Earthquake Stories
1989 Loma Prieta Quake
The Pretty Big One
I was walking down Natoma St bt 5th & 6th toward Hanno's (where the Tempest is now located). I was right behind the Chronicle Building when I felt vibrations in the air; then it hit. I sat down, because I was afraid I would fall. I saw the windows pop out of the warehouse across the Street. The Annex building was swaying, about a foot in each direction. When it stopped, people poured out into the street. Everyone looked stunned. We didn't realize at first how serious it was, because all the buildings in our area were still standing. I hurried up to my apartment on 957 Mission. My little Commodore Computer was on the floor. It would be 3 days before I knew it was still working, because the power was out. My phone was working, so I called my family and let them know I was OK. I picked up my portable TV, and took it over to the newspaper (I was an employee). We watched the breaking news; the maintenance guys kept us supplied with fresh batteries. They rigged up a generator on the fire escape, and the Composing Room put the paper together by flashlight. That night I went to the roof of the Chronicle. All the city was dark. I looked up at the stars, and I could see our Milky Way Galaxy. That's how dark it was. -That was a Pretty Big Earthquake.