Residents More Aware : Quake Has Lasting Shock Value for the People of Coalinga

This city will never be earthquake-proof, but reconstruction from a devastating temblor two years ago Thursday has made the rural farm town, if not its people, more shock-resistant.

“The amount of building really has been much more than most people expected by the second year,” said city spokesman Bob Semple, who went three days without a change of clothes after the quake hit on May 2, 1983.

Then-and-now statistics are impressive for a remote community on the west edge of the San Joaquin Valley where an earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale caused $31 million damage and 47 injuries.

- Building permits worth $32 million have been issued since the quake.

- A total of 261 single-family homes were demolished, and permits for 260 replacements have been issued.

- Thirty-nine apartment units were torn down; 362 have been built.

- Forty-six downtown businesses were destroyed; all but 10 of those returned.

“Everything’s getting newer,” Semple said in a recent telephone interview.

People More Wary

“What has been set up as a more modern building standard will keep people secure enough from having the buildings destroyed. I think we’re one of the safer communities in California.”

But the experience of living through a violent earthquake has made Semple and others much more wary of the major California quake that is forecast by geologists.

“In San Francisco, I get a fear I didn’t have before standing beside old brick buildings,” Semple said. “You really can’t say for sure that San Francisco or Los Angeles or Sacramento or anywhere won’t be affected by an earthquake.”

But a U.S. Geological Survey forecast last month for a moderate quake within eight years near Parkfield, located 18 miles due south of Coalinga, failed to dampen the upbeat feeling of residents.

They will celebrate the anniversary with a “Come As You Were” party at the Elks Lodge. In preparation, Agnes Bennett, who operates a body shop with her husband in this city of 7,600 residents, was wearing a T-shirt Wednesday that reads, “I Survived the 6.7, I Think.”

Her two daughters have “moments of apprehension,” she said. “We still get a little bit nervous when we have a few of those aftershocks.”

‘Get Just as Frightened’

The latest seismic rumbles hit about three weeks ago, giving people a reminder of the earth’s strength and unpredictability. But few people are inclined to call the police like they used to.

“When we have another little shaker, you still get that awful feeling in your stomach,” said Bill Bombardier, controller at Coalinga District Hospital. “You get just as frightened as you did two years ago.”

It took the hospital a year to make its structural repairs, and Bombardier took five months to erase the $46,000 damage at his home.

Bombardier’s 17-year-old daughter still sleeps with a night light, a habit picked up after the temblor. She joined her 15-year-old sister in weekly counselings sessions that lasted for months.

“Other than that, we’re pretty normal,” Bombardier said.

Townspeople seem impressed by the progress of downtown reconstruction although “a lot of blank space” remains, Bennett said.

“I think they’re doing fine,” she added. “People are so glad to have stores to buy things in.”

Rebuilt shops replace trailers that were loaned by disaster recovery agencies as temporary quarters. Some vacant lots will be paved for public parking, which was lacking before.

Getting New Businesses

“It’s beautiful,” Bombardier said. “We have nice modern shopping now. It’s a pleasure to go into them.”

At the main intersection, the Hong Kong Cafe was rebuilt, but Lacey’s coffee shop is gone forever.

Nearby, McMahan’s Furniture will expand on an old Security Pacific National Bank lot.

The town also has been getting new businesses.

“They even have a suntanning business,” Semple exclaimed, mindful of the 100-degree days that aren’t far off. “Can you believe that in Coalinga? A suntanning business.”