[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Limegrntaln

I lived closer to the Bay Area in 1989, I was a teenager watching the Battle Of the Bay World Series, when the Lloma Prieta quake shook us with a 6.9 to 7.2.

I was turning the key in my front door in Noe Valley when that one hit, and I still recall very well what the physical effects were upon where I was standing.

Afterwards, the power was out except for the phone lines (landlines, that is). Only problem was, landline systems can be overwhelmed when everybody and his brother wants to make a call at the same time. It was hours before I could reach my mother a couple of miles away. Meanwhile, the Marina District was on fire and I could see it from our home. That was not a good-feeling time.

It wasn't until the next morning that I was able to get a full report on the City's and the region's status from the firm for which I was working. That company was very well connected, and I felt fortunate to receive excellent advice on what the next 48 hours were going to be like.