Bay Area Quake Aftermath and Freeway Safety

On the evening of Oct. 18, “the day after,” I worked late at my job as a San Francisco fire inspector and was unable to find a copy of my local afternoon newspaper. As starved for earthquake information as any other Bay Area resident, I picked up the Los Angeles Times.

In that edition, and subsequently, I have been reading of the concern and generosity of Southern Californians toward earthquake victims. I learned of the Whittier City Council’s decision, just hours after receiving the news, to send both financial aid and technical assistance north; and of Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley’s feeling that the disaster was of enough magnitude to convene a meeting of his department heads to plan Los Angeles’ response to it. And of course there were the acts of private corporations, charities and ordinary citizens, who contributed food, equipment or funds. The account of record numbers of people turning out for the Los Angeles Red Cross blood drive was particularly impressive.

While every single Northern Californian may not get around to expressing it, we are all very grateful for your generosity.

Although our cities spend a great deal of time bashing each other, we are more like rival siblings than true enemies, and the shared experience of natural disaster probably strengthens the kinship between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Personally, I also found your editorials about San Francisco to be a real morale booster. The rest of the country is sure we are a pack of freaks up here, but your writers told of San Francisco’s civic unity, resilience and graciousness under fire. You extended a hand to help lift our spirits.

CYNTHIA WOO

San Francisco