Earthquakes IV

Perhaps one of the worst natural disasters in our nations history was the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. The quake lasted only a minute. Modern analysis estimates it registered a staggering 8.25 on the Richter scale. The greatest destruction came from the fires the quake ignited. These ravaged the city for three days before burning themselves out. The maelstrom destroyed 490 city blocks, a total of 25,000 buildings, made over 250,000 homeless and killed between 450 and 700. Damage estimates topped $350,000,000. Three eye witnesses described their experiences: "Of a sudden we had found ourselves staggering and reeling. It was as if the earth was slipping gently from under our feet. Then came the sickening swaying of the earth that threw us flat upon our faces. We struggled in the street. We could not get on our feet. Then it seemed as though my head were split with the roar that crashed into my ears. Big buildings were crumbling as one might crush a biscuit in one's hand." The fires that spread wildly throughout the city were a direct result of ruptured gas lines. fighting the fires was nearly impossible.

USGS.gov (2003) The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. Retrieved March 15 2011 from http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/nca/1906/18april/index.php

Frantz, Chris. (2007) The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. Retrieved March 15 2011 from http://www.infoplease.com/spot/sanfran1906earthquake.html

eyewitnesshistory.com (1997) The San Francisco Earthquake, 1906. Retrieved March 15 2011 from http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/sfeq.htm