Here are some of the major natural disasters that occurred in Santa Cruz County.
The damage from the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989 changed Santa Cruz forever.
The 2020 Forest Fire was the largest fire in the county. It consumed over 89,000 acres in Santa Cruz County plus San Mateo County. Previously, the Lockheed Fire was the largest wildfire in recent history, burning 7,817 acres in between Swanton and Bonny Doon.
Earthquakes
- Loma Prieta Earthquake October 17, 1989
Fires
- Summit Fire - Started May 22, 2008
- Martin Fire - Started June 11, 2008
- Trabing Fire - Started June 20, 2008
- Lockheed Fire - Started August 12, 2009
- Loma Fire (2009) - Started October 25, 2009
- Loma Fire - Started September 26, 2016
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2020 Forest Fire - Started August 16, 2020
Floods
Landslides
- Love Creek January 1982
Tsunamis
- 2011 Tsunami March 11, 2011
Plague
Several diseases have become unrestrained and infected Santa Cruz County. The usual STDs being the most consistent. During the Spanish Flu of 1918-1919 Monterey County closed the bridge between Pajaro and Watsonville. Sandbags were stacked and a guard posted to prevent people traveling into Monterey from Santa Cruz County.
- Influenza virus 1918-1919 . The city of Santa Cruz lost 19 people from the "Spanish flu." Watsonville lost 40 people to the disease. In the Santa Cruz Mountain communities, 6 were known to have died.
- COVID-19 March 2020. (ongoing.)
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