Since I was going to teach that night, I had earthquake response in the front of my mind and I asked if we had any water stored. We did not, and I suggested that someone find some containers and fill them, just in case we had to be there for an extended period of time. Fortunately, the electricity and phone service only went out briefly. Our water continued to run and our toilets continued to flush.



We gathered together to try to assess the situation. Fortunately, our ham radio volunteers were having their monthly meeting and they immediately started receiving tidbits of information from all over the Bay Area.



Rex Painter had just been hired as the Disaster Services Manager. He brought a small battery TV in from the supply trailer and we set it up in one end of the disaster office. We anxiously looked to see what was happening around us, searching for the big picture. The initial focus of the media was on the drama unfolding in San Francisco and Oakland: the disrupted World Series game in San Francisco, freeway collapses, the Marina District burning.

The phones started ringing and Rex directed me to go to the back of the office and handle the incoming phone calls. The first call I answered was from a man from Scotland who had been watching the baseball game.



“My Aunt Madeline lives in San Francisco and I can’t get a hold of her. Can you send someone over to check on her and call me back?” I explained to him that San Jose was 45 miles from SF and I had no way to check on his aunt right now. I told him that he should wait a while and try again because many phones were down and that did not mean his aunt was under rubble. Later the San Francisco Red Cross might be able to help with inquiries, but not for a few days at least.



The second call I answered was from someone who wanted to know where they could donate used clothing for the earthquake victims. Fortunately, a few years before, we had established a local VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) and I had several referral numbers for organizations that were equipped to handle these donations.

At some point, I was able to take a minute and check on my husband and my mother. Both had made it home and there were some adventures to be shared later. I told them I wouldn’t be home for a while and not to worry.



I continued to answer the phone, while Rex made calls to other Red Cross chapters and emergency response agencies. We knew we would have to open shelters and mass feeding operations, so someone else was calling volunteers for availability.



Someone dropped off 10 pizzas and we all realized that we were really hungry. All work stopped for a few minutes and after that, our notes and much of that night’s documentation had greasy fingerprints on it.



We worked all night; around 6:00am, I realized that I was very tired. Rex told me to go on home and rest for a few hours. Fresh volunteers were arriving and I was anxious to get home. I was living in Fremont at the time and I felt I had just enough energy left to get there. I was the first person to leave the office after the earthquake, thirteen hours later.



The sun was rising and the air felt refreshing. I finally headed home to sleep. Something told me that we would be very busy for weeks to come.