Dewitt “Dee” Thompson
In the wake of the October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, Caltrans commissioned an oral history project to document the personal and professional experiences of Caltrans employees who worked to restore the State’s damaged transportation system. At the time of this recording, Dewitt Thompson was a Materials and Research Engineering Associate for Caltrans Geotechnical Section. His interview focuses on survey work on Route 17 and other highways in the Santa Cruz mountains in the weeks following the earthquake. Dewitt also worked with FHWA agents on the damage assessment of Highway Route 17.
Date of Interview
Interviewer
1989-12-27
Russell Ruhlen
Project
Program/Repository
Loma Prieta Oral History Project
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While I was talking with her she says, “There is goes again.” And it was about ten to twelve seconds after that that I felt it at my house…. In talking with her I realized also how strong it must have been.