Remembering the Loma Prieta Earthquake 23 Years Later

Twenty three years ago, my younger sister and I were home alone. Everything in our East San Jose home began shaking. Without thinking twice, we ran into the hallway and stood there, transfixed.

I remember the walls undulating, watching as the movement grew larger and larger until I was sure the walls would buckle and everything would come crashing down.

The 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake topped the Ricter Scales at 7.1 at 5:04 p.m. Oct. 17. The temblor lasted between 10 and 15 seconds but for many of us watching those walls wave sway back and forth, it felt much longer.

San Francisco, it seemed, took the brunt of the quake but Silicon Valley and Santa Cruz county did not go unscathed. In fact, the epicenter of the quake was in the Santa Cruz mountains.

Where were you during the quake? What do you remember? What was running through your mind? And are you prepared for the next one? Tell us in the comment below.