Epicenter: A Loma Prieta Earthquake Story with Allison Peters Orlando

Epicenter: The Loma Prieta Earthquake 30th Anniversary Oral Histories Project

Interview conducted by Jenn Hooker and Kathleen Aston and produced by Jenn Hooker.
Recorded at the Live Oak Branch Library, Santa Cruz, California, on June 18, 2019.


Allison Peters Orlando was a 29 year old young professional working in an office building in downtown Santa Cruz when the earthquake hit. Her story includes detailed descriptions of aftershocks and pride in community first responders.

Duration: 21:21
Time Summary:
 0:28 Interview starts

0:43 Relationship to Santa Cruz, her hometown

1:27 Leaving work downtown at time of quake

2:20 Leaves downtown for home

3:00 Mental and emotional state in response to earthquake

3:27 Impressions of downtown as she left the scene

4:02 Describes home and neighborhood upon return

5:01 Learning about earthquakes, in response to the quake and aftershocks

5:28 Family culture of disaster preparedness and planning

6:01 Family gets together at sisters house

6:20 Gathering news from car radio about effects of earthquake

7:00 Impacts to family after earthquake

7:41 Changes in the downtown landscape, including Cooper House

9:50 Community response to earthquake

10:24 Earthquake effect on real estate and buying her first house

11:13 Pride in the first responders

13:35 Takes precautions against natural disasters today

14:40 The difficulty of planning for medication in emergency kits

15:06 Concerns about expiration of emergency supplies

15:35 Story about Shadowbrook feeding the neighborhood after the quake
16:49 Experiences and learning surrounding aftershocks

17:52 Perspective on earthquakes other than Loma Prieta, in comparison to Loma Prieta

19:52 Information gathering about earthquakes

Creator: Hooker, Jenn; Aston, Kathleen; Peters Orlando, Allison
Date: 2019-06-18
Type: MOVING IMAGE
Coverage:
  • Santa Cruz (County)
  • 1980s
  • 2010s
Rights: Permission must be obtained before using this interview in exhibition or publication. Researchers or others who want to make further use of this interview should contact Santa Cruz Public Libraries.
Identifier: LH-LP-PETERS ORLANDO

Collection

Santa Cruz History Articles

Citation

Hooker, Jenn, Kathleen Aston, and Allison Peters Orlando. “Epicenter: A Loma Prieta Earthquake Story with Allison Peters Orlando.” 2019-06-18. SCPL Local History. https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/items/show/135781. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.