Historic Photos: Remembering The 1906 San Francisco Great Earthquake
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- The fire hydrant on the corner of 20th and Church streets in San Francisco was painted gold and flowers were laid over it on Sunday, a reminder of the day 115 years ago that a 7.8-to-8.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the city causing widespread death and destruction.
IMAGES: Historic Photos Of Damage Left By 1906 Great Quake
#1906 pic.twitter.com/JbLFlMueuP
— Mary Ellen Carroll (She/Her/Hers) (@SFDEM_MEC) April 18, 2021
A small crowd gathered at Lotta's Fountain, a tradition in the city since 1915. They included Mayor London Breed and former Mayor Willie Brown. However, the survivors have all passed on -- the last was William A. "Bill" Del Monte, who died in January 2016 days before his 110 birthday.
Last year we were in strict SIP so this year we were happy to show up, with the weariness of the 13 months and masks on to commemorate the 1906 EQ at Lotta's Fountain. And as Mayor @LondonBreed says, we will see San Francisco rise from the ashes (of a virus this time) again. ???????? pic.twitter.com/K3BBJAawfb
— Mary Ellen Carroll (She/Her/Hers) (@SFDEM_MEC) April 18, 2021
The Mayor says she checked the health order and determined we can sing. I wasn't entirely...emotionally prepared for the impact of a group gathering to sing in public for the first time in quite a long time pic.twitter.com/mooLeL1eWV
— Zach Lipton (@zachlipton) April 18, 2021
In the era of COVID-19, the crowd was socially distanced and wore masks -- a symbols of the latest deadly challenge San Francisco has faced.
The quake struck at 5:12 a.m. and moments after the temblor a fire began that swept over the city and took several days to finally extinguish. It's magnitude has been estimated to be between 7.8 to 8.0 since earthquake measurements were not in use at the time of the quake.
More than 3,000 people died, over 80% of the city was destroyed and thousands were homeless in the wake of the quake and fire. It struck with a force equal to 6 million tons of TNT, about 12,000 times the impact of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
Presidio & Ferries cable track & slot on Union St. The 1906 Earthquake struck with a force equal to 6 million tons of TNT, about 12,000 times the impact of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. It changed the City and San Franciscans forever. Old San Francisco was gone. pic.twitter.com/gY0G81QRnY
— San Francisco Cable Car Museum (@SFCCM) April 18, 2021
As we reflect on the anniversary of the 1906 earthquake, remember that you're more prepared than you think you are. You likely have many of the supplies you might need in the event of an earthquake, it's just a matter of taking some time to think about it and get organized. pic.twitter.com/os1DHYTp0W
— San Francisco Department of Emergency Management (@SF_emergency) April 18, 2021