San Francisco, CA — “On the 30th anniversary of the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, we remember those who lost their lives in San Francisco and the Bay Area, and we honor the valiant efforts of the first responders and neighborhood volunteers who came together to respond to the disaster. At 5:04pm this evening—the exact time of the Loma Prieta earthquake—we will conduct a ceremony to commemorate this momentous event in our city’s history.

In the face of destruction and uncertainty, fire fighters, police officers, and neighbors worked hand in hand to contain the damage and protect life and property. In the days, weeks, and months following the earthquake, our communities worked tirelessly to rebuild San Francisco. The earthquake and its aftermath was traumatic and challenging, however our city’s collective response and recovery proved that when we work together, we can overcome the greatest of obstacles.

In the thirty years since Loma Prieta, the City has made significant investments to ensure that we’re ready for the next major earthquake. We all know that it is not a matter of ‘if’ the next big earthquake strikes, but a matter of ‘when.’ We’ve invested $20 billion to strengthen our critical infrastructure, including neighborhood fire stations, district police stations, the Emergency Firefighting Water System, and other essential facilities and infrastructure. These facilities are critical for providing immediate assistance and relief for our City during the aftermath of a disaster.

I am confident that our City government is prepared to swiftly respond in the event of a major earthquake, but it’s up to each one of us to have a plan in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of ourselves, our families, and our neighbors. When disaster strikes, we all need to be ready to help each other. It’s how we survived Loma Prieta 30 years ago, and it’s how we’ll survive the next disaster that comes our way.”

Loma Prieta Commemoration Ceremony

4:30-5:30 pm

Marina Green, West End   

Neighborhood Resource Fair

3:00-6:00pm

Marina Green, West End

For more information about earthquake safety and preparedness, please visit: sf72.org/hazard/earthquake. For emergency alerts, text your zip code to 888-777 to sign up for AlertSF.

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