Northridge: 20 Years On
A Devastating Earthquake That Changed Los Angeles Forever
On January 17, 1994, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the San Fernando Valley just north of Los Angeles, California.
The quake, which had an epicenter in the community of Northridge, caused widespread damage and killed 60 people. It was the strongest earthquake to hit the Los Angeles area since the 1971 San Fernando earthquake, and it remains the deadliest earthquake in California history.
The Northridge earthquake caused an estimated $20 billion in damage, destroying or damaging thousands of homes and businesses. The quake also caused significant damage to the region's infrastructure, including freeways, bridges, and water mains.
The Northridge earthquake was a major wake-up call for Los Angeles. In the years since the quake, the city has made significant investments in earthquake preparedness and mitigation. These efforts have included retrofitting buildings to make them more resistant to earthquakes and developing early warning systems to give people time to take cover before a quake strikes.
The Northridge earthquake was a tragedy, but it also led to important changes that have made Los Angeles a safer place to live. The city's earthquake preparedness efforts are a model for other cities around the world, and they have helped to save lives in subsequent earthquakes.
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