Fisherman's Wharf Merchants Prepare For The Next Big Quake
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- Fisherman's Wharf merchants practiced their emergency preparedness skills on Friday. The event coincides with Sunday's 21st anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake.
Thomas Creedon, the owner of Scoma's Restaurant on Fisherman's Wharf, was at his restaurant during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and now he's busy with an earthquake drill that brought about a hundred merchants and their employees to pier 45.
KCBS' Barbara Taylor Reports:
Creedon was in charge of a huge trailer packed with disaster supplies including; 500 beds, shovels, and radios, and other emergency equipment in the event of the next big one.
"When there's an earthquake and you feel it, there is panic and it goes through everybody, because you never know how bad it's going to get or how long it's going to go," said Creedon.
Photo Gallery: Loma Prieta Earthquake Damage
Kevin Carroll of the Merchants Association is helping oversee the drill.
"Today they're learning about fire extinguishers, triage extrication, and utilities shut offs," said Carroll.
The merchants also practiced pulling people out of buildings, putting out fires and Carroll said the practice will help quell the panic saying things aren't going to be perfect, but that the more training provided the better they'll be able to respond when it does happen.
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