News

Officials revisit seismic safety measures for Los Angeles

Dana Bartholomew

01/23/2015

Jan. 18--NORTHRIDGE -- It took 10 harrowing seconds 21 years ago Saturday for the 1994 Northridge earthquake to kill 57 Angelenos and inflict $49 billion in economic damage across the region.

A catastrophic earthquake like the one that walloped San Francisco more than a century ago could last two minutes, kill 1,800 residents and wreak $213 billion in economic losses across the Southland.

After a year-long study of L.A.'s vulnerable infrastructure, city officials Saturday called for an urgent seismic fix before the expected Big One hits.

"This is something that we live with in Los Angeles," said Mayor Eric Garcetti, at a standing-room only earthquake community meeting on the anniversary of the Northridge temblor. "This time we're not doing (something) just after the quake -- we're doing something in between.

"In the past, we kicked the can down the road. Under my watch: no more."

The "Resilience by Design" meeting held at the LAPD Greig Smith Devonshire PALS Youth Center drew an estimated 200 residents eager to hear about the city's bold plan to require the retrofit every old unsafe building across Los Angeles, plus safeguard water supplies and telecommunications at risk during a major quake.

The 6.7-magnitude jolt that tossed residents from their beds at 4:31 a.m. Jan. 17, 1994 pancaked freeways, broke water and gas lines and sparked hundreds of fires across the region.

When the dust settled, the Northridge earthquake had damaged or destroyed 90,000 homes and businesses, rendered streets impassable and left thousands without water, power and gas for days. Nine thousand residents were hurt, 25,000 residents left homeless.

A 7.8-magnitude or greater earthquake expected along the San Andreas Fault, studies say, would ignite 1,500 fires, wreck 1,500 buildings, damage 300,000 more and leave 255,000 residents homeless, injuring 55,000 people from Palm Springs to Los Angeles.

That's why the mayor appointed seismologist Lucy Jones of the U.S. Geological Survey to lead a "Resilience by Design" study.

Its verdict: the city's old buildings, water systems and newer Internet and cell phone networks for which its modern economy depends were at great risk during a calamatous quake.

While the 7.8-magnitude 1906 San Francisco earthquake crippled the northern California city for decades, the Big One would deal a greater blow to L.A.'s economy -- with its major water sources flowing in from outside the region curtailed for weeks or months, its Internet and cell phones dead.

"We're trying to protect lives and protect our economy ... so the city can still function after a big earthquake that could lead to decades of (economic) depression," Jones, who served last year as the mayor's science advisor and earthquake "czar," told the crowd. "How can we prevent being crippled"

The mayor has proposed that owners of tens thousands of so-called soft-story apartments -- which can sit atop carports supported by thin columns at risk of collapse during a quake -- be mandated to fix them in five years. In addition, more than a thousand older unsafe concrete buildings would also require seismic repair.

The city, meanwhile, would buttress its Los Angeles Aqueduct that now crosses the San Andreas in a century-old wooden pipe, while updating its creaky water system. Stronger cell phone towers may be required. And a solar-powered citywide Wi-Fi back-up system could be in the works.

The cost, while unspecified, could run into the billions, Garcetti has said. City officials will soon push for a statewide bond as well as tax incentives for building owners to help cover costs.

Los Angeles, already the nation's leader in seismic safety and response, should be even better prepared should the next Big One hits, city officials said.

"It's not a matter of if the next big earthquake happens, but when," said Councilman Mitch Englander, whose district was the epicenter of the 1994 quake. "The Northridge earthquake was a wake-up call ... We want to sure families are protected."

Residents also said its time the city and its building owners make the overdue repairs.

"I think there should be some investment in our infrastructure," said Lisa Jones, of Van Nuys, who attended the nearly two-hour meeting with her 10-year-old daughter Lucy. "I think this is a good direction to pursue."

"I think it's on the right track," said Fred Burnett, 58, of Northridge, who weathered both the 1971 Sylmar and Northridge quakes. "We now recognize there's gonna be another one -- even bigger. We must be prepared."