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. Fatality estimates range from just under 60 to more than 70 people killed, with most studies placing the number at around 60. The Northridge earthquake that struck at 4.31 a.m. on Monday, January 17, 1994 affected an area of 2,192 square miles in the San Fernando Valley, a densely populated residential area of northern Los Angeles, California. The disaster here is the 1994 earthquake near Los Angeles, which left 58 dead, destroyed more than 112,000 buildings, collapsed freeways, and started fires. Interested in testing your earthquake knowledge? Thousands of landslides occurred throughout the mountains surrounding the San Fernando Valley and as far north as Castaic Lake. The January 17, 1994 Northridge, CA Earthquake An EQE Summary Report, March 1994 Commercial Structures. The 1994 Northridge earthquake killed more than 50 people and created widespread devastation in Los Angeles. Property damage was severe and widespread; although the worst damage was sustained by communities in the western and northern San Fernando Valley, other areas of Los Angeles county were affected, as were parts of Ventura, Orange, and San Bernardino counties. A strong earthquake shook the Los Angeles region on January 17, 1994, at 4:30 am Pacific Standard Time (12:30 UT). The earthquake occurred beneath Northridge, a suburb in the San Fernando Valley, 30 km northwest of Los Angeles (see map on next page). At 4:30 a.m. on January 17, 1994, the shaking of an earthquake awakened 10 million people in the Los Angeles region of Southern California. Omissions? The 6.7-magnitude Northridge Earthquake occurred at 4:31am on Monday, January 17, 1994. Once special studies are performed by qualified engineers and geologists, measures to physically mitigate these ground-failure hazards are included in the development plans before permits are issued. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. The earthquake caused up to $20 billion in damage costs, plus $40+ billion in economic loss, making it the costliest earthquake disaster in U.S. history. 1 Three counties, Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange were affected by the This area includes more than 150 incorporated cities and developing county lands that have an aggregate population exceeding 12 million people, and an average annual construction volume of over $10 billion. LOS ANGELES – The 1994 Northridge earthquake shook Los Angeles residents from their sleep, caused freeways to crumble and flattened buildings. Recognizing and fixing these potential problems before development occurs is the most cost-effective way to deal with these earthquake hazards. ADMIN; ATLAS; California Integrated Seismic Network: Southern California Seismic Network (Caltech, USGS Pasadena, and Partners) USGS National Earthquake Information Center, PDE; Additional Information 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. The Los Angeles News Group asked readers across the region to share their memories of Jan. 17, 1994 when a 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck Northridge at 4:30 a.m. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. 1 Three counties, Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange were affected by the Earthquake researchers measuring the movement of the Earth's surface with the Global Positioning System (GPS) have concluded that the Northridge earthquake has continued in a "quiet" way and the Granada Hills have risen about 16 centimeters (about 6 inches) since that first jolt in January 1994. Its epicenter was around Wilbur Avenue and Arminta Street in Northridge, about a mile from campus. This 22-year-old reinforced concrete-frame department store in Northridge Fashion Center partially collapsed, and much of its second and third floors pancaked. The top three costliest earthquakes in the world during 1980–2012 were the Mw 9.0 Tohoku-Oki earthquake (2011), Mw 6.8 Kobe earthquake (1995), and Mw 6.7 Northridge earthquake (1994), causing overall economic losses at the time of occurrence of about $210B, $100B, and $44B, respectively (III, 2015). No systematic change in strain above the background noise occurred during the hours to milliseconds before the event. The Northridge earthquake that struck at 4.31 a.m. on Monday, January 17, 1994 affected an area of 2,192 square miles in the San Fernando Valley, a densely populated residential area of northern Los Angeles, California. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. 1994 Northridge Earthquake As the City of Los Angeles slumbered in the early morning hours of January 17, 1994, the earth began to shake from the onset of another California trembler. When the Northridge earthquake struck at 4:31 a.m. on January 17, 1994, it left much of the city in ruins with buildings and freeways collapsed. Accordingly, a number of legislative changes were made in the aftermath of the Northridge earthquake. Corrections? Northridge earthquake of 1994, earthquake that struck the densely populated San Fernando Valley in southern California, U.S., on Jan. 17, 1994. The third major earthquake to occur in the state in 23 years (after the 1971 San Fernando Valley and 1989 San Francisco–Oakland earthquakes), the Northridge earthquake was the state’s most destructive one since the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and the costliest one in U.S. history. The extent of the property damage in an area so well-prepared for earthquakes was staggering. Destroyed in the Northridge earthquake of Jan. 17, 1994. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/event/Northridge-earthquake-of-1994, National Institute of Standards and Technology - Engineering Laboratory - Earthquake Northridge California 1994, Northridge earthquake of 1994 - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Shake your way into this quiz. The earthquake's epicenter was in Northridge, CA, and it was a magnitude 6.7 shock that proved to be the most costly earthquake in United States history. Its epicentre was in Northridge, a suburb located about 20 miles (32 km) west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Northridge earthquake of 1994, earthquake that struck the densely populated San Fernando Valley in southern California, U.S., on Jan. 17, 1994. The Northridge Earthquake: January 17, 1994 How big was the earthquake? These types of ground failures caused severe damage to building foundations and to vital lifeline infrastructure (transportation corridors, water, gas, and electric transmission facilities). Destroyed in the Northridge earthquake of Jan. 17, 1994. 1994 Northridge Earthquake As the City of Los Angeles slumbered in the early morning hours of January 17, 1994, the earth began to shake from the onset of another California trembler. The earthquake occurred beneath Northridge, a suburb in the San Fernando Valley, 30 km northwest of Los Angeles (see map on next page). Earthquake Hazards Zone Application (EQ Zapp), Highway Corridor Landslide Hazard Assessment, School, Hospital, and Environmental Reviews, EQ Zapp (A-P Fault Zones and Seismic Hazard Zones), Information Warehouse (reports, maps, and data), Center for Engineering Strong Motion Data, Visit the California Integrated Seismic Network. January 20, 1994 — Interstate 5 Freeway overpass as seen from The Old Road in the Newhall Pass. The main shock of the magnitude 6.7 Northridge Earthquake is highlighted in blue. Moderate damage to the built environment was widespread; severe damage included collapsed buildings and highway overpasses. The earthquake's epicenter was in Northridge, CA, and it was a magnitude 6.7 shock that proved to be the most costly earthquake in United States history. Roads and bridges damaged by the Northridge earthquake in California, 1994. The earthquake was magnitude 6.7 on a previously unidentified thrust fault, creating strong horizontal and vertical ground motion lasting up to 10 seconds. The 6.7 magnitude Northridge earthquake shook the entire San Fernando Valley at 4:31 am on January 17, 1994, with an epicenter in Reseda, near Northridge, CA. Reducing the impact of these ground-failure hazards, not only save lives and property during future earthquakes, but leads to more sustainable economic communities. The timing of the earthquake (early morning during a federal holiday) is thought to have prevented a higher death toll, as most residents were in their beds, rather than on failed freeways or in other collapsed structures (such as office buildings or parking lots). The 1994 Northridge, California earthquake has proven to be one of the most costly disasters in United States history. The Seismic Hazards Program at CGS continues to produce similar maps throughout California. On January 17, 1994, at 4:31 a.m. PST, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake centered in Northridge struck the southern California area. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Description At 4:30 a.m. on January 17, 1994, the shaking of an earthquake awakened 10 million people in the Los Angeles region of Southern California. EQE has been using its three-phase earthquake risk reduction program to evaluate and upgrade the facilities, and was about 75% complete when the Northridge Earthquake occurred. The earthquake was magnitude 6.7 on a previously unidentified thrust fault, creating strong horizontal and vertical ground motion lasting up to 10 seconds. The earthquake occurred just after 4:30 am local time along a previously undiscovered blind thrust fault in the San Fernando Valley. In retrospect, it appeared that the profession was caught largely unaware by the 1994 Northridge earthquake and did not expect the kinds of damage that occurred, particularly in the newer buildings, since the code had been modified significantly just 20 years before, along with other improvements in the intervening years. Intense ground shaking generated widespread ground failures in the region. There were no immediate foreshocks. In spite of the flow of US$11 billion in federal assistance into … Cars lie smashed by the collapsed Interstate 5 connector few hours after Northridge earthquake, on … During the earthquake, CGS ground motion instruments recorded horizontal accelerations of 1.25g and vertical accelerations of 1.2g (1g = force of gravity). Moderate damage to the built environment was widespread; severe damage included collapsed buildings and highway overpasses. A magnitude 6.8 (Ms) earthquake centered under the community of Northridge in the San Fernando Valley shook the entire Los Angeles metropolitan area at 4:31 a.m. local time on Monday, January 17, 1994. Since the Northridge event, over 6,000 square miles of land covering the greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, including all of Orange County and half of Ventura County, and portions of the San Francisco Bay Area have been zoned under the Act. The rubble was recycled. How big was the earthquake? These Seismic Hazard Zones, or Zones of Required Investigation, delineate where there is a high likelihood of these hazards occurring in future earthquake events. Southern California-Wikipedia Fires that broke out in the San Fernando Valley and in Venice and Malibu caused additional harm. A magnitude 6.8 (Ms) earthquake centered under the community of Northridge in the San Fernando Valley shook the entire Los Angeles metropolitan area at 4:31 a.m. local time on Monday, January 17, 1994. Northridge California Earthquake January 17, 1994 USGS Response to an Urban Earthquake: Northridge '94 Contributors. The first shaking from the 6.7-magnitude Northridge Earthquake began at 4:31 a.m. on Monday, January 17, 1994. The 1994 Northridge Earthquake Disaster Response: The Local Emergency Medical Services Agency Experience Volume 11, Issue 3 Samuel J. Stratton (a1) , Virginia Price Hastings (a1) , Darlene Isbell (a1) , John Celentano (a1) , Miguel Ascarrunz (a1) , Carol S. Gunter (a1) and Joe Betance (a1) The earthquake was one of the … A strong earthquake shook the Los Angeles region on January 17, 1994, at 4:30 am Pacific Standard Time (12:30 UT). The Northridge Earthquake: January 17, 1994. Timeline: The 1994 Northridge Earthquake A look at events of the Jan. 17, 1994, Northridge earthquake By Jason Kandel • Published January 16, 2014 • … Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Before the earthquake, the seismic risk and operations vulnerability for every facility had been assessed, and detailed seismic analysis had been performed for most. These communities are now benefiting from safer development. The top three costliest earthquakes in the world during 1980–2012 were the Mw 9.0 Tohoku-Oki earthquake (2011), Mw 6.8 Kobe earthquake (1995), and Mw 6.7 Northridge earthquake (1994), causing overall economic losses at the time of occurrence of about $210B, $100B, and $44B, respectively (III, 2015). The major shock lasted 10–20 seconds and registered a magnitude of 6.7. January 20, 1994 — Interstate 5 Freeway overpass as seen from The Old Road in the Newhall Pass. Nevertheless, tens of thousands of buildings were damaged, with many “red-tagged” as unsafe to enter and many more restricted to limited entry (“yellow-tagged”). Updates? Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. The earthquake and subsequent aftershocks caused extensive destruction to the Northridge and Sherman Oaks areas. The magnitude 6.7 1994 Northridge earthquake was particularly destructive, causing a substantial number of deaths, injuries, and structural collapses as well as the most property damage of any earthquake in U.S. history at an estimated $20 billion. You can look at the data and refine the search at the USGS website . Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. A significant portion of the transportation system around Los Angeles was shut down, as sections of major freeways (including the Santa Monica Freeway and the Golden State Freeway) collapsed and numerous bridges sustained heavy damage. Widespread liquefaction (saturated soil that behaves as a liquid when shaken) was triggered as far away as the Port of Los Angeles, some 30 miles from the epicenter. This was the first earthquake to strike directly under an urban area of the United States since the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. Mike Hider (Saugus High 1983, son of Jerry Hider) said he "spent several days, 24 hours a day, hauling the concrete from those bridges right down the road to the intersection of Highway 126 and I-5. Most significantly, the state created the California Earthquake Authority, a publicly managed but privately funded organization offering basic residential earthquake insurance. At 4:30 am, on January 17, 1994, residents of the greater Los Angeles area were rudely awakened by the strong shaking of the Northridge earthquake. The Northridge earthquake of 1994 — A 64-car freight train carrying hazardous materials was derailed between the Chatsworth and Northridge sections of … Earthquake researchers measuring the movement of the Earth's surface with the Global Positioning System (GPS) have concluded that the Northridge earthquake has continued in a "quiet" way and the Granada Hills have risen about 16 centimeters (about 6 … Photo for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by Robert A. Eplett, believed to have been shot Jan. 17, 1994. Most of the casualties occurred in wood-frame apartment buildings, popular in the San Fernando Valley, and particularly in those with weak first floors or lower-level parking garages. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. From its epicenter in the west San Fernando Valley, the earthquake … THE EARTHQUAKE; In City of Motorcycle-Cop Mystique, an Officer, and Quake Victim, Is Laid to Rest ... See the article in its original context from January 25, 1994… The rest are 961 aftershocks of at least magnitude 2.5 in the month following the earthquake in 1994. As a consequence of the severe losses caused by this event, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (now under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security) awarded the California Geological Survey nearly $20 million to accelerate the zoning of earthquake hazards under the Seismic Hazards Mapping Act of 1990. The percentage of buildings completely destroyed was relatively low in light of the strength of the ground motions. The 1994 Northridge Earthquake Disaster Response: The Local Emergency Medical Services Agency Experience Volume 11, Issue 3 Samuel J. Stratton (a1) , Virginia Price Hastings (a1) , Darlene Isbell (a1) , John Celentano (a1) , Miguel Ascarrunz (a1) , Carol S. Gunter (a1) and Joe Betance (a1) On January 17, 1994, at 4:31 a.m. PST, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake centered in Northridge struck the southern California area. Northridge Earthquake: Jan. 17-20, 1994 The stretch of the 10 freeway between Santa Monica and Los Angeles is a contrast of congestion, 18 June 1994, as … Local city and county permitting agencies are required to request “special geological and engineering studies” be performed within these zones prior to land development and construction. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Vogel adeptly walks the line between scientific information and the irresistible fascination with disasters that has generated many a movie, and she puts it all at child level. Federal and state assistance programmes received some 681,000 applications from victims for various forms of relief. The 6.7 magnitude Northridge earthquake shook the entire San Fernando Valley at 4:31 am on January 17, 1994, with an epicenter in Reseda, near Northridge, CA. In retrospect, it appeared that the profession was caught largely unaware by the 1994 Northridge earthquake and did not expect the kinds of damage that occurred, particularly in the newer buildings, since the code had been modified significantly just 20 years before, along with other improvements in the intervening years. The magnitude 6.7 Northridge earthquake started on Jan. 17, 1994 at 5 seconds before 4:31 a.m. 681,000 applications from victims for various forms of relief let us know if you have any questions devastation! 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