On Monday, January 17, 1994, I was awakened at around 4:30 in the morning when my bed began to shake violently. I heard glass shattering and lumber creaking. There was no doubt in my mind that it was an earthquake. I just wasn’t sure if it was “the big one” all Angelenos know will happen one day.
It is known as the Northridge Earthquake, even though the epicenter was in Reseda in the San Fernando Valley, about twenty miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The magnitude was 6.7, but it produced the largest ground movement of any earthquake in any urban area in North America. The earth shook for about 20 seconds. That may not seem long until you set a timer and imagine not knowing if those seconds will be your last, if your house will collapse and transform you into a flapjack.
There was no electricity, so we dodged glass from a broken jar and crept up the stairs to survey the damage and collect the flashlights. In the kitchen, cabinet doors had flung open and rows of spices had flown off the shelf and shattered on the floor. A fire extinguisher had toppled out of a cabinet and cracked a ceramic floor tile.
We ventured into the front yard to find the brick fireplace still standing. Some of our neighbors were also outside, milling around. We always keep a gas shut-off tool in a plastic bag near the valve in case of leaks. We turned the gas off to prevent explosions, and headed back inside. That’s when we realized the front door was open and our beloved Tigger-boo-the-wonder-cat was missing.
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| Our brave Boo |
I walked up and down the street, calling his name with no response. As soon as the electricity was restored, I printed flyers and scoured the neighborhood to no avail. Approximately 36 hours after the quake, I walked out the front door and saw Tigger under the olive tree. Presented with an open door, he strolled into the house as if nothing was amiss. After that, everything seemed survivable.
The water was undrinkable for days. We used ice from the refrigerator, read by candlelight, ate food from the refrigerator until it spoiled and had to be tossed. Banks were closed, along with ATM machines. After the dust settled, I walked to the supermarket to find the windows shattered but cleanup in progress. Our area escaped major damage, but nearby Santa Monica sustained heavy losses.
Once communications were restored, we saw the extent of the damage: streets buckled, freeways collapsed, including a section of the 10 Freeway, shutting down a vital link to one of the most traveled thoroughfares in the United States. Thousands of people were injured. Fifty-seven people lost their lives, including 16 who died when a Northridge apartment building collapsed.
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| Early reports |
Experts predict that in the next 30 years there is a 97% probability that Southern California will experience an earthquake of greater magnitude than the 1994 quake. To the extent that preparedness is possible, I keep shoes and a jacket next to my bed, enough cash to buy necessities for a week or so, and bottled water. I probably should store more canned food, but that gas shut-off tool is still ready and waiting. And I will never ever again forget to close the front door unless doing so jeopardizes the safety of my kitties Scooter and Riley.
All of us live at the mercy of Mother Nature: extreme weather, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis. Do you worry? Do you prepare? Where were you when the earth quaked?
Happy Monday!
From J: A good reminder for us all, Patty. I remember, after Hurricane Katrina, the then Mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom, said that it was a sharp reminder that we all had to be prepared to survive a disaster without help for at least three days, because Katrina was proof that Air Force One wasn't going to land with help anytime soon. A list of some 200 items to have in the emergency pack was issued. It might seem an acid comment now, but the truth is that we all have a responsibility to prepare ourselves for a major disaster, especially in CA, known for earthquakes and wildfires - emergency services might be well-trained but the disaster might prevent help coming. Just last night my friend and I were discussing what we each had in our emergency packs in both the car and the house. We swapped spare key details, and we made a pact to come to the aid of each other's dogs if we were out of the house when IT happened. We're also going to talk about horse evacuation plans - every time I trail ride through the woods I am aware of the amount of "kindling" just waiting for an opportunity to flare into a disaster - and it's way too close to the barn. Finally, just keep your running shoes in the car and try never to get stuck in traffic under a bridge of any sort! There have been too many days just lately when someone has said, "It's earthquake weather." It might be disqualified by the experts, but we who live here know there is such a thing ...
ReplyDeleteGood advice all around. I worry most about my kitties. I used to keep supplies in my car but I've fallen down on that. Time to retool.
DeleteTigger was movie-star handsome--which explains the excellent head shot.
ReplyDeleteMy sister in WLA (probably near you) also sustained a lot of damage. Somehow many of her documents got wet.
We escaped damage in 94, but we are about one long block from the Honest to God Newport Inglewood fault--source of the 33 Long Beach temblor--and our soil is the Jell-O variety.
We have water and canned beans and such, but I am pretty sure many of our neighbors do not, and I wonder if we should be stocking for that?
My problem with stored food is that it expires if you don't monitor it regularly. By the time I remember to check, its sell-by date is two years over the limit. Maybe I need to plant a vegetable garden again. And thinking about your neighbors' lack of preparation...sounds like the beginning of a novel or short story.
DeleteTigger was indeed a beautiful boy and so well behaved.
Patty, how well I remember the Northridge quake. I lived in Venice at the time. It felt like a freight train was somehow running over my head. Whereabouts were you living?
ReplyDeleteRight down the street in WLA. I could have walked to your place to borrow a cup of sugar.
DeleteIn L.A., you have Earthquake Kits. Here in South Florida, we have Hurricane Kits. It's always something!
ReplyDeleteGive me an Hurricane any day of the week. However, when John and I were visiting, and you told us about the small quake that happened an hour before we arrived, we were disappointed.
ReplyDeleteYup, you just missed it. Maybe next time.
DeleteHurricanes are bad but usually you get some warning.