The San Francisco Earthquake of

1906

Kristian Saunar
1B

April 18, 1906 in San Francisco, California, a great tragedy is about to take place. At
almost exactly 5:12 a.m., the morning silence ends as the first shocks of the great San Francisco
earthquake take effect. This earthquake, estimated to be about 8.25 on the Richter scale,
damaged the whole city and left many homeless. Following the great damage the earthquake
caused, fires broke out and dealt even more damage.
Off the shore of San Francisco, the earthquake begins to take effect just about 2 miles
from the city. It ruptured along the San Andreas Fault both northward and southward for about
296 miles.

The earthquakes immense strength sent shocks from Oregon to Los Angeles;

however, nothing was compared to the ones in San Francisco. At approximately 5:12 a.m., a
large foreshock takes effect throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. 20 to 25 seconds later, the
earthquake comes in to show its strength. The earthquake shifted the ground at an estimated 4 to
5 feet per second. Many buildings toppled especially the ones on uneven ground. People were
thrown on the ground, helpless and incapable of getting back on their feet. One eyewitness
described the earth as if it was slipping gently from under our feet. (P. Barrett). The same
eyewitness also reports that the larger buildings were crumbling as one might crush a biscuit in
ones hand. (P. Barrett). The violent shocks of the earthquake lasted about 45 to 60 seconds and
several aftershocks soon followed; however, the worst was yet to come.
The damage from the earthquake was massive. Broken gas mains, which resulted from
the earthquake, lead to a great fire. The fire was so hectic that nearly every building was

engulfed in flames. The fire was getting completely out of control. Water mains were severely
damaged from the earthquake, and so there was no supply for the fire engines. Firefighters tried
to pump water from the bay, but the fire spread quickly more inland which evaded their efforts.
Many people were trapped within the flame-engulfed buildings and tall skyscrapers. People
resulted in to using dynamite to free the trapped ones and escape the city. The dynamite did
them little to no help; it only made the situation worse. The once bustling city had turned into a
flaming wasteland within a day.
After the earthquake, San Francisco was unrecognizable. The fires destroyed about
28,000 buildings and 500 blocks of the whole city. Over half of the citys residents lost their
homes and sought refuge where ever they could. Relief cottages were built to house the
homeless while the city begins reconstruction. Many horrific things were seen within city ruins.
The unfortunate ones lied under bricks and rubble of collapsed buildings. Scorched bodies were
scattered across the streets. Looters ran amuck within the city, stealing anything valuable from
the rubble. The estimated property damage was $400 million, or more that $8 billion in todays
dollars.
The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 ranks as one of the worst natural disasters in US
history. The significance of the earthquake spawned a need for better construction of homes and
buildings. Many engineers and ones who work in construction explored new ways to combat
earthquakes and minimize the impact of them in the San Francisco Bay area and beyond. People
have learned from the earthquake in order to benefit them and others who are in the same
situation as them.

Images

Works Cited

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/sfeq.htm

http://mceer.buffalo.edu/1906_Earthquake/additional_information/earthquake-facts.asp

http://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/geologic_hazards/earthquakes/pages/sanfrancisco_1906.asp
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http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/nca/1906/18april/index.php

http://history1900s.about.com/od/photographs/ig/San-Francisco-Earthquake/