I was about 5 miles from the epicenter at Loma Prieta back in ‘89 down in San Jose. I could see the peak from my back yard. Rock n roll.
I was working at 3Com in Santa Clara during the ‘89 earthquake. I felt the quake and immediately went under my desk. My computer fell of my desk and missed me by and inch. I remember looking outside the window and I could see the Doubletree hotel swaying. I thought the earthquake was done so I went down to the underground garage. The after shock was huge that I saw the pillars of the underground garage swaying, like strings being blown by the wind.
I could see the quake on the streets rolling and then the lights went out. When I got home, the pool was empty of water, and all of it went to my landscaped garden. All the plants died because of the chlorine. The frigde’s door opened and all the contents were scattered all over my kitchen. It was very scary.