27 years ago on Jan. 17, 1994, Northridge was struck with a magnitude 6.7 earthquake, greatly impacting Santa Clarita and other surrounding areas. 

The Northridge earthquake resulted in 57 deaths, 1,500 serious injuries, and $42 billion worth of property damage, according to officials from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Photo courtesy of USGS

Craig Renetzky, a Tarzana resident and on-call disaster officer, was among the hundreds of Red Cross volunteers who responded when the quake hit. “The Northridge earthquake shattered so many lives; it’s a day I will never forget,” Renetzky said in a statement. “What stands out most in my memory was my relief that I had planned ahead and was properly prepared for such a disaster. It’s one of the reasons I was able to help others. Everyone must be prepared to survive the next big Southern California earthquake.”

Santa Clarita residents were greatly impacted with the collapse of the Highway 14 overpass onto the 5 Freeway in the Newhall Pass, which significantly impacted travel in and out of the valley until it was reopened nearly six months later. 

During the interim period, the Santa Clarita Valley and northern communities were practically cut off from the greater Los Angeles basin, leaving Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital without water.

See related: Experts Say Recent Castaic Earthquake Not A Sign Of ‘The Big One’  

The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region mobilized 15,000 workers, provided shelter for nearly 22,000 people, served 1.7 million meals and provided counseling to more than 40,000 affected Californians. 

Since the earthquake, the Red Cross is urging Southern California residents to take the necessary precautions to prepare their households for the next “Big One.” According to a report from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), there is a 60 percent chance of a magnitude 6.7 earthquake in the next 30 years in Los Angeles.

Photo courtesy of USGS

Their new PrepareSoCal campaign strives to bring emergency preparedness education to each and every household in the most vulnerable neighborhoods across Southern California. Following a major disaster, families should be equipped with enough food, water and emergency supplies to last for two weeks, until outside help can arrive. The Red Cross recommends these basic tips:

• Build an easy-to-carry emergency preparedness kit including items such as water, non-perishable food, a flashlight with extra batteries, a battery-powered radio, and a fist-aid kit. 
• Create an emergency plan with members of your household, covering what to do in case everyone is separated as well as places to meet in case of a sudden emergency-one meeting spot outside your home in case of a fire, and another outside your neighborhood, in case you cannot return home or are forced to evacuate.
• Know what to do before, during and after a wildfire, earthquake and home fire.
• Ensure that at least one member of your household is fully trained to administer CPR. 
• Download the Red Cross Emergency smartphone app, which provides access to 35 different severe weather and emergency alerts, expert advice on disaster preparedness and response, and a map to help you locate open Red Cross shelters.

Photo courtesy of USGS

Emergency kit supplies may be harder to find due to the pandemic, and availability can worsen in a disaster, so right now is the best time to start gathering your supplies. It is important to stay current on restrictions from your state and local public health authorities as it may affect your actions, available resources and shelter facilities in a state of emergency.

Additional resources for preparing during the COVID-19 pandemic are available at redcross.org/coronavirus.

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