Much of urban San Francisco was destroyed by fire in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake , including all of the Chinatown district . The process of rebuilding began immediately but took several years . While reconstruction was in full swing , a second plague epidemic hit San Francisco in May and August 1907 but it was not centered in Chinatown . Cases occurred randomly throughout the city , including cases identified across the bay in Oakland . San Francisco 's politicians and press reacted very differently this time , wanting the problem to be solved speedily . Health authorities worked quickly to assess and eradicate the disease . Approximately $ 2 million was spent between 1907 and 1911 to kill as many rats as possible in the city in order to control one of the disease 's vectors
1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
San Francisco plague of 1900–1904