Due to the large amount lost by insurance companies, most insurance companies either stopped offering or severely restricted earthquake insurance in California. Enrollment dropped by approximately 1,000 students, leaving some homeless as dormitories were closed due to damage which rendered them unsafe and which required repair.[51]. [35], Eleven hospitals suffered structural damage and were damaged or rendered unusable. There were no immediate foreshocks. California engineers had classified and codified building irregularities as early as 1980s. Five days later, it was estimated that between 40,000 and 60,000 customers were still without public water service. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Los Angeles International Airport and other airports in the area were also shut down as a 2-hour precaution, including Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport (now Hollywood Burbank Airport) and Van Nuys Airport, which is near the epicenter, where the control tower suffered from radar failure and panel collapse. The campus still opened and provided students with mobile classrooms and mobile offices. A coccidioidomycosis outbreak following the Northridge, Calif, earthquake. The 1994 Northridge Earthquake was a violent natural disaster that took place on Monday, January 17, 1994 at 0430 Pacific Standard Time around the Los Angeles area. The Northridge Earthquake: January 17, 1994. The 203 cases reported, of which three resulted in fatalities, constituted roughly 10 times the normal rate in the initial eight weeks. The Los Angeles City Hall suffered no damage. Known as the Northridge Earthquake, it caused at least 57 fatalities (a subsequent study put the death toll at 72, including heart attacks) and injured thousands. Although given the name "Northridge", where the quake was believed to have been centered and substantial damage occurred, the actual epicenter was pinpointed in the neighboring community of Reseda within several days. The daily commute for many drivers in the weeks following was significantly lengthened, notably for those traveling between Santa Clarita and Los Angeles, and commuters on I-10 traveling to and from the Westside. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles's Cathedral of St. Vibiana suffered severe damage and canceled activities until a new cathedral was built in 2002. The city of Santa Monica suffered significant damage. Numerous Los Angeles museums, including the Art Deco Building in Hollywood, were closed, as were numerous city shopping malls. The damage cost estimate reached $20 billion in damages, and $49 billion in economic loss. Two 6.0 Mw  aftershocks followed, the first about one minute after the initial event and the second approximately 11 hours later, the strongest of several thousand aftershocks in all. [48] In addition, the newly completed student parking structure C collapsed, and had to be demolished. Earthquake facts. Especially hard hit was the area between Santa Monica Canyon and Saint John's Hospital, a linear corridor that suffered a significant amount of property damage. CSUN President Dr. Blenda Wilson assured the rental of temporary structures to be placed in available spaces throughout the campus. Most casualties and damage occurred in multi-story wood frame buildings (such as the three-story Northridge Meadows apartment building). LOS ANGELES – The 1994 Northridge earthquake shook Los Angeles residents from their sleep, caused freeways to crumble and flattened buildings. Most were unable to meet this deadline and only managed to achieve compliance in 2008 or 2009.[36]. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "The Northridge Earthquake of 1994: Ground Motions and Geotechnical Aspects", "Northridge 1994: 6.7 – 1km NNW of Reseda, CA", https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70208422, "Significant Earthquakes of the World 1994", "The Large Aftershocks of the Northridge Earthquake and their Relationship to Mainshock Slip and Fault Zone Complexity", "Remembering The Northridge Earthquake 27 Years Later", "1994 Quake Still Fresh in Los Angeles Minds", "Show Event – NGDC Natural Hazard Images", "USGS Northridge Earthquake 10th Anniversary", "Southern California Earthquake Data Center". The National Geophysical Data Center placed the hypocenter's geographical coordinates at 34°12′47″N 118°32′13″W / 34.21306°N 118.53694°W / 34.21306; -118.53694 and at a depth of 11.4 miles (18.3 km). [9] Strong ground motion was felt as far away as Las Vegas, Nevada, about 220 miles (350 km) from the epicenter. Associated Press • January 16, 2014. [24] Actress Iris Adrian died in September 1994 from complications of a broken hip she suffered in the earthquake. A motorcycle police officer died when his vehicle plunged off of a just-collapsed section of freeway. Many multifamily apartment buildings in Santa Monica were yellow-tagged and red-tagged. The game scheduled against the Sacramento Kings was postponed, the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers was relocated to The Forum (then the home arena of the Los Angeles Lakers), and the game against the New York Knicks was moved to the Arrowhead Pond (now Honda Center) in Anaheim. FEMA/Robert A. Eplett. Some structures were not red-tagged until months later because the damage was not immediately evident. LOS ANGELES (AP) – The 1994 Northridge earthquake shook Los … On April 18, 1906, an earthquake and subsequent fires devastated San Francisco, California, leaving more than 3,000 people dead and destroying more than 28,000 buildings. The Northridge earthquake led to a number of legislative changes. All 58 buildings on campus sustained significant damage, resulting in a $406 million recovery effort (equivalent to $700 million today). Northridge Earthquake: Aftermath. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. 1994 Northridge earthquake, most of the fatalities occurred in buildings suffering from this particular type of irregular configuration. Because of these revelations, building codes were revised. The Oviatt Library experienced both interior and exterior damage, but the overall frame of the central part of the building remained stable, allowing student use to continue. The earthquake had a strong moment magnitude at around 6.7, although ground acceleration was one of the highest ever recorded in an urban region of North America . [29] The theme parks Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain were shut down after the quake, but only for inspections since all were designed with earthquakes in mind. The 1994 Northridge earthquake was a moment magnitude 6.7 (Mw), blind thrust earthquake that occurred on January 17, 1994, at 4:30:55 a.m. PST in the San Fernando Valley region of the County of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Public Library shut down most of its branches; books were knocked down during the quake. Another important factor was that the building and safety codes in Los Angeles had been strengthened following a powerful quake in the San Fernando Valley in 1971 (also called the Sylmar Earthquake). [25], Sixteen people were killed as a result of the collapse of the Northridge Meadows apartment complex. The quake had a duration of approximately 10–20 seconds, and its peak ground acceleration of 1.82 g0 (17.8 m/s ) was the highest ever instrumentally recorded in an urban area in North America. [22][23] Some counts factor in related events such as a man's suicide possibly inspired by the loss of his business in the disaster. The Church on the Way, which is near the epicenter, suffered moderate damage to the church campus building. In Valencia, the California Institute of the Arts experienced heavy damage, with classes relocated to a nearby Lockheed test facility for the remainder of 1994. All of the earthquake sequences in the Wes Craven film New Nightmare were filmed a month prior to the Northridge quake. Share . [33] As expected, unreinforced masonry buildings and houses on steep slopes suffered damage. The earthquake had a strong moment magnitude at around 6.7, although ground acceleration was one of the highest ever recorded in an urban region of North America. Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan declared a state of emergency and issued curfews in the area, while Governor Pete Wilson and President Bill Clinton visited Los Angeles to tour the area. All Rights Reserved. [57], Section of collapsed low-rise apartment buildings, Lifestyle disruptions in the weeks following. Following the Northridge disaster, which was responsible for estimated damages in excess of $20 billion, the majority of insurance companies representing homeowners in California severely restricted–or completely stopped offering—new policies because the law required them to also offer earthquake coverage. The set, which is at ABC Television Center, suffered major damage, including partial structural collapse and water damage. This is my story, in relation, to the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. At the Northridge Meadows apartment complex, 16 people were killed, all of whom lived on the first floor, when the three-story, stucco-and-wood structure fell down on them. Some people even made temporary relocations closer to their jobs while their homes or neighborhoods were being rebuilt. The seismic event led to millions of dollars worth damage resulting in a sharp drop in student enrollment. 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