San Francisco Earthquake of 1906

March 18, 1906 was the day a major earthquake struck San Francisco California and made history. Rupturing almost 300 miles from the San Andrea Fault, at 5:12 a.m. the earthquake shook San Francisco for almost 60 seconds. The quake and after shock was felt from Los Angeles all the way to central Nevada. The immediate impact of the quake was disastrous leaving thousands of people homeless and suffering the loss of their family members.The earthquake ignited several fires that burned for three days and destroyed close to 500 blocks. Because of this earthquake the elastic-rebound theory was discovered shortly later in the year. The study of this earthquake became the most important study of quakes in history. ( U.S Department of, 2009 ). 


The people that survived this disaster slept in tents in city parks and the Presidio. Not only did they sleep outside in tents but they stood in long lines for food, and were required to do their cooking in the street to minimize the threat of additional fires. The typical bread line would stretch for miles long but they had no choice but to wait in the line since the bread line was one of their only sources of food. This earthquake is considered one of the worst natural disasters in history of the U. S. Aid from all the country was pouring in but it was not enough to help fix the collapsed buildings and burning houses of the people that resided in them. The police and government officials began to destroy liquors and spirits because of the threat of more possible fires and also mob violence. The owners of these saloons and liquor stores complained to the House Claims Committee wanted their alcohol replenished. The conditions were almost unlivable for the amount of time it took for the affected cities to be back to normal. (U.S National Archives)


The U.S. Army and a self-appointed Citizen’s Committee of Fifty took on the task of managing sanitation, food, clothing and adequate shelter for the city’s newly destitute and homeless population. Also, the House and the Senate Appropriations Committees put in plans for the city to pay for food, water, tents, blankets, and medical supplies for weeks following the earthquake and fire's. They also made available funds to reconstruct many of the public buildings that were damaged or destroyed. Shortly after the shocks ended the University officials quickly began to assess damages to the affiliated colleges and moved to meet the immediate needs of the University and its public. Luckily, the large military population of San Francisco was there to provide some relief from the damage done. Also pictures were taken and to be documented so the Senate could have documentation of this disaster to go back and look on and/or study in the future. (The 1906 earthquake, 2010)

U.S Department of the Interior , U.S Geological Survey . (2009). The great 1906 san francisco earthquake Retrieved from http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/nca/1906/18april/index.php 

U.S National Archives and Records Administration, (n.d.). San francisco earthquake of 1906 Washington, DC: Retrieved from http://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/sf/ 

The 1906 earthquake and response. (2010). Unpublished manuscript, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. Retrieved from http://history.library.ucsf.edu/1899_earthquake.html