The San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906 (Great Historic Disasters)

At approximately 5:12 a.m. on April 18, 1906, a powerful earthquake ripped through the city of San Francisco. Roadways rose and fell like ocean waves. Crumbling walls and chimneys rained glass and bricks onto sidewalks and streets, and crowded rooming houses suddenly vanished into heaps of splintered wood. Yet San Francisco's ordeal had only begun. The violent trembling of the ground had hardly stilled when dozens of fires sparked by damaged chimneys and severed gas lines ignited throughout the stricken city. By April 21st, the fires were finally brought under control, but the city had lost nearly 30,000 buildings to the earthquake and ensuing blazes, half of its population was homeless, and some 3,000 were dead. Until Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast in 2005, the San Francisco calamity of 1906 was the worst natural disaster in U.S. history.

at Approximately 5:12 A.m. On April 18, 1906, A Powerful Earthquake Ripped Through The City Of San Francisco, California. Roadways Rose And Fell Like Ocean Waves. Crumbling Walls And Chimneys Rained Glass And Bricks Onto Sidewalks And Streets. Crowded Rooming Houses Suddenly Vanished Into Heaps Of Splintered Wood. Yet San Francisco's Ordeal Had Only Begun. The Violent Trembling Of The Ground Had Hardly Stilled When Dozens Of Fires, Sparked By Damaged Chimneys And Severed Gas Lines, Erupted Throughout The Stricken City. The Fires Were Brought Under Control By April 21, But By Then The City Had Lost Nearly 30,000 Buildings To The Earthquake And The Inferno That Followed. Half Of The Population Was Homeless, And About 3,000 Were Dead. Until Hurricane Katrina Slammed Into The Gulf Coast In 2005, The San Francisco Calamity Of 1906 Was The Worst Natural Disaster In U.s. History.

Each book in this series begins with historical context to depict life in the time and place of the featured event, builds to a vivid description of the disaster, discusses the aftermath, and then analyzes the way the disaster changed history and impacted the future. Describes the devastating earthquake and subsequent fire in San Francisco in 1906, including the events leading up to the earthquake, the damage it caused, and the relief efforts in the area after the disaster. Great Historic Disasters tells the compelling stories of important historical disasters and explains their impact and the reforms they spurred Examines the devastating earthquake that struck San Francisco in 1906 and the resulting fires that destroyed a large section of the city