An earthquake exemplifies a natural disaster in which the potential caregivers are experiencing their own emotional response to the event. A survey of 222 health care workers in San Francisco and Marin County in the first two weeks after the Loma Prieta earthquake found them to have a moderate level of psychological symptoms as measured by the Impact of Event Scale and to frequently endorse several earthquake specific stress items. Highly reliable gender differences existed on all of the dependent variables, with women reporting more symptoms. Variation in cognitive style and the personal salience of the event are possible explanations for this difference. Disaster planning should include education about the normal range of response and support groups for symptomatic caregivers as well as victims.