Exhibit looking at 30 years since Loma Prieta coming to Los Altos

As the Bay Area looks back on 30 years since the deadly Loma Prieta earthquake in October 1989, the Los Altos History Museum is opening a new exhibit with unique reflections on the deadly event.

In partnership with the City of Los Altos, the museum is opening a new exhibition this week, with stories of those shaken by local disasters and highlighting how the community came together to recover and prepare for future natural disasters.

A number of workshops will accompany the exhibition, helping local residents learn how to protect themselves from disasters that might strike in our region.

“We hope this exhibit will encourage people to get prepared if they aren’t already, and take steps to make sure their families are safe in the event of a natural disaster,” said Dr. Amy Ellison, one of the exhibit co-curators. Ellison teamed with Los Altos Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Ann Hepenstal on the project.

“Our Community Prepares: Acts of Nature, Then and Now” opens Wednesday, October 17, and will have an opening reception on Sunday, October 20, from 2 to 5 p.m. That reception, open to the community, will feature displays of emergency vehicles and given local children a chance to climb on fire trucks and meet first responders.

Information on the opening reception is available here. The exhibit is set to run until January 19, 2020.

The Los Altos History Museum is located at 51 S. San Antonio Rd. in the town’s Civic Center.

Upcoming emergency preparedness workshops:

To sign up visit the museum website here.

  • Water Safety and Reliability Workshop, Wednesday, October 23, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
    • Cal Water will share the importance of community water supply and how to be prepared for an emergency.
  • Pet Preparedness Workshop, Saturday, November 2, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
    • Learn how to take care of dogs, cats, and other pets during an emergency.
  • Holiday Safety Workshop, Wednesday, December 11, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
    • From lightbulbs to ladders, make sure your family knows how to stay safe throughout the season.
  • Be Prepared for the Big One, Saturday, January 11, 2020, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    • Take a ride on the Big Shaker, the world’s biggest mobile earthquake simulator, and experience what an earthquake feels like.