I lived in Los Angeles from 1946 until 1998. We had many earthquakes of between 4 and 5.3 on the Richter Scale. The worse was a 6.7 earthquake in Northridge in 1994 that killed 67 people and caused $20 billion in damages.
Yes, I have been very afraid during these earthquake experiences. In the back of my mind, I always dreaded the BIG San Andreas Fault Earthquake that would destroy our lives. Fortunately, thus far, we have avoided major disasters like in other places around the world.
Housing in Los Angeles is typically suburban, wood framed, lath and plaster, one story. Building codes are fairly strict with respect to earthquake standards. This helps us survive up to a 6.7 Richter. People in ramshackle houses, with brick or stone walls, or poorly constructed multi-story apartments, face terrible fates in earthquakes above 7.0.
Of course, it also depends on when the earthquake hits. During the early morning Northridge quake, 4:30 am, most were home sleeping. Of the 22 libraries I managed, 3 had collapsed ceiling tiles, a few fallen book stacks, etc. We were lucky it did not hit a 4:30 pm and the library was busy with students studying.
History of Earthquakes in Los Angeles County
Turkey-Syria Earthquake on February 6, 2023 Killed 59,000 7.3 R
Haiti Earthquake on January 12, 2010 Killed 125,000 7.0 R
Indian Ocean 2004 Earthquake and Tsumani Killed 278,000 9.2 R
Now, when I do monthly Yurt camping on the Pacific Coast of Washington and Oregon, I think of the offshore Cascadia Fault. If it broke loose a 8.5 Richter someday, a person on the Coast would have 5 minutes to get above the oncoming Tsunami Monster. Death by crushing and drowning for thousands of people and terrible destruction of the small coastal towns and ports in Oregon or Washington.
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