It was 1989 and the San Francisco Giants were playing against the Oakland A’s in the World Series. Fans waited for the highly-anticipated game three of the series to start. Then an earthquake happened. “I always think back to the Loma Prieta earthquake at Candlestick Park during the World Series. After the shaking stopped, there…
Category: Response
The Role of the SFPUC in Fire Emergencies
Fire emergencies, while not an everyday occurrence, do happen throughout San Francisco. Fires are routinely handled by “first responders” — firefighters, paramedics, and police — and go largely unnoticed. In certain fire related events, SFPUC staff may be called on to assist firefighters with providing water to extinguish fires. The SFPUC: A Partner and First…
A Dozen Water Mains Break Across San Francisco in Two Week Span – Here’s Why
With the holiday season upon us, that means colder weather, which has been a key factor in the recent strings of water main breaks happening throughout San Francisco. Earlier this morning, there was an 8 inch water main break in the Sunset on Noriega near 18th Avenue in the City. This was the latest of…
Why Does the SFPUC Have Disaster Service Workers?
If there is one thing that’s guaranteed, it’s that a disaster can happen at a moment’s notice. The 3.5 magnitude earthquake that shook the Bay Area on October 5 was a reminder to be ready for the unexpected. That is why all employees with the City and County of San Francisco are designated by both…
How NERT is Important to the SFPUC and the City
“NERTs don’t get hurt.” This is slogan is repeated often during Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) training sessions held throughout the year in various San Francisco neighborhoods. Led by the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD), NERT is a community-based training program dedicated to a neighbor-helping-neighbor approach, educating San Franciscans with tools and resources needed in…
Griffith Yard Hosts Disaster Assessment Drill During National Safety Month
An earthquake hits San Francisco in the wee hours of the morning. Buildings have crumbled, and roads and bridges have buckled and cracked. On one particular block, a house is leaned over, and water is gushing from a manhole that has become dislodged down the street from a catch basin that is not draining properly….