectations were that hundreds of people had died in the collapse of the Nimitz Freeway in Oakland; the final death toll from that event was 40.
- A blimp that had been covering the game was used to coordinate emergency efforts.
- Although the city's emergency water system failed due to ruptured water mains, fans helped connect hoses from a passing fireboat to fight fires with pumped salt water.
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31 Comments:
I remember watching that on television. It was wild to see the video of the damage and aftermath.
Later Y'all.
I was working for a radio station in Fresno when the Loma Prieta happened. We coordinated all sorts of fund raising and emergency supply trucks to service some of the hardest hit areas and families.
Wow, how scary is that?! GREAT Quake post.
gosh i remember that too. it was so horrible. glad you were safe honey!
smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
That just sent a cold shiver down my spine. I was in Santa Rosa at the time and remember how strong it felt up there 60 miles away. I couldn't believe my eyes when they showed the images on the news.
I was on my way back to L.A. from Dallas. We didn't know anything about it until my husband went to get the car. He pulled up to get me and told me to hurry. We had to get home and check on everyone. There had been a huge earthquake in the bay area. We both had family in the bay area. His was in Palo Alto. Mine were in San Jose. No cell phone. We had to wait until we got home to make the calls and we couldn't get through. My sister was 9 months pregnant. I was really worried about her. Luckily, all our loved ones were okay.
Scary indeed. Even for a California girl.
Hi, Sandee! We almost have the same experience. Earthquakes are real frightening.
Thanks for sharing.
We get most of the newsreel when a big one hits America over here in the UK. And seeing we've had a couple - okay, small, but for the first time I felt the world shake - in the last few years, I'm beginning to see how devastating they are.
How terrible it must be ! I never experienced an earthquake I only saw it on TV or in movies.
I was watching the game and remember it like yesterday. Nice job Sandee. Cheers!!
Wow..what a traumatic thing to live through!!! I'm glad you lived and blogged!!!!!! Great post...and I also remember it like it was yesterday and I'm on the other coast!
Peace
I was watching the game on TV, wow, the left coast has some bad ones.
I remember watching on TV, Sandee. It was terrible but you brought it back in a very human way. Thanks for reminding us.
Oh my, Sandee. That reminds me so much the time after 911 when I was glued to the TV and they were showing the same images all over again. And how sad I was... *sigh*
Have a great Monday!
You decided NOT to go to the World Series game? It boggles my mind!
Sandee, you commented on my "What if..." meme that you were gone a long time - YOU WERE! And I missed you! Next time I do a meme like that I'll do it in the middle of the week so you can participate... :D
Sounds really scaring. I hope you understand, since coming from Norway, I did not know about it.
Btw: Again since from Norway, allow me a 'stupid' question: 'Why do you call it 'World Series'. I mean how many countries participates?
PS: When are you coming over to visit me in Norway? :-)
I'm not participating in this meme, but I had to leave a comment.
Thanks for sharing your memories from this horrific day. I only knew a little bit about this before reading your post.
www.mamapj.com
That's totally scary and very heartbreaking. I'm not into news stations replaying death scenes over and over. Recently in Canada a man was tasered and died moments afterwards - the news kept playing this over and over, and basically it was his death screams we were hearing. Completely unnecessary.
I'm glad you weren't hurt by that quake.
I, too, remember that fateful day as my daughters father lives in that area too, and while we are not close, I do not ever want to hear of his untimely demise... having lived in CA, northern and southern, and experiencing quakes and tremors (daily in San Diego) my heart is torn each time I think of that day and yes, you are right, there are more to come... so, why don't you move back here Sandee, so we don't have to worry about you???? great post and glad you are back!!!!! WE MISSED YOU and WE LOVE YOU!!!!
hugs and :))))
I have never experienced an earthquake, but it's one of the scariest natural disasters I can imagine.
Because you haven't any warning what so ever...I remember watching the television for days when this happened too. I'm so glad you weren't harmed and I pray you will always be safe.
And you're right, one of the worst things about watching the aftermath of the disaster were the stories-
Although, at the same time, the example set by so many brave people that day, was truly inspiring. And the rest of us witnessed how courageous people can be.
A wonderfully written, if not sad, post Sandee. Great job~
Huge hug, and love~
Ann
Well, we sure were on the same thought today weren't we? I'm glad you and yours made it through safely.
But to have tickets to the game and not go???? Yikes!
I remember it too though I was only 11 years old at the time. We were watching the game on TV when it went blank. It was pretty traumatic to see all the photos and videos as a young girl. Especially when we started learning more about science and the earthquakes that happen here in WA. They're very concerned with our Viaduct in Seattle having the same thing happen. Though when we had that huge one in 01 it survived. For now.
Thanks for visiting my blog!
Woah - what a story. I don't remember anything about this. Nice to see you - I don't have anything posted still. I know. Surprising. I'm in KS now visiting family. Hope you have a great week. *lovies* friend.
I remember that I was in basic training in the Army, I remember all the guys from Cali jamming the telephone booths.
Hope you had a great weekend, hugs and much love! :D
You have a wonderful site. I really enjoyed reading your posts. Very funny stuff! I hope you have a wonderful day.
Love and Blessings,
AngelBaby
Oh, yeah, who could forget that one? I was at work when the '89 quake happened. It was all we talked about for the rest of the night! Seriously frightening!
But look what tasty lemon-aid we made from the lemons... a fantastic new ballpark & a beautifully transformed area of SF!
I still think about the people lost on the collapsed freeway and in other parts of the city. And thank Heaven that the damage wasn't worse... like 1906.
Yes, I remember seeing that one when I was in a breakroom at work - one of those "you remember where you were when it happened" type moments, like when the space shuttle blew up.
I remember watching the news clips for this quake back here in Connecticut and thinking "I used to drive on that freeway". It was just so unbelievable and frightening and very, very sad.
I experienced a few earthquakes when I lived out in California and the only thing I can say is that they're very strange and there's no good way to describe the feeling.
This would have been pretty incredible to experience. It is no wonder you will never forget it, if you were actually there at the time. Wow!!
I'm glad only 40 died, rather than hundreds.
I would have been quaking in my boots... well, except that as a dog I don't wear boots.
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