Michael Nolan

Veronica’s voice returned on the phone.  She and colleague Zula were now under a desk at Port offices in the Ferry Building.  I was on the 14th floor of 220 Sansome, corner of Pine, when Loma Prieta struck. We had been discussing the San Francisco Sailing Center project proposed for Piers 24-26 on the waterfront.

I felt stable again after the dizzying sway of the building where I sat, grateful I faithfully held onto the phone during the earthquake.

I followed other building tenants as we descended the 14 floors to the street below.  I walked onto the sunny and relatively calm streets of the financial district, headed to 814 Mission, the old Call building where I used to work at the SF State Downtown Center.  They had phone service and I reached my children in the East Bay who were deeply concerned about my safety.  And I about theirs.