Surviving Disasters Past: The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

Surviving Disasters Past – The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

📄 Episode Description In 1906, a massive earthquake tore through San Francisco, followed by fires that destroyed most of the city. Over 80% of San Francisco was leveled, more than 200,000 people were left homeless, and survivors had to improvise shelter, food, and order. In this kickoff to Surviving Disasters Past, we look at what happened, how people survived, and the prepping lessons that still matter today.

🧱 Episode Breakdown

📜 What Happened

• The San Andreas Fault ruptured nearly 300 miles, shaking for almost a minute.

• Fires raged for three days, destroying 28,000 buildings.

• Over 200,000 were left homeless, forced into parks and refugee camps.

• The Army, Navy, and National Guard moved in to fight fires, patrol streets, and distribute aid.

💥 Why It Mattered

• First modern U.S. urban disaster, showing how one event can overwhelm a city.

• Fires caused more damage than the quake itself, exposing cascading failures.

• Led to seismic codes, backup water systems, and the Red Cross taking a bigger role in disaster relief.

🛠 Survival Lessons

• Shelter: Families improvised tents, lean-tos, and lived in Army shacks for years. Shelter is survival priority #1.

• Fire: With no water mains, firestorms killed more than collapsing buildings. Shutting off gas and having extinguishers matters.

• Water & Sanitation: Outbreaks were narrowly avoided—backup water and waste plans are as critical as food.

• Community: Camps only worked because neighbors pooled resources and enforced order.

⚒ Modern Prepper Takeaways

• Secure furniture, strap down water heaters, and know how to shut off utilities.

• Store water, masks, fire gear, and portable shelter.

• Keep cash, critical documents, and meds safe and accessible.

• Build resilience: self-reliance for 72 hours, then cooperation to recover long-term.

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