Hi Don,

I just love how they deny earthquake events in San Francisco. Here we have live reports of what took place and yet the officials refuse to admit they were from an earthquake. I supposed the city was just having a bad day and weird stuff just happened to occur all at once. Yeah, sure.

Of course in 1906 it was the same way. Though the earthquake occurred, it was really the fires that did the greatest amount of damage, but the death toll remains in high contention. Eye witness accounts from all over the city reported heavy damage to every type of construction, with the fires being centrally located.

Its a tourism thing for sure. However, I don't think fire seems more attractive than earthquakes. But to some, it is apparent it is.

The Marina District in San Francisco which sits along the edge of the Bay, offering fabulous views is built on the rubble brought there from the 1906 earthquake. During Loma Prieta, liquifaction occurred in the area as well as homes collapsing to some degree from having garages beneath the living stuctures and of course a fire ensued from broken gas lines.

I guess we need more moderate earthquakes so folks will recognise the difference between an earthquake and a fire. Unfortunately we have a under-budget situation for moderate earthquakes. In this, if it doesn't spell trouble then you'd have to be struck stupid not to realize it.

Petra