Hi EQF,

You Said: "Financial losses associated with the earthquake were estimated to be in the range of 5 to 6 BILLION DOLLARS. And some of that loss was undoubtedly due to the disruption of those baseball games. In this report I am going to propose what sports teams located in earthquake prone areas might do in order to reduce the likelihood that they will suffer earthquake related financial losses like that in the future. It could be that one of their best options would be to try to get a certain type of earthquake forecasting computer program developed."

While the games were temporarily disrupted, they were all played and played with full attendance. There was no loss of revenue from the earthquake.

But let us look at what "miracle" occurred due to the schedule of the games. Traffic that afternoon was completely changed from its normal routine as people had left work early to either go to the game or see at home on the TV. That meant the Cypress Structure in Oakland which collapsed killing 40+ people, did not kill hundreds who would have normally been there. It also meant that in the section of the Bay Bridge which collapsed didn't swallow up more than the 3 vehicles which were there at the time.

This earthquake cost between 6 and 7 Billion dollars in repairs, et cetera, but no one associated with professional sports lost one single penny.

But 13 years later we can still see the signs of this loss. The City of Santa Cruz which was closest to the epicenter has many vacant lots where buildings were not replaced. Many people who had expensive homes without earthquake insurance were paid the maximum of $100,000 from FEMA and went on to live in smaller homes or went bankrupt in the process.

There was a public earthquake forecast for this earthquake and it came from Jim Berkland through the San Jose Mercury News. There was no mass panic, those who chose to heed the warning did so, but no one gave up their tickets to the World Series. Insofar as I know Jim Berkland possesses no fancy computer programs, he does everything he can to warn people and does it right out there in the newspaper for everyone to read.

The attached link provides the facts about the loss of life, number of injuries, costs and other details. It sets the facts straight, for all of us to know.

As to how much more could have been done, I think nothing further. This was a "miracle earthquake" and I am one who will forever be thankful to have survived it and lived to be thankful it was no worse than it was.

As for the future, if everyone would prepare for the next earthquake there would be no need for prediction. Prediction does not guarantee that you will live, preparedness gives you a better than even chance.

In your post you gave me the opportunity to relive Loma Prieta. In a flash I have returned to the grizzly details, the hours upon hours of news reports of what was occurring all over the Bay Area. I have taken that and created something positive from the experience, teaching others how to survive. That is my mission in my life.

Petra Challus - Loma Prieta Survivor

• Loma Prieta EQ Stats