The Great San Francisco Earthquake: When Mother Earth Decided to Do the Dishes (The Hard Way)
Ah, San Francisco. City of sourdough bread, cable cars, and apparently, letting the tectonic plates have a go at rearranging the furniture. That's right, we're talking about the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, a doozy of a disaster that turned Wednesday morning from "sip your coffee, watch the fog roll in" to "buildings are breakdancing, fire is the new fog" real quick.
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| What Was San Francisco Earthquake |
The Big One (That Wasn't Actually the Biggest, But It Was Pretty Darn Big)
This earthquake wasn't messing around. It measured in at a whopping 7.9 on the Richter scale, which is basically like a rock concert for the entire state of California. The ground shook for a good minute, leaving folks feeling like they were on a particularly enthusiastic carnival ride gone haywire. Cracks snaked through streets like angry earthworms, and buildings that had been standing proudly for decades suddenly looked like they'd been built out of sugar cubes.
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The Plot Thickens: The Great Fire of 1906
But wait, there's more! Like a one-two punch from Mother Nature, the earthquake busted a bunch of gas lines, which promptly went up in flames. Add in all the toppled stoves and fireplaces, and you've got a recipe for a full-blown inferno. The Great Fire of 1906 raged for days, devouring over 80% of the city. San Francisco basically went from bustling metropolis to smoky campfire circle in the blink of an eye.
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The Aftermath: Picking Up the Pieces (Literally)
The earthquake and fire left a path of destruction, with estimates of over 3,000 people dead and tens of thousands left homeless. But San Franciscans, bless their stubborn hearts, are made of tough stuff. They didn't just sit around and sing campfire songs (although, maybe they did that too). They rolled up their sleeves, grabbed whatever wasn't on fire, and started rebuilding. The city rose from the ashes, stronger and, hopefully, a little more earthquake-proof (although, jury's still out on that one).
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So You Want to Know More About the San Francisco Earthquake?
How to dodge a falling building during an earthquake? While dodging a building might be a bit ambitious, the best thing to do is take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture (like a desk) and hold on tight.
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How to prepare for an earthquake? Having a disaster plan, earthquake kit, and knowing where to take shelter are all great steps. Also, maybe avoid putting your house right on top of the San Andreas Fault.
How big was the San Francisco Earthquake? The earthquake measured in at 7.9 on the Richter scale.
How long did the Great Fire last? The fire raged for several days, causing most of the damage to the city.
How did San Francisco recover from the earthquake? Through hard work, determination, and possibly a whole lot of sourdough bread to keep their spirits up.
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