I was 15 at the time, and a student at Sequoia High School in Redwood City. I was on the swim team, and we had a meet that very day at a high school in Burlingame.
We arrived at the school around 3pm. There wasn’t any parking, and the Coach was tempted to park on a hill that was on campus. He didn’t feel it was safe, so he moved the van to flat ground. Thank God.
We finished the meet at just before 5pm, then we said our goodbuys and got in the van. No more than 2 minutes later, the van started rocking. At first we thought it might be the opposing team playing a prank on us, but I sat up and looked outside and saw the cars in the parking lot rocking back and forth. Then finally it was over. If we were still parked on the hill, the van would have rolled, and none of us inside the van would be alive. See, the van didn’t have seats; therefore, no seat belts.
As we were heading back to our school, I remember seeing water, from broken fire hydrants, shooting up in the air, seeing broken windows, and people walking around upset and scared.
We got back to our school, and a few of the students were crying. I asked them if they were OK, and they told us that a part of the Bay Bridge collapsed, killing a few people. I thought that this couldn’t be happening and that I need to get home. Now.
The phone lines were down so I couldn’t call. I jumped on my bicycle and started home. I got to the major intersection by the school and there was a police officer directing traffic. He literally stopped all traffic for me to cross, and told me to get home as fast as I can, but be careful. I told him thank you and pedaled as fast as I could. I couldn’t believe what had happened, and the aftermath of it all.
Finally, I get home. My mom and my stepfather are listening to the radio in the garage, waiting for me. I heard my mom’s sigh of relief and I jumped off my bike and hugged her. I could tell my stepfather was relieved, as well, even though the man couldn’t show emotion to save his life.
The days following the earthquake, I saw people wearing t-shirts, saying “I survived the quake.’ All I could say to that was, “Duh.” I didn’t really know the significance of actually being able to wear that shirt. Now, after 9/11, the significance is extreme.
All I know is that being prepared saves lives. Let’s not get caught being unprepared.
By Sherry Lloyd
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