For example, on October 1, 1987, at 7:42 a.m. the residents of the Los Angeles basin got a jolting reminder of the perils of "living on the fault line." This was due to the so-called Whittier Narrows earthquake. Hardest hit by the quake, was Whittier (pop. 72,000). Whittier is twelve miles from downtown Los Angeles and was the community closest to the epicenter.

When the quake, registering 6.1 on the Richter scale, first struck, it was thought to be centered along the Old Whittier Fault. However, after extensive study, it was determined that it was actually the res

As a spokesman for the city of Whittier put it, the crumbled business district "looks like downtown Beirut." (Kerr, 16). Twenty buildings there were condemned and over 2000 homes were damaged. According to Magnuson, "Eight blocks in Whittier's business district were closed after bricks cascaded on cars, and at least eight buildings were too damaged to be saved" (Magnuson, p. 32). It is estimated that the Whittier Narrows earthquake caused over $358-million in damage.

ult of a "new" fault, or a fault that had not previously been discovered by scientists.

However, several encouraging developments are being made in earthquake preparation as a result of these two earthquakes. The second program of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1986, reflects on not only the progress made in the first five years, but builds on lessons learned from the Whittier Narrows earthquake and the Loma Prieta earthquake. According to the Commission, "when the activities proposed in this second program are well underway, California will have a complete and comprehensive hazard reduction program. The state's ability to withstand the inevitable earthquake will be significantly improved" (The Commission, p. 8).

In addition, it caused even more damage than the Whittier quake. The Loma Prieta earthquake resulted in approximately $10-billion in direct damage and indirect losses. There were 63 deaths and 350 hospitalized injuries (California Seismic Safety Commission, p. 1). The most devastating loss of life occurred when the I-880 Cypress Street viaduct collapsed. It took 43 lives.

Some topics in this essay:
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