Where were you 34 years ago?

Culled | Feb.8 05 | Self

[al baby]

TIME   February 9, 1971 / 6:01 am PST LOCATION   34° 24.67' N, 118° 24.04' W MAGNITUDE   MW6.6 DEPTH:    8.4 km TYPE OF FAULTING  thrust - ANIMATION FAULT INVOLVED   San Fernando fault zone; minor offset reported on the eastern Santa Susana fault zone

Also known as the Sylmar Earthquake, this earthquake occurred on the San Fernando fault zone, a zone of thrust faulting which broke the surface in the Sylmar-San Fernando Area. The total surface rupture was roughly 19 km (12 miles) long. The maximum slip was up to 2 meters (6 feet).

The earthquake caused over $500 million in property damage and 65 deaths. Most of the deaths occurred when the Veteran's Administration Hospital collapsed. Several other hospitals, including the Olive View Community Hospital in Sylmar (pictured below) suffered severe damage. Newly constructured freeway overpasses also collapsed, in damage scenes similar to those which occurred 23 years later in the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. Loss of life could have been much greater had the earthquake struck at a busier time of day.

[al baby]

Well it has been 34 years ago tomorrow that So. Cal was rocked by a nasty little Quake where were you and what happend. I was on the pot and got sloshed by the water ran outside and water was pouring down the gutters a pool had overflowed power went out and we got to stay home from school

[dfwgator]

I was in Monterey, and I definately felt it up there.

[bahblahbah]

[BigSkyFreeper]

34 years ago, I was 5½ months old.

[TheBigB]

I was almost three months old and living in Alabama. Can't say I was bothered too much. :^)

[July 4th]

Good answer. Me too.

[CzarNicky]

I was 2.5 years away from being born.

[basil]

That sort of explains your whereabouts! Was there a gleam in your daddy's eyes?

[Choose Ye This Day]

Whippersnapper.

I was almost three YEARS old.

[quantim]

I copped a feel in a parking lot (my first) and knew I wasn't going to see action in 'Nam.

[SmithL]

Newberry College

[JesseJane]

Was trucking in my mini, knee socks, and platform shoes (to the bus stop that is)...

[ScottFromSpokane]

I was 3 1/2 years old and living in Spokane.

Strangely enough, I remember the earthquake.

Of course, I also remember taking a trip to Mars in the summer of '82.

[null and void]

I was in Pomona. I usually sleep right through earthquakes. This one has the distinction of being the only earthquake during which I woke up. (Of course, I normally got up at 6 AM for school...)

[null and void]

You were the best swimmer?

[herewego]

Only 3. My kids are now 18, 17, 14 and 5.
Thinking about where I was where they ARE really confounds me at times.
I pray they do better.

[clintonh8r]

I was living in San Diego, stationed at MCRD. I slept through the whole thing, but maybe the tremors didn't reach that far south. Can't remember.

[TheBigB]

I also remember taking a trip to Mars in the summer of '82.

Just say no. :o)

[Petruchio]

Let's see . . .

February 9, 1971 / 6:01 am PST

I was a freshman in High School back then. 2 hours time difference for central time makes it 4:01am CST. I was sound asleep. Most likely dreaming about Beth C. YOWZA!!!!

[Sigh] Those were the days . . .

[Blue Champagne]

I was sound asleep in Orange County, near Disneyland - woke up when it rocked my world. Aquariums sloshed, dogs howled, and things fell off shelves.