Paying to Prepare For the Big One

  With the anniversary of the 1906 Great Earthquake looming, San Francisco residents are being asked to approve a $412 million bond measure to help prepare for the next Big One.
     
Mayor Gavin Newsom gathered with other officials Tuesday on the edge of San Francisco Bay to encourage voters to approve the funding.

The measure would allocate $104 million to reinforce what officials say is an antiquated system intended to ensure access to water for firefighting.

The 11 million-gallon system consists of pumps, a reservoir and storage tanks. If the city's water supply fails, the pumps are supposed to suck in bay water and refill the reservoir.

But officials say the buildings housing the pumps date back to 1912 and need to be retrofitted.

The rest of the measure would go for new police and fire buildings.