an. 17 marks the 30th anniversary of the 1994 Northridge earthquake. With 57 official deaths, more than 9,000 injured and an estimated over $40 billion in property damage, it remains one of the most costly earthquakes in U.S. history. At the epicenter of the 6.7 magnitude quake – said to have been felt as far as Las Vegas and San Diego – was the San Fernando Valley.
“It was like somebody dropped a bomb on LA,” said Zev Yaroslavsky, a longtime politician in Los Angeles.“It felt like nature had lifted the house off of its foundation, and then dropped it back on the foundation,” recalled Yaroslavsky, continuing that his two kids sprinted into his room and did a seamless, “dive into the bed and under the covers.”
After checking on his family Yaroslavsky got to work, along with first responders and other local officials. He was the city council member for the 5th District at the time, which included Sherman Oaks, and he took office as the county supervisor for the 3rd District in December of that year – representing most of the valley during the reconstruction that followed… read more >
