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Bay Area Leaders Mark Loma Prieta Anniversary With Push for Federal Earthquake Safety
On the 35th anniversary of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake that rocked San Francisco, a group of Bay Area leaders gathered Thursday at Pier 9 to tell their stories of the infamous day and call for the passage of an earthquake safety bill introduced by a local member of Congress.
Rep. Kevin Mullin (D-South San Francisco) recalled being home with his mother, getting ready for Game 3 of the Giants-Athletics World Series when his house began to rock. "I remember running down the hall and actually banging into the walls of the hall. As I ran down, the pictures were coming off, books were falling off the shelves," he said.
Standing in front of the Bay Bridge, Mullin recounted learning about widespread devastation, including the bridge's partial collapse. "California is earthquake country, but we're not alone in facing risks. This is a national problem that deserves national attention," he said, noting that 75% of the U.S. could experience a major earthquake, with 150 million people residing in at-risk areas.