Get the latest tech news

Learning from the Earthquake (1990)

ARNING FROM THE EARTHQUAKE by Stewart Brand (Spring 1990) [Introductory sidebar:] VOLUNTEERS CRUCIAL IN DISASTERS Considering the amount of money and bureaucracy spent (well spent) on preparing the Bay Area’s buildings for earthquakes, it is startling to realize how little is spent on preparing people. The widespread earthquake literature focuses on self-preservation, not on helping others, nor on the niceties of being helped.

But then you just tuck it in, and we kicked in to what we do.” Truck 10’s Captain Bob Boudoures also divided his crew, sending Joe Conway and Jack Porter to help the men in the burning building, while he and two others started a second rescue at 2090 Beach, this one for Sherra Cox. At 5:04 p.m. on October 71 Police Sergeant Dennis Gustafson, 47, was off duty and headed home, waiting for a stop light at the edge of the Marina District when he watched a ripple come up the street and flip his Volkswagon van up onto the center divider. It didn’t surprise me to learn that Sergeant Gustafson, who leapt from an upper floor with an old woman in his arms, works at the Police Department’s Community Relations office, where he is in charge of the senior escort program and handles educational outreach on crime and abuse prevention for older adults.

Get the Android app