San Francisco spends 20 bln USD on infrastructure for possible disasters

San Francisco Mayor London Breed said Thursday that the city has invested 20 billion U.S. dollars on critical infrastructure to prepare for future disasters.In a statement issued on the 30th Anniversary of Loma Prieta Earthquake, which hit the city on Oct. 17, 1989, killing 63 people and injuring more than 3,700 others, Breed said the earthquake and its aftermath were "traumatic and challenging.""In the 30 years since Loma Prieta, the city has made significant investments to ensure that we're ready for the next major earthquake," she said."It is not a matter of 'if' the next big earthquake strikes, but a matter of 'when,'" she added.Breed said that the new investment will be used to build and improve neighborhood fire stations, district police stations, the Emergency Firefighting Water System and other essential facilities and infrastructure, which plays a key role in providing immediate assistance for the city in event of a disaster.