Exactly 24 years ago, the Northridge Earthquake woke the Santa Clarita Valley and most of Southern California as it toppled apartment buildings, smashed overpasses and left many stranded or without a home to return to.

At exactly 4:31 a.m. on Jan. 17, 1994, the Santa Clarita Valley began shaking.

The earthquake proved catastrophic to many who lived in the San Fernando Valley as well as the Santa Clarita Valley and to those who traveled through it to get to jobs in Los Angeles.

Residents were suddenly woken to the sound of their house and beds shaking, glass breaking and several other sounds that shattered what would have otherwise been a normal Monday morning.

Although the quake was called the Northridge Earthquake, it was centered under the city of Reseda, a neighboring city to Northridge, with a magnitude of 6.7.

“The Northridge Earthquake killed 60 people, injured more than 7,000 people and damaged more than 40,000 buildings,” according to the United States Geological Survey. 20,000 people were left homeless after the quake.

Emergency personnel in Santa Clarita had to improvise their response efforts, with broken water mains and potential crumbling buildings throughout the city.

“Back then, we had limited cell phones and no Internet, so AM-1220 (then KBET) was the vital communication link for Santa Clarita,” shared KHTS owner, Carl Goldman. “We broadcast all earthquake all the time from the time of the quake in January through late June when the I-5 and 14 Freeway interchange re-opened. Santa Clarita was sealed off for many months. We provided critical information and also served as a psychological crutch as listeners shared their fears and challenges.”

Henry Mayo Newhall hospital lacked running water and the Emergency Center set up at City Hall moved to the parking lot after officials declared the building unsafe, according to those who lived through the rumble.

During the quake, The State Route 14 overpass collapsed, falling onto the 5 freeway at the southern end of Santa Clarita.

The interchange was also the site of LAPD Officer Clarence Wayne Dean’s death, and is now named after him. Dean died from a 40 foot fall off the collapsed freeway. While driving on the freeway early that morning he was unable to see that the road had collapsed, and failed to stop before falling to his death, according to the officer down memorial page.

Related: KHTS Looks Back Tuesday On 23 Years Since Northridge Earthquake

Metrolink service was established through Santa Clarita and the Antelope Valley one week after the earthquake, a service that remains a vital link for both valleys.

“In any type of emergency, Metrolink is always trying to do what we can to help residents,” said Chris Gutierrez, Public Information Officer with Metrolink. “Obviously during an earthquake if the tracks are damaged, we wouldn’t be able to do much until the tracks are fixed.”

Living in Santa Clarita it is a known fact that an earthquake can hit at any time, and residents should be prepared for when the next big one hits, according to officials.

“When the next big earthquake does hit, it will catch most people off guard,” Cpt. Jess Harms with the Los Angeles County Fire Department said. “It’s very important to be prepared by knowing where your gas shut-off valve is, have food and water ready and most importantly stay sheltered.”

Related: The Jan 17 1994 Northridge Earthquake Remembered By Santa Clarita

When a major earthquake occurs firefighters will do a survey of their districts to check to make sure there are not any immediate safety hazards to the community, Harms said.

“Even though we are checking our districts after a major earthquake, we will never put 911 calls on hold,” the captain said. “Once we finish with the 911 call, we will return to assessing our district.”

“Since we do live in earthquake country, we encourage our residents to always remain prepared,” Shirley Miller, PIO with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station said. “Keeping an emergency kit current is essential, making sure to have enough food and water supplies for household members to last at least three days, one week preferably. And don’t forget about extra food and water for any pets.”

Keeping an emergency supply of cash on hand is helpful in case bank ATM’s are not functioning after an earthquake, Miller continued. “Include flashlights and first-aid kits in the emergency kit,” the PIO urged. “If you take medications, always have an extra reserve, so that you won’t run out if unable to access a pharmacy.”

As Santa Clarita’s only local radio station, KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and sign up for KHTS email and text alerts today!