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Napa Valley register - Teen survivor recalls recovery as Napa remembers earthquake

August 24, 2015
News Articles

Howard Yune

Cracked and battered buildings have been repaired. Homes have been cleared of shattered dishes, glasses and heirlooms. But at Monday's remembrance on the first anniversary of the Napa earthquake, perhaps the most vital symbol of recovery was a clean-cut, curly-haired teenage boy in a blue oxford shirt and a bow tie — a boy who was again standing straight.

"My name is Nicholas Dillon, and I'm grateful to be standing here on my own two feet," the 14-year-old Napan told some 400 spectators at Napa Strong 6.0/365, the ceremony marking the quake of Aug. 24, 2014.

One woman died and about 200 people were injured in the magnitude-6.0 earthquake. But the recovery of Dillon, who was crushed by bricks from his collapsing living-room chimney, became one of Napa's most followed stories during the weeks that followed.

"The past few months have been a challenge for many of us, but the past year has also been a year of growth," the New Technology High sophomore said of his months-long recovery from the injuries he suffered during the quake. "When the pain was unbearable and I wasn't feeling hope, you, the community, reached out to me and supported me in ways I couldn't have imagined."

Extricated from the wreckage of his chimney, Dillon was rushed to Queen of the Valley Medical Center, then sent to UC Davis Children's Hospital, where he received metal plates and bolts to repair his broken pelvis. Another hospital stay in Roseville and 2½ months at home followed before he was able to walk again and return to school in mid-December.

Though Dillon's return to his feet took less than half the time doctors originally predicted, he freely admitted the loneliness and frustration he felt during the recovery – especially one October evening, two months after the quake, when he was not yet well enough to join his friends for a night at the movies.

"I felt like crying for the first time since the quake, like ‘Why am I doing this rehab if I'm still in a wheelchair?'" he recalled after his speech. "Dad told me, ‘Son, you have to remember that tough times don't last; tough people do.' I started to realize I'm lucky to be alive, that eventually I'd walk again and there are people who never will, so I shouldn't complain. My perspective on life changed; I value the little things in life more."

Dillon said his career plans may include medicine or even politics, but that whatever path he chooses, "I want to give back the love people gave when I felt down."

Monday's ceremony opened at 3:20 p.m. — precisely one year and 12 hours after the West Napa Fault awoke — with the thrumming of African drums by members of River Middle School's World Percussion ensemble.

"And that's how long the earthquake lasted. Twenty-six seconds," Mayor Jill Techel said a moment later. "One year ago, our town took a pounding in just 26 seconds. Many lives were changed; one life was lost," she said, referring to Laurie Anne Thompson's death Sept. 5.

A succession of speakers including Techel, Assemblyman Bill Dodd and U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson took turns praising emergency workers for repairing water main breaks, power outages and other damage in the quake's aftermath – and credited donors, disaster relief agencies and residents with providing the money, aid and manpower to help others get back on their feet.

"We have iconic images of the earthquake in our minds – the damaged buildings on Third and Brown streets, the fires in the mobile home park, the smashed barrels and spilled wines, Nicholas George sticking his head into that fissure in the pavement," said county Supervisor Diane Dillon, who is not related to Nicholas.

"But what came afterward? We've proved that we're resilient, we're recovering, we're Napa strong, and we're concerned for the welfare of our neighbors."

All was not solemnity during the earthquake anniversary event, as its organizer – the city, county and Napa Valley Unified School District – staged an afternoon pageant that included the River Middle School percussionists, Moxie band and the Napa High spirit-leader squad. In addition, PG&E donated to Napa Fire a Chevrolet plug-in hybrid truck specialized for emergency response, which can double as a power source for blacked-out homes and neighborhoods during extended outages.

For some Napa residents like Laura Levin, whose home required months of post-quake repairs to its roof, floors and water system, the one-year mark was a time for thanks – even if the upheavals of Aug. 24 are slow to fade from memory.

"Last night I didn't get a lot of sleep," she said. "I was thinking of everything that's changed – always having clothes right by the bed, the flashlight right there, iPad and phone charged at all times. We're still working on the house (repairs) – almost done, but it's taken a long time, a long time to recover.

"But you keep going. You do what you've got to do. The main thing is we're all alive."