Research Blog- San Francisco Earthquake

The San Francisco Earthquake and Fire that took place in 1906 has sparked a big interest for me because of the many earthquakes I have experienced from living in the Bay Area.. This is known to be the deadliest earthquake in the history of the United States, it took place on April 8th in 1906 at 5:12 am, the shaking lasted about 60 seconds but this will be the worst 60 seconds for someone who had lived in San Francisco during this time and had to live with this trauma. This had ruptured about 296 miles northernmost of the San Andreas fault  from the northwest of the San Juan Bautista. To show the strength of the shakes, in Germany they had a small earthquake all the way over there from the San Francisco Earthquake, they had measured the shake on a seismogram. This did not only destroy the city but it had taken those who lost their homes to live on tents and receive government aid until they were able to get back on their feet from the quake. We have a history of earthquakes but we do not know the extremes of them such as the exposure to CO2 that is normally produced when fires happen and a large amount is produced and released into the air. As well as the issue with CO2 this also talks about the fault line which affects the environment everyday and we are unaware of when the next earthquake like this will happen but luckily we are more prepared now. 

The sources I have used throughout this project are academic sources that went through the city of San Francisco or the Fire Department to gain knowledge on the fire that had come after the earthquake. Something that I was really interested in that I found throughout my research was how the people of San Francisco had been affected from the damage that was caused from the earthquake as well as the fire that would come a couple days after, they had lost their homes and with the fire they had an exposure to CO2 in the air which is unhealthy. The positive side out of all this heartbreak was that they had received government aided relief so they would be provided with food as well as medical care if they had been injured or badly wounded from the earthquake. It amazes me how much more prepared we are in the 20th century when it comes to natural disasters so we would be able to recover more quickly from it than they had. The lack of preparation they had during this time did not help with the situation they were faced with especially that they were unaware it was going to happen but now since it has happened we are watching the faultline and tracking every earthquake no matter how big or small and how close it is to the fault line while it had happened as well as seeing the possible chances of the next big shake happening soon. The significance of this event had traveled all the way to Germany, it amazes me how they were able to get a measurement from the earthquake in San Francisco all the way to Germany. 

    As I do more research it has really thrown a wrench in my main question. Going into this I was unsure on how I would approach this and the direction I would go into. My research has drawn me to the environmental aspect and how the fire which was caused from the earthquake would potentially hurt those who had been living there at that time. I have gained more crucial information that will help me understand the effect this had on the environment during the event and after. During this time the amount of protocols or steps to take to protect yourself in your home or where you were located during this time had been a major contributor to this event as well, with the lack of preparation for this event or natural disaster to happen no one was prepared for the fall or damage about to come. The California Historical Society elaborates on the damage that was caused from this but how they had recovered as a community, one of my main concerns was the amount of injuries and how they would be able to take care of those who had been either injured or affected by the CO2 that came from the fire. The army did more than give aid, they had set up a kitchen where they would cook for those in San Francisco as well as making a place where they would be able to take care of those who had been injured since the hospital was destroyed like all of the other buildings in town. Not only did the people of San Francisco get hit hard and have their homes taken away from them but they would end up on the streets in tents and would receive military aid, they would have a kitchen setup as well as a hospital set up which would be tents in a field which would represent what it would look during a time of war when they would have medical care set up on stand by for injured soldiers. The Senate Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds reporting on buildings damaged in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, and estimates of cost of repairs. The Senate also passed a resolution asking the Secretary of War to furnish the Senate with a copy of a report on the earthquake and fire. The report on the relief efforts and accompanying captioned photographs, prepared by the U.S. Army, are now housed with the records of the Senate Committee on Printing. When the 1906 earthquake struck on April 18, nearly all scientists in California began to assemble observations of the earthquake and its effects. Professor Andrew C. Lawson, chairman of the geology department at the University of California, Berkeley, took the first steps that led to Governor George C. Pardee's order, three days later, to appoint a State Earthquake Investigation Commission to unify the work of scientific investigations then under way. Professor Lawson headed the Commission. Scientists (including professors of geology and astronomy) from Stanford University, the Lick Observatory, the Chabot Observatory in Oakland, University of California, Johns Hopkins University and the U.S. Geological Survey served on the Commission. Thus, the first integrated, government-commissioned scientific investigation into earthquakes in the U.S. was launched. No State funds were available, however, to support the effort; funding was provided by the Carnegie Institution of Washington. The 1906 earthquake and the Lawson report demonstrated the importance of accurate, widespread and repeated observations of earthquakes, their effects, and the faults on which they occur. The report provided the basis for much of what is now known about earthquakes in California. The detailed surveys described in the Lawson report show that the damage to buildings in the earthquake was strongly related to both the design and construction of the structure and the local geology -- the type of soil or rock on which it was built. The greatest damage of the 1906 earthquake occurred when many of San Francisco's water and gas mains were ruptured. Leaking gas was the catalyst for fires that quickly spread throughout the city and the lack of water made firefighting a challenge. Approximately one hour after the earthquake, the San Francisco Fire Department sent a messenger to the Presidio to request an artillery division to assist with the containment of fires. Several hours later, artillery troops from Fort Miley arrived in San Francisco and unsuccessfully attempted to control the fires by dynamiting strategic buildings. By noon, the financial district was engulfed in flames and when evening fell the city center had also been incinerated. While this was a tragedy for the city, it would also be a hard time since it had happened during the Prohibition Era. They had lost revenue and thousands of dollars in liquor during this time. The loss of the liquor would add to the damage and repair they would have to do in order to get back on their feet as a city and community.

Below are a. various of images that will represent the damage, fire and the military aid they had received during the time. The first image shows how the shakes had destroyed a city within 60 seconds, someone could have been getting ready for work or walking to work during this time while it had happened. The streets were destroyed and they would have to make do with what they had left.  The second image shows the street split into two, there is other images that show the bridge collapsed on the top level where as the bottom level would be intact or else there would be more casualties and deaths since those who would be on the bridge during that time would have not made it since they would end up in the water. The second image shows damaged buildings as well as the modern day motor vehicle during the time falling in between the crack of the split open streets. The third image is the military relief, this image shows what the hospital was like during this time, they also had a kitchen as well which is not shown, the people of San Francisco were being taken care of and that is the most important thing whether it was getting a meal or getting the medical help they need from the damage that was caused from their home or from trying to get out of a potential danger zone. It is hard to know where the citizens were during the time of the earthquake so we are unable to know what kind of injuries had come upon them.

The Earthquake of San Francisco was the worst natural disaster as well as the fire that would come shortly after. No mater the damage the city would not fail to build it back up. They would fortunately recover quickly with he help of a local company that had tractors to help pick up the debris. This was the modern equipment during the time and it would get the job done, they would clean up the streets and soon begin to rebuild it to be stronger and better than before, the military would also be a big help to the rebuild and recover process. They would be able to help the people who were effected where as the companies who were placed in San Francisco would clean up the debris so they would be able to get back on their feet. Another major contributing factor to the damage that is crucial information to the time that it had happened was this is all happening during the Prohibition era where they would lose thousands of dollars in revenue and not be able to get it back. The people of San Francisco did not know what to do during this time because of the lack of preparation and knowledge on this type of event.