16 years ago today
I was working as a bartender at a bar. I happened to be on the phone with my Dad for some reason and all of a sudden he started to yell "Mom, Mom, Oh my God. Carey, this is the big one" and then the phone went dead. I had no clue what he meant until about 30 seconds later the building started to shake and roll. Afterwards we all ran outside and it was pandamonium. (sp)
People wandering the streets, no electricity, utter chaos. The strange thing is that our building had power. The bar was built in the original county jail and was underground and withstood the quake rather well. I tried to call my Dad back but the phones were dead.
I got in my car and drove to my parents house. What should have been a 10 minute drive took over an hour. When I got there, the contents of their house had quite a bit of damage. The house itself was fine. My Dad and Grandma and dog were not there but the neighbor told me that my Dad had taken them to city hall. My Dad is on the EOC committee and had duties to attend to.
So I knew they were all fine. My Mom was in Alabama and my brother was far enough north at the time that I knew he was fine.
Imagine my poor Mom. In Alabama, unable to get in touch with her family, seeing the news that our bridge had collapsed, our freeway had collapsed and the San Francisco Marina was on fire. She was able to talk to my Dad because he used the emergency phone thingy that he had but nobody had heard from me.
Imagine the Giants and the A's. Getting ready to play the world series and the stadium shtarts to shake violently. Must have been scary. I mention that because my Mom was watching the game when the earthquake hit.
After about three hours I was able to get in touch with my Mom so she was much relieved.
So, 14 years later, it's a good time to check the earthquake kit and make sure it's up to date.
That is all.
People wandering the streets, no electricity, utter chaos. The strange thing is that our building had power. The bar was built in the original county jail and was underground and withstood the quake rather well. I tried to call my Dad back but the phones were dead.
I got in my car and drove to my parents house. What should have been a 10 minute drive took over an hour. When I got there, the contents of their house had quite a bit of damage. The house itself was fine. My Dad and Grandma and dog were not there but the neighbor told me that my Dad had taken them to city hall. My Dad is on the EOC committee and had duties to attend to.
So I knew they were all fine. My Mom was in Alabama and my brother was far enough north at the time that I knew he was fine.
Imagine my poor Mom. In Alabama, unable to get in touch with her family, seeing the news that our bridge had collapsed, our freeway had collapsed and the San Francisco Marina was on fire. She was able to talk to my Dad because he used the emergency phone thingy that he had but nobody had heard from me.
Imagine the Giants and the A's. Getting ready to play the world series and the stadium shtarts to shake violently. Must have been scary. I mention that because my Mom was watching the game when the earthquake hit.
After about three hours I was able to get in touch with my Mom so she was much relieved.
So, 14 years later, it's a good time to check the earthquake kit and make sure it's up to date.
That is all.
posted by Bravie at 7:34 AM
29 Comments:
Great story Carey. And you use the same blogskin as me. Love it.
yikes hon.
I'm glad I just have 10 feet of snow in the winter instead of worrying about my house caving in on my head.
(oh- I left you something @ my place.)
Wow, has it been 14 years already? I was there two months prior to that earthquake.
God that seems like yesterday...how scary.
Now that I figured out how to see your entries...........MMMMMMMMMMM. Yummmmmmmmmmy. *smooch*
You are my favorite.
I couldn't believe it had been 14 years, Nookie. They mentioned it on the radio this morning. Time sure flies.
Count me as one of those that don't know how you live with those quakes all the time!
There is no warning or anything! At least with snowstorms and hurricanes we get warnings.
Those images from San Fran were horrible. Especially the bridge.
I'm glad everyone you knew came out unharmed. Smooch.
*points up*
What Zombie said.
I don't know how you Californians do it. I'd never ever be able to handle it.
OK, this is freaky. Freaky I tell ya. I was at BB&B this weekend and they had this flashlight thingy that doesn't take batteries or bulbs. I instantly thought of you and your quake kit. *shiver*
Well did you buy it for me?
I will take an occasional earthquake over hurricanes and tornadoes any day of the week. Any day. They last about 30 seconds and 98% of them don't even do any damage.
I felt that quake too! I was in the backyard bending over to turn the hose on when it hit. I thought maybe I had gotten lightheaded from the bending, but when I stood up the water in the pool was splashing out the sides. My first thought was of course that the Loch Ness monster was about to break through the ground, but then we realized what it really was. Very scary, Carey. Can't believe it's been that long. I still hate going over that damn bridge after seeing all those images on the news.
I've been waiting for you to post. I wondered if you felt too.
Loch Ness. *snort*
Heh, everytime we go over the bridge, I say to Michelle..."I hope another big one doesn't hit while we're here" LMAO
It amuses me, it does not amuse her. She believes that by me saying it, it will make it happen.
*slaps knee* I amuse the shit out of myself.
LOL at Carey and MM.
When I was there with my sister, we decided to leave San Fran via that bridge because we just couldn't bring ourselves to travel back via US hwy 1 (ie Big Sur). We both hate bridges but hated Big Sur more LOL.
They need to make the sides lower on the new bridge though. When you are driving across the current bridge you can't see Alcatraz or Angel Island or the Cityscape very well from the bridge.
I was in San Francisco once. I had to go for business. Our client was in Pleasanton(hey anyone know Providian!!!).
I was miserable there because it was such a pretty city and I could not really explore and also it was around 2 months after DH & I got married and I missed him desperately and wanted him to see the city with me.
NOw I have a better reason to go...WIne Train!!!!
I think it would scare me. I'm sure there will be a big one next June. Just you wait.
Pleasanton is out where MCatt lives. She'll go on the wine train with us too. *grin*
No Glowie, June is not typically earthquake season. But hey, ya never know. Don't worry, I'm prepared if we have one while you're here. *grin*
You'll have to wait and see. *grin*
I remember. And nope, it doesn't seem like that long ago.
I don't have an earthquake kit. I just bought a Hurricane Starter Kit from Target.
I don't know how you can live with those earthquakes either. It would skeer me muchly!
Hmmmmmmmm is there a planned wine train trip for next June? WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
I was discussing evacuation plans with DH after the whole Katrina disaster. Unfortunately, for us, there would be no opportunity for evacuation if a tornadoe was headed our way. Once they are in the area, you just have to hunker down. That scares the crap out of me. I'd be afraid that all the kitties wouldn't get downstairs in time. *sigh*
I just noticed the wienermobile siggie.
*giggles*
June is the SF gay parade. But we could plan a wine train trip too. WOO HOO.
I just noticed the weinermobile siggie too
Who the "h-e-double hockey sticks" is Susanne?
I don't know, Monsty. But she was polite and didn't leave a link so I thought I would let her stay.
Well, she's an Aussie who enjoys "The Simple Life" (hmmm... wonder if she's found the other place), swing dancing, "stuff on my cat" (hmmm... reminds me of arkie) and her blog is "better than cheesecake" (don't tell Augie), but she does not (to my knowledge) enjoy riding in weinermobiles!
I love that "Stuff On My Cat" website.
*shakes Carey*
Okay, so am I'm losing my mind. Because earlier I thought the title was 14 years. And to be honest, I didn't want to say anything because you live there, but I knew it was the As/Giants in the Series and that couldn't have been '91 because that's when the Braves went from worst to first and played the Twins, and there's no way they would have been in SF.
Am I nutz?
*snort*
No, Boo... I am Nutz!
Ummm, she changed the title of the post, but the story still says "14 years" *giggle*
It was 16 years. LOL. I said 13 years but the more I thought about it, I knew it couldn't be 14 years because I wasn't even living with michelle when it happened. And although she and I will be together for 14 years in December, we have lived together for 15 years.
Chalk it up to me being blonde. *giggle*
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