Reflecting on 30 Years Since the Northridge Earthquake
“What would have happened if the Earthquake struck during normal working hours?”
Fortunately, it was a holiday in 1994, and the notorious Northridge quake struck at 4:31 AM PST. It was an earthquake magnitude of 6.7, and the shaking lasted 10–20 seconds. The quake’s epicenter in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley delivered a powerful shockwave that caused catastrophic damage and claimed too many lives. The earthquake killed at least 57 people and injured thousands, causing widespread destruction. Freeway overpasses and bridges crumbled, while buildings, particularly those in the San Fernando Valley, suffered extensive structural damage.
Can you imagine the destruction if the quake struck during working hours?
One of the buildings we repaired was severely damaged by the quake, and upon the initial visit, the pure devastation was alarming. The entire manufacturing and storage facility was annihilated, with goods and contents strewn all over and heavy HVAC ducting scattered about the floors. If struck during operational working hours, it would have been nothing less than a miracle if anyone had avoided major injury, much less survived the quake.
The Northridge earthquake is the most damaging in US history. It was estimated to cost $13–50 billion in property damage and even more economically. The quake damaged many buildings, including hundreds of large steel frame buildings with significant cracking in principal beam connections. Nearly a dozen parking structures collapsed, and hospitals in some areas required evacuation due to structural and nonstructural system failures. This was a seismic turning point in Southern California.
The Northridge earthquake proved that building codes needed to be upgraded to make structures more resistant to seismic activity. The current code’s main purpose is life safety and not business continuity. Preparing for earthquakes by performing seismic retrofits can greatly reduce risk. Seismic retrofits of all types of buildings help reduce loss of life and protect real estate assets. For instance, hospitals suffered less structural damage in the 1971 San Fernando earthquake compared to the Northridge devastation.
Imagine if your company suffered this significant loss and could not operate or produce for months. This business disruption would likely end many companies, causing financial debt and risking the loss of life. Mitigating risk and performing seismic retrofits to real estate assets is especially important in high-risk seismic activity regions.
See USGS’s highest hazard seismic zones for the US below:
Protect your assets and ensure business continuity with seismic retrofits. Saunders Seismic has decades of experience securing structures across the West Coast. Contact us today!