Was there for the 1989 quake. Before that day, had been caught in rush hour traffic on the northbound lower deck of the “Cyprus” returning from “N.A.S. Alameda”. The truck traffic overhead caused the lower roadway to bounce stopped cars, which in retrospect was a strong hint about structural integrity.
As for the “Bay Bridge”, one end of a roadway section dropped from the upper deck to block the lower deck, when the Oakland end jogged 6 inches East and bolts sheared. The approach and toll plaza on the Oakland side liquified thus no access from Hwy. 880 until rebuilt.
However the bridge itself was quickly repaired. For many months, everyone from “Mare Island” with business on “Treasure Island” went the long way down Hwy.101 to the west end approach then across. “N.S.C. Oakland” was a massively steel re-enforced building which refused to budge, and scuttlebutt was the parking pavement buckled and flowed around the obstruction.
I’ve met another person who was in the wrong place (but on the right day).
My former boss was visiting NYC on 9/10. He was on one of the very high floors .. visiting with a brokerage house he did business with. He left NYC that same afternoon.
The next day - the whole company was destroyed when the airplane plowed into the WTC.