The First Night After the Northridge Earthquake | From the Archives | NBCLA

Look back at KNBCʼs coverage of the the 1994 Northridge earthquake. A timeline of the events surrounding the quake are below:
A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck underneath the San Fernando Valley community of Northridge on Jan. 17, 1994, killing 57 people and causing $20 billion in damage.
Jan. 17, 1994:
4:31 a.m.: A major earthquake strikes in Los Angeles.
4:37 a.m.: Fires, flooding, buildings down -- widespread damage reported across Southern California.
4:39 a.m.: 5, 14, 10 freeways are severely damaged by the earthquake, the California Highway Patrol reports.
4:40 a.m.: Massive power outages are reported across LA.
4:52 a.m.: Phone service is reported down in some areas.
4:56 a.m.: A train that may have been hauling hazardous materials derails near the Chatsworth/Northridge area.
5:20 a.m.: Between 30 and 40 explosions are reported on Cal State Northridge campus.
5:38 a.m.: Federal Emergency Management Agency announces it will respond to the earthquake.
5:40 a.m.: Caltech reports that the magnitude-6.6 earthquake was centered in the northern San Fernando Valley area.
5:45 a.m.: Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan declares a state of emergency.
6:05 a.m.: All LAX flights are canceled; Metrolink service is shut down.
6:50 a.m.: Hundreds of gas main and water main breaks reported.
7 a.m.: Multiple people found dead at a collapsed apartment building in the 9500 block of Reseda Blvd. in Northridge.
7:10 a.m.: All LAUSD schools are closed.
7:36 a.m.: Death caused by 14 Freeway collapse is identified as a law enforcement officer, fire spokesman says.
9:05 a.m.: Gov. Wilson declares state of emergency, asks President Bill Clinton for federal aid.
9:10 a.m.: National Guard activates its emergency operations centers.
9:18 a.m.: President Bill Clinton vows to help victims deal with the earthquake and its aftermath.
10:50 a.m.: Gov. Pete Wilson tours Northridge earthquake area by helicopter.
12:02 p.m.: Power restored to nearly half of 1.4 million LADWP customers.
12:17 p.m.: Gov. Wilson dispatches 500 National Guard troops. More than 1,500 National Guard troops are expected within 24 hours.
1 p.m.: Tens of thousands of LA residents “may be homeless," Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi says.
1:10 p.m.: “Sporadic” looting leads to more than 25 arrests citywide, LAPD says.
2:08 p.m.: President Bill Clinton declares LA County a national disaster area, releasing federal relief for victims of the Northridge quake.
2:20 p.m.: Death toll rises to 29 and hundreds are injured as the search for survivors continues.
5:20 p.m.: At least 14 people confirmed dead at Northridge Meadows Apartments.
5:50 p.m.: City-wide curfew in LA is in effect until dawn.
Jan. 18
7:01 a.m.: Northridge Earthquake death toll rises to 33.
7:21 a.m.: LAUSD schools remain closed for second day and nearly all schools in surrounding districts are closed.
5:01 p.m.: Citywide curfew to be extended another day, LAPD Chief Willie Williams says.
7:15 p.m.: More than 800 people injured in Ventura County. Property damage estimated at more than $400 million.
7:42 p.m.: Nearly 8,000 homes are still without water in Simi Valley.
Jan. 19
6:01 a.m.: More than 500 hospitalized, 2,300 treated and released Tuesday, hospital officials say.
7:33 a.m.: LAUSD schools remain closed for third day in a row. At least 170 facilities are seriously damaged.
10:32 a.m.: President Bill Clinton arrives in Southern California.
2:36 p.m.: Los Angeles Department of Water and Power officials say three of four LA aqueducts were severed, but local water supply will last at least 7 to 10 days.
Jan. 20
7:32 a.m.: About 36,000 LADWP customers are still without water this morning for the fourth day in a row.
10:32 a.m.: Electricity restored to all parts of LA except for 7,500 customers in the San Fernando Valley, utility officials say.
11:01a.m.: Officials cancel dusk-to-dawn curfew.
2:06 p.m.: State will underwrite loans of up to $200,000 for small-business owners devastated by Northridge Earthquake, Gov. Wilson says.
Jan. 21:
7:15 a.m.: LAUSD schools remain closed for the fifth day in a row.
12:01: Death toll rises to 55 people, officials say.
Jan. 22, 1994
8:00 a.m.: LAUSD plans to reopen most schools. About 300 classrooms remain unsafe.
8:32 a.m.: Some 10,000 households in northwest San Fernando Valley remain without running water.
9:01 a.m.: Crews restore service to 40,000 homes and identify at least that many more that are still without gas, the Southern California Gas Company says.
10:05 a.m.: 236 military tents with a capacity for up to 7,340 people are expected to be in place at 7 Valley locations by nightfall.
1:00 p.m. Federal government releases $283 million in earthquake aid, according to White House Press Secretary Dee Myers.
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[@Grimpy71]

Man I'll never forget that day...I thought it was the end of the world!the sound of concrete churning,the sound of if like a train was passing through you're living room,and the lights going on and off still haunt me til this day 28 yrs later...

[@Jnthncrrll]

0:01 - That is the voice of Jess Marlow who continued to Anchor the 6:00 News until he stepped down in June of 1997 to continue to focus on News 4 Conference until 2000 when he Officially Retired from KNBC to join KCET until he retired from Broadcasting in 2003.

[@lindamerchant123]

I remember people so afraid to go back in un damaged and damaged homes two big aftershocks two nights after the main event

[@Jnthncrrll]

10:40 - 10:49 - That's Wendy Tokuda from KPIX 5 and KRON 4 in San Francisco.

[@Hellhole2030]

There's no way that quake was a 6.7. It was under reported. It was a 9.5

[@DPWLVr]

a 9.5 was the strongest earthquake ever recorded, this was definitely not the strongest ever, and its not the magnitude that matters, but the mercalli shaking intensity

[@AGK34RULES]

My mom felt that quake

[@mariacardenas4665]

I remember Jim Avila

[@noimdaveman]

Amazing, that search and rescue dog was there in scene BEFORE the quake even hit.

[@unassumingaccount395]

You can tell the valley accent lol

[@daviddaniel387]

I wonder how those neighbors are 30 years later

[@lindamerchant123]

Not since sylmar or Long Beach quakes 1933and1971 had a quake that big locally and it wasn't even san Andreas line

[@PaticiaCoRmick]

My sister hard dogs barking before earthquake hit

[@PaticiaCoRmick]

After shocks all night long no lights in house at night

[@eliduke5274]

How cold it soppuse to be : No! Did you buy the food : No !