Remembering Northridge Earthquake

I was reminded this morning that 30 years ago today we had the Northridge Earthquake. I still remember that morning clearly. A few seconds before the first rattle happened, my cat jumped off the bed and ran. Startled, I got out of bed just in time for the tall headboard fallen on my bed. Everything was rattling in my 3-story townhouse in West L.A. Contents of the kitchen cabinets flew out, books and magazines on the bookshelves and TV all ended up on the floor. I was definitely shaken up.

Having grown up with earthquakes in Japan and experiencing various ones in Southern California, the Northridge Earthquake remains etched as the most significant in my memory.

While I do wish it were a once in a lifetime experience, I’m afraid it is not likely. They say we’re past due for another big one in SoCal.

While we have some modicum of “disaster preparedness” here both personally and community-wide, the reality is that perfect preparedness is elusive.The recent earthquake in Japan serves as a poignant example, highlighting the challenges posed by nature’s ferocity, unforgiving weather conditions, and the vulnerability of even well-prepared regions.

While we cannot predict when the next tremor will strike, I am hoping our collective efforts can mitigate the impact and contribute to the resilience of our communities in the face of the inevitable uncertainties that nature presents whether it’s an earthquake, wildfire, or snowstorm.