Earthquakes: The 1994 Northridge Earthquake

  



Earthquakes: The 1994 Northridge Earthquake

The Northridge earthquake is significant because it is the most recent earthquake to occur in the San Fernando Valley. And more importantly, it was the costliest (most expensive) earthquake ever in the United States.

Even though this city environment was built to stay standing even in the worst earthquake, the 1994 quake showed that there was still a lot of room for improvement.

Some buildings collapsed or damaged, and some even caught on fire. This showed people living in the San Fernando Valley that even the earthquake-safe buildings were not safe enough.

As the city recovered and rebuilt freeways, parking structures, and buildings, they decided to make buildings even safer. They did this using new technology and stronger materials.

The city got safer in other ways too. Now, schools and public organizations are required to do earthquake drills so that people will know what to do in an emergency.

And police, fire fighters, and emergency medical workers are trained in emergency preparedness (being prepared for an emergency).

All of this has helped make Los Angeles a safer place should another earthquake occur here!