I was remembering that tomorrow is the anniversary of the October 17, 1989 7.1 Loma Prieta earthquake and just as I had that thought my anniversary clock struck ten bells. Then I remembered how they always ring the bell on the Ferry Building Tower in San Francisco on both the Great San Francisco earthquake and Loma Prieta earthquake anniversaries.

Tomorrow the families of fifty one victims will remember the Loma Preita quake as well as all of the emergency workers, doctors, nurses, many willing volunteers and everyone here. So in remembering we have to ask; what have we learned? Have we made serious efforts toward earthquake preparedness in our own lives? You know how they say a carpenter never works on his own house, therefore, do we who say everyone must prepare do so ourselves? Most likely, not. So with the anniversary, let's remember to do and how and not tell and not do.

It was thought in scientific circles within five years of Loma Prieta, there would be a mirror quake on the Hayward fault and historical events and their patterns would repeat themselves. Yet 11 years and counting and it hasn't occurred. Why not? There's a question we can't answer. However, in looking in the area's of progress, is it possible today to have a large earthquake arrive without it being a surprise? I seriously doubt it. This area is quite heavily monitored in many ways, by means of instrumentation, many scientists in the area who really are top quality, we have natures elements, such as the Calistoga geyser and alongside of them, people and animals. If anyone knows a zookeeper, keep in touch, they can tell you a lot about earthquakes before they arrive.

Tomorrow I will remember with reverence those who I witnessed on TV who never made it home that night and the victims who never went home. To those who grant funding for earthquake prediction research, these hapless victims are not enough to invest significant dollars of research to see if earthquakes can be predicted, more often than not. Nor those who perished in the Northridge earthquake. Unfortunately, until we have an earthquake of enormous proportions in the State of California, those dollars will be sorely missed before the earthquake arrives.

However, in the interim, there is much work to be done in working toward proper preparedness for the greater number. Though every seismic research facility has a place on their web site stating they have an outreach program, I have yet to see them reach out to my community. There are no television spots on a regular basis, providing regular programming reminding everyone the need to prepare is today, before they need it and pray the need is short lived. Like sand through the hourglass, there will definitely be another time in the State of California when the bells will toll again in memory of another group of victims and for me, I hope its not me, one of my family or my friends.

From North of the Golden Gate......Petra Challus, Earthquake Survivor