Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
EARTHQUAKE SAFETY TIPS
Earthquakes happen all the time in California, but most are so tiny they are detectable
only by sensitive seismological instruments. In the unlikely event that you're caught in a
serious shaker:
If indoors, get under a desk or table or stand in a doorway.
Protect your head and stay clear of windows, mirrors or anything that might fall.
Don't head for elevators or go running into the street.
If you're in a shopping mall or large public building, expect the alarm and/or sprinkler
systems to come on.
If outdoors, get away from buildings, trees and power lines.
If you're driving, pull over to the side of the road away from bridges, overpasses and
power lines. Stay inside the car until the shaking stops.
If you're on a sidewalk near buildings, duck into a doorway to protect yourself from falling
bricks, glass and debris.
Prepare for aftershocks.
Turn on the radio and listen for bulletins.
Use the telephone only if absolutely necessary. Keep cell (mobile) phone networks free
for emergency services.
California's Monster Quakes
In 1906, California's most famous earthquake measured 7.8 on the Richter scale and de-
molished San Francisco, leaving more than 3000 people dead. The Bay Area made head-
lines again in 1989 when the Loma Prieta earthquake (magnitude 7.1), which lasted just 15
seconds, caused a section of the Bay Bridge and I-880 in Oakland to collapse. Today, you
can walk right up to the epicenter of the Loma Prieta quake in the Forest of Nisene Marks
State Park, south of Santa Cruz.
Los Angeles' last 'big one' was in 1994, when the Northridge quake (magnitude 6.7)
caused parts of the freeways and the scoreboard at Anaheim Stadium to fall down. With its
epicenter in the San Fernando Valley, the Northridge quake's seismic waves were felt as
far away as Las Vegas, Nevada. Dozens of deaths, thousands of injuries and estimated
damages of $25 billion make it the most costly quake in California history.
