San Francisco Sun

San Francisco, CA – On the 35th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake, Mayor London N. Breed, alongside U.S. Representative Kevin Mullin and local emergency officials, announced new federal legislation aimed at enhancing earthquake resilience. The Earthquake Resilience Act, introduced by Rep. Mullin and supported by Mayor Breed, seeks to conduct a national risk assessment and establish guidelines for protecting essential infrastructure.

"San Francisco is always working to prepare for the next big earthquake because for us, it’s not a matter of if, but when," said Mayor Breed. She emphasized the importance of seismic resilience in conjunction with economic stability and expressed gratitude to Rep. Mullin for his efforts.

Rep. Mullin highlighted the ongoing risks posed by earthquakes nationwide: "On the 35th anniversary of Loma Prieta, we are reminded of the devastating power of earthquakes... nearly 75% of America could experience a damaging earthquake in the next century."

The 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake remains one of San Francisco's most significant natural disasters since 1906, causing substantial loss and damage. Since then, San Francisco has invested $20 billion in seismic safety initiatives that have bolstered public safety and prepared the city for faster recovery after future quakes.

Brian Strong from San Francisco's Office of Resilience and Capital Planning noted improvements made since Loma Prieta: "San Francisco is more prepared now than ever through the success of... better building codes... But building resilience is an ongoing process."

San Francisco has implemented various measures such as mandatory retrofit programs upgrading thousands of buildings and enhancing critical facilities like health centers through voter-supported bonds.

Emergency preparedness remains a priority for city agencies. Mary Ellen Carroll from DEM stated: "Our emergency response plans are regularly updated and practiced... But we all have a role in San Francisco’s earthquake preparedness."

The city's fire department also plays a crucial role in disaster readiness. Fire Chief Sandy Tong assured that they hold regular training sessions to maintain readiness for any major incident.

Police Chief Bill Scott echoed these sentiments: "Earthquakes are unpredictable and always possible here in the Bay Area... The SFPD is trained and ready to respond when any disaster strikes."