A report of an Earthquake

At 0431 hours, on the morning of January 17, 1994, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck near the City of Northridge in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. By 0500, the Los Angeles County Emergency Operations Center was staffed and operating and thirty minutes later, initial damage assessments were compiled. The earthquake, which came to be known as the "Northridge earthquake," collapsed freeway overpasses, damaged roadways, shut off power, started fires, closed and evacuated hospitals and resulted in at least 72 deaths and an estimated $30 billion in damages. The relief effort was orchestrated by the County's Emergency Operations Center and required the efforts of all local police and fire departments, many public utility companies, the California National Guard, the American Red Cross and a host of other agencies. Tent cities were erected, food and water
dispersed, fires put out and numerous buildings searched and evacuated. Although this earthquake earned the title of "the most expensive disaster in the history of the United States," the preparation and training of all concerned proved to be highly effective and greatly contributed to limiting the amount of death and injury.

As the next century looms near, Southern California prepares for the "big one." Despite the tremendous impact of the Northridge earthquake, no one believes that it is the last nor even the largest which will strike the greater Los Angeles
area. A new 36,000 square foot Emergency Operations Center has been constructed in East Los Angeles. A series of laws and procedures entitled the "Standardized Emergency Management System" has continued to make the Mutual Aid System even more effective. The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department has taken a leading role in establishing courses in crisis action planning, crisis decision making, command and control, operations, logistics and intelligence. Liaisons and working groups with other agencies and disciplines has provided additional insight and contributed to a high state of readiness as they prepare for the next major earthquake.