For the historical record, this reporter was at the northeast corner of Santa Monica Blvd. & Virgil Ave. waiting for the 26 bus to the hell of work when this happened, 30 yrs. ago today:
An earthquake in Whittier, California, kills 6 people and injures 100 more on this day in 1987. The quake was the largest to hit Southern California since 1971, but not nearly as damaging as the Northridge quake that would devastate parts of Los Angeles seven years later.
Whittier is a small town south of Los Angeles best known as President Richard Nixon’s hometown. At 7:42 a.m. on October 1, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake jolted Whittier and the surrounding area for a full 30 seconds, violently shaking people out of their beds and causing unsecured items to crash to the floors in homes throughout the region. Several fires were ignited when gas lines were severed by the earth’s movement. Falling debris killed six people and the earthquake caused the area’s major highways to be shut down. Despite the strong tremors, there were no major building collapses.
A long series of aftershocks rocked Southern California for days after the earthquake. Reluctant to return to their homes, hundreds of people camped out in public parks for several days. Meanwhile, hospitals were evacuated as a precaution. Some looting was reported during the chaos, but it was not a widespread problem.
It is estimated that the Whittier earthquake caused $100 million in damages.
We are especially excited as this reminds us that Southern Calif. is overdue for a large quake, preferably w/ massive morbidity & destruction. Die in the rubble of your ugly & crummy architecture, pigs! Northern Calif., which hasn't had any big quakes since '89, if memory serves, is certainly overdue as well. Throw in a motherfucking hurricane while you're at it, please!
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