Recalling Loma Prieta earthquake and prepping for the future
Saturday marked the 26 th anniversary of the October 17th, 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake on the Central Coast. The 6.9 magnitude quake proved deadly and costly, damaged bridges while starting fires and triggering landslides.
Looking forward, local officials said there’s a certain level of preparedness we should all be at in case the big one strikes tomorrow.
NewsChannel 5 spoke with a man who is prepared in a unique way.
“I could tell it was really bad,” Buck Sampson said.
Some locals will always remember where they were and what they were doing when the Loma Prieta Earthquake hit in 1989.
“Some of our children today have a sort of a haunting feeling about it because it’s a bad dream for them,” Jim Chesus said.
The scene and feeling remains forever etched in their minds as bridges crumbled, landslides let loose and fires broke out and some people didn’t make it out alive.
“I stood in the middle of the street and watched the whole neighborhood shake like nothing i’ve ever seen,” Warren Knox said.
If another earthquake of that magnitude or any other catastrophic event happens warren Knox is ready.
“Since I was brainwashed by my grandfather as a young child to prepare, I’ve been that way every since,” Knox said.
For starters this self-proclaimed “prepper” has loads of firewood and candles.
“Because at night time you need to have lights,” Knox said.
He’s even built a rainwater catchment pond in front of his Santa Cruz home.
“So I capture all the water that I can and store enough water to get me through in the event of no power for water,” Knox said.
Inside, ice chests he has enough food to last him a year. For more fresh food, he keeps live chickens.
“So that you can live off of scrambled egg for a while,” Knox said.
To help others get prepared, Knox offers this advice.
“Have things around your house as if you were going to and camping. A tent, a sleeping bag, water, food like you’re leaving your house and you’re going to go camping for a week or two,” Knox said.
