Today, there was a major earthquake in the San Fernando Valley. Numerous major structures were destroyed, 61 people were killed, and more than 2,5000 people were injured. Two major hospitals collapsed. Damage estimates were around $550 million.
Did you feel it?
I did. I was in my bed at home when it happened. It startled my cat, who fell from the top bunk onto my window ledge, and then fell on my lap and stared at me. Luckily, we had no damage to our house.
Are you sure you didn’t feel it? They are saying it was 6.5 on the Richter scale.
I mean, this thing caused major damage to freeway structures. The Route 14 overpass collapsed. I-210 had major damage. Don’t try to head out to Saugus or Newhall. You won’t make it.
How could you not feel it?
Well, there’s one way. Perhaps you weren’t around in 1971. After all, today is the 35th Anniversary of the San Fernando Earthquake. It hit at 6:01 am on February 9, 1971. This was the first significant earthquake in my memory. Since then, I’ve felt far too many more: 1987 Whittier Narrows, 1994 Northridge, and lots of little ones. I don’t like them, but I don’t want to live somewhere else either. At least with earthquakes you know where your stuff is afterwards (unlike more wind-driven disasters, or significant fires).
