Remembering the devastating Northridge Earthquake on the 30th anniversary

ABC News’ Will Carr reflects on the Northridge Earthquake that devastated southern California in 1994 and what lessons it taught experts about earthquake planning.
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[@karami8844]

I was a kid and I was awake a few seconds before the quake hit. My mom had woken up to get ready for work, waking me up in the process. Our dog was barking outside and mom went to go check outside the window. Suddenly the room made a loud cracking sound and the bed started shaking going side to side and my mom just yelled “it’s an earthquake!” We went to the living room and huddled under the dinner table. The local hydropower plant released pressure and ‘blew’ out. The power went out in the whole city. I watch these old news coverages of the earthquake and I’m like “I don’t remember that. 🤔” But that’s because there was no power to watch TV. We relied on an old battery powered radio to get the news of what happened.

[@anonymoushuman8443]

The 1990s looks like the 1960s did back in 2000.

[@dakota-rt8kd]

Still remembered 😮 Was living in, Fullerton- Orange County, California - USA Started running outside my home; with my two dogs following me, to see all my neighbors in their pajamas or less 🙄😁🙏 😂😅🎉🎉🎉✌️🤣👀 The street was undulating like the rollercoaster at Magic Mountain in , Valencia CA. That's the strongest one for me; was feeling dizziness for about an hour afterwards 😊 Oh, at the time I had a queen-size, waterbed and I had a hard time, climbing out of it, as i could hear, the kitchen cabinets giving way to all my dishes and glassware.. it was a messed 😊😅😂😮 😅😂😊

[@clocksurfer]

I live in the midwest, and I was visiting family in Long Beach that morning. 30+ miles away, and the ground was dancing. Badly.

[@dakota-rt8kd]

Yes, I grew up in California, and I've experienced many earthquakes; by far that's the most powerful one for me personally.😮😅 So, bizarre 😊

[@clocksurfer]

@dakota-rt8kd I was sleeping on a nice new sofa when it started, and as a Firefighter/EMT, I had studied elements of response to earthquakes, but I had only ever experienced a couple of TINY momentary quivers. I had no real frame of reference for severity. The initial movement felt pretty much straight up and down. I was gradually awakened by being bounced up and down as if I were being shaken awake - but then my hearing woke up. Every single object in that condo was repeatedly being slammed on its respective surface. Loudly. I became aware that no person was shaking me, and it dawned on me that this was an earthquake. Not wanting to be an alarmist, I calmly wondered if this was a bad one. Then I heard the alarmed shouting from the California native in another room... As we say in the midwest; "OPE!" - I realized it was time to find a doorway and be under it. It seemed as if the motion persisted for a really long time, shifting from vertical to horizontal. I saw the trees in the courtyard through the windows of the 4th floor condo, and their swaying movements were NOT synchonized. The trees looked like they were WHIPPING side to side. 🤢 Peeking out the other windows toward the harbor to scan for hazards, I was really bothered that we couldn't see much because of the usual morning fog. Spooky... I started filling the tub and containers with water (thinking the mains would all break). I wondered how much damage had been done to John Wayne Airport, as I was booked for a flight home that afternoon. I couldn't even take it for granted that the airport would be accessible. (It was all still functional, thankfully.) But what really confused me was, should I be going home, or should I be staying to help? I'll say this; Fire Departments in the southlands responded ADMIRABLY. Good personnel.

[@ilovemytribe]

Very good description. I remember I woke up about a second before it hit because I heard the dishes start to rattle in the china cabinet. We slept in our car in the driveway the next few nights because the aftershocks were so bad. We didn't have any power or gas for a week and had to cook on our little outdoor camping stove. The streets were all buckled and out concrete wall behind our house and another wall dividing our house from the neighbors house both collapsed.

[@Former_Pastor]

I remember the one that happened during the world series and the crushed cars on the bridge

[@clocksurfer]

I work at a school where we train First Responders how to respond to that sort of event. Our training props are kinda creepy to look at.

[@Paiadakine]

1989 earthquake. I was on the east coast trying to figure out where the quake was to see if it impacted my home.

[@SteveXNYC]

Poor construction

[@Sharyk808]

The would be the contractor. Material has improved just expensive

[@dvferyance]

California is lucky they have not had a major earthquake since.

[@manjulaverygoodversion.cha4070]

Very nice reporting, I like it. All the best.

[@ElOg300]

Oh wow

[@user-ld2fl7vv9g]

good to have a kit, but I hope no one ever has to drink that nasty trunk water....

[@3VSouldRecords]

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