October 17 - Eighteen Years Later

This morning I went to downtown Santa Cruz to mark the 18th anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake. I lived in Santa Cruz at the time of the quake, and continue to live in the area. Eighteen years later, there's still one hole in the ground of downtown Pacific Avenue, but it will be filled by the time the 20th anniversary of the quake comes along two years from now.

Loma Prieta Earthquake - Facts and Statistics:
Source: http://www.santacruzpl.org/history/disaster/89quake.shtml

The Loma Prieta Earthquake occurred on October 17, 1989 at 5:04 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time) and lasted for about 15 seconds. The United States Geological Survey gave it a magnitude of 7.1. It was felt over an area of about 400,000 square miles.

The rupture occurred on a 30-mile length of the San Andreas fault called the Santa Cruz Mountains segment. The epicenter was eleven and a half miles underground at a spot near China Ridge in Nisene Marks State Park. The land on the seaward side of the fault slipped five and a half feet northwest.

Six persons in Santa Cruz County died; it is estimated that 671 persons were injured.

Santa Cruz County was the hardest hit county and had the highest number of homes damaged or destroyed. It is estimated that "at least 85,000 persons were adversely affected by earthquake damage to their homes." Many homes were so badly damaged that they were condemned. Many other damaged homes could be saved but were unsafe to live in until they were repaired. Individuals and families found themselves suddenly homeless, living in shelters, with friends or with family.

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• earthquake
• loma
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• 1989
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• kenrg

[klee7609]

strictly speaking, we weren't really cut off for _weeks_-- my birthday was 6 days after the quake, and my friend drove down from Marin County (with no difficulty) to spend it with me.

still, I appreciate your thoughts. :->

[kenrg]

Well... it seemed like weeks... ;^)

[iluvmyveedub]

I'm a big fan of your videos.

Your compassionate and intelligent views of the world are an inspiration to me.

I've lived in the Santa Cruz mountains most of my life, and it's sad what has become of my beloved town. It'll be 20 years this October, and still, the memories of that day are just as vivid now as they were then.

Great video, it's good to know I'm not the only one that remembers.

[kenrg]

Thanks - I appreciate the kind words. I'm glad the video has found other people who lived through the quake and who could appreciate what I was saying.

[vulcanbirdbrain]

wow, this was a really grand video about the quake.ive heard lots of stories about where people were when it happened and such being from SF, although i was born 1yr and 11 days later.

have they made a plaque or something even though the hole was filled in?

[kenrg]

So far, no official plaque or memorial. I haven't checked on the progress of this project for a few months, but I guess I should soon. Thanks for stopping by.

[jackcd38]

Thanks for sharing the video. I was in Mountain View at the time. I remember the you folks in Santa Cruz where isolated. A lot of my telephone accounts where in Santa Cruz and we would come down to help. I'll never forget the heart that we all felt for each other. Around this time of year I always think of it. I hope you are all doing well :)

[jackcd38]

Thanks for sharing the video. I was in Mountain View at the time. I remember the you folks in Santa Cruz where isolated. A lot of my telephone accounts where in Santa Cruz and we would come down to help. I'll never forget the heart that we all felt for each other. Around this time of year I always think of it. I hope you are all doing well :)

[vulcanbirdbrain]

@kenrg huh. ...found myself going through old comment replies for some reason.

since I left that comment I've graduated high school, applied to UCSC (among other schools), been accepted, and spent most of a year here.

...weird to now be able to recognize the streets in the video. ...though I still have a lot of exploring to do ;)

cheers.

[ouivalerie]

Loma Prieta Earthquake, Santa Cruz, California 18 years ago. They had some really bad fires a year ago also. In the fires you get property loss but...most people get away. The mudslides are deadly. People with no experience on this....first it rains a lot, then the soft ground may start to landslide, and it takes houses, cars and goes fast, some people can't get out of the house before it's all in the mud.

[Sindollx666x]

Thank you for sharing that video. I remember that day to, though I was in Sunnyvale. It was a very very scary day. I never have been able to shake the memories. I miss Santa Cruz. I'm up near Seattle now, I can't imagine how much devastation would hit this area if we felt a quake like that.

[tvaughn60]

I was there too. It was quite the experience! I disagree though, I believe it was the third game of the world series and not the first.

[CoastStarlight11]

I was living in Aptos, California when the 1989 Loma Preita earthquake hit. Quite an experience.

[narutofightindreamer]

Please don't forget poor "Watsonville's" death and destruction that, it endured as well either!!

[kathyj253]

oh my god get out of the way

[A2theO2010]

Oh my god I was in Salinas and I remember the earthquake it was a nightmare I would never forget how strong the earthquake was and how bad the people in the santa cruz area suffered I say this becuause I had a friend thats house was severly damaged by the quake.