On the 17th October 1989, an earthquake hit San Francisco and Oakland during the early evening at 17:04.The epicentre was under loma prieta which is a mountain that is 10 miles northest of santa cruz. Measuring 7.1 on the richter scale the worst since 1906! With aftershocks contiuining to hit over the next 36 hours.
San francisco is located on ath san andreas fault which is on the fault between the north american plate and the pacific plate which is a conservative plate boundary. This where two plates move past each other and as the pressure builds up due to friction and then is suddenly released in movement creating an erathquake.
Effects
- 67 people died
- 6000 homes were damaged or destroyed
- 2000 people made homeless
the nemitz highway collapsed crsuhing people and cars
- oakland bay bridge collapsed
- damage to infrastructure including elsctricity /gas/water
- $4.4 billion in costs of damage to the economy
The worst effected area in the city was the Marina district which was built on a land fill site , which had then lead to liquifaction meaning buiding were damaged beyond repair.
More damage was created nearer to the epicentre due to more energy from the waves hitting
Response
- The eartquake was predicted however nothing was done about it , as the responsiblity for the earthquake kept bein passed around.
- Structural strenthening was put in place but was cancelled and put on hold ue to budgeting reasons.
- There are no laws for making buildings safer as the government has blocked them
- Also there are not even simple building regulations for the government.
Management since :
The USGS has conducted more into communitcating earthquake hazard information and into handing out information leaflets.
Also awareness about inusrance has been inplemented.
Education in schools , media events and conferences has also increased.
