On 20th anniversary of Loma Prieta earthquake, survivors look back

I was in Oakland.

We were watching the last temptation of christ against the wishes of the only adult
during the starting credits we felt somthing then total silence then the long one hit....

I haven't watched that movie yet nor do I plan to just in case.

I heard the main reason for the california academy of sciences to be rebuilt was because it had suffered huge amounts of damage from this quake. are there any pics i can find of that museum from that day?

i experienced the northridge quake in l.a. everyone's ego seems to have been diminished by that event, we were all on the same scale. nature is more powerful than us. it also brought out the best in people; volunteers scoured buildings looking for senior residents who were disoriented; others helped residents clear out their devastated homes. i was impressed by the fact that they got the santa monica freeway back up in 90 days.

There was a thick tense atmosphere before the shaking began; a hot very still afternoon, an uncomfortable quiet.
Definitely a familiar feeling; "earthquake weather", is what native Californians would call it.
Ant colonies were furiously trying to move all their eggs to higher ground, & hundreds of spiders were crawling up the outside walls, & scurrying up tree trunks. All the birds were instantly silenced. No barking dogs, either.
There was a bright flash then deep rocking & rolling shocks, not sharp shakes.
I was in an apt on 2nd flr of a 1920's 4-plex in Oakland, built so solidly that the quake was barely noticeable, even though the freeway off-ramps, just a few blocks away, were collapsing! Soon the air was filled with a thick dust making it hard to see & breathe, as night fell.
The borders of Emeryville/Oakland/Berkeley/ intersection, at, Stanford & San Pablo, was a center of activity. The attendees of the Siddha Yoga Ashram & many neighborhood Churches, jumped to action; a group of men bravely directed traffic, at that very busy intersection, which was spilling waves of redirected traffic coming from, Emeryville & the Bay Bridge, into the area. Volunteers rode out on bicycles, w/walkie-talkies, to check on local families; a phone & bulletin board system was quickly set-up for communications; emergency lights were found, for the local commercial kitchen, & soon food was being prepared, for all those who would soon need it. A pizza delivery person dropped off, all his deliveries for everyone to share!
Someone, came into the Ashram Amrit restaurant dining hall with boxes of camping lights & set them out on all tables & counters. Boxes of bottled water, juice & soda, appeared, as well.
It was an amazing group effort which lasted well into the early morning hours & over the next several days.
That intersection became a wonderful "community lighthouse", in the midst of confusion, terrible heartache & loss, all around.
Thank-you, to all, who helped with your loving actions, and to those who offered their prayers of support.