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A collection of information and resources to help you understand the significance of the Loma Prieta earthquake, the earthquake hazards in the San Francisco Bay Area and resources available to you to prepare for a future seismic event.
The Loma Prieta earthquake ended decades of seismic tranquility in the Bay Area - Is the earthquake threat in the Bay Area real and imminent? Up to $80 billion in earthquake mitigation investments have been made since the Loma Prieta earthquake - are we safer? Learn how Loma Prieta has led to improvements to building codes, land use, ground motion simulations, and earthquake early warning.
On October 17, 1989, at 5:04 pm a magnitude M6.9 earthquake struck near Loma Prieta, California. It was a tragic reminder of the destructive power of earthquakes. However, it was also a watershed moment in seismic research. 30 years later, we revisit the earthquake through the eyes of the scientists who experienced it. And studied it. These are their stories.
The magnitude 6.9 earthquake severely shook the San Francisco and Monterey Bay regions with more than 115,000 people feeling it. The epicenter was located near Loma Prieta peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains, approximately 9 miles northeast of Santa Cruz and 60 miles south-southeast of San Francisco. Visit the event page for more details on the impact of the earthquake, liquifaction maps, and more. Did you feel shaking from the Loma Prieta earthquake? Record your experience in a "felt report." Want to dive deep into what we've learned about the 1989 quake -- Check out our USGS Professional Papers.
Protecting Your Family From Earthquakes— The Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety
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