During the past ten years, there have been 189 earthquakes that have struck within 186 miles of Santa Clarita. This includes earthquakes that occurred in Northridge, Santa Susana, and Los Angeles.
189 earthquakes have struck within 186 miles of Santa Clarita in the past 10 years
During the past 10 years, there have been 189 earthquakes within 186 miles of Santa Clarita. While this is relatively small in comparison to the total number of earthquakes in California, the area does have a history of disaster.
The City of Santa Clarita is surrounded by the Santa Susana Mountains on the north, Sierra Pelona Mountains on the west, and the San Gabriel Mountains on the east. Santa Clarita is the fourth-largest city in Los Angeles County, and the population is growing at a rate significantly faster than the county average.
In addition to its proximity to earthquakes, the city has also weathered numerous fires and floods. The Santa Clara River flows through the city from east to west, and during heavy rainfall, the Santa Clara River exhibits significant surface flow.
Los Angeles earthquakes
Several earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater occurred nearby in the past 10 days. The most significant damage was in the northern San Fernando Valley. The southern San Fernando Valley had less severe damage.
In addition, a mudslide trapped dozens of people in Los Angeles County. An oil pipeline near Edison Curve leaked hundreds of gallons of crude oil into the Santa Clara River.
The Los Angeles earthquakes revealed complex fault systems under the region. One fault was located under Reseda, California. It was a blind thrust fault, which had not been studied until this day.
The fault zone could produce a quake of magnitude 7.8. Scientists say it has the potential to rupture between Palm Springs and the Mexico border. This could cause hundreds of deaths, as well as destruction of freeways linking the region to Las Vegas and Phoenix.
Northridge earthquake
Whether you’re living in Los Angeles, Santa Clarita or elsewhere in California, the 1994 Northridge earthquake proved that you could lose your life in a moment’s notice. This magnitude 6.7 earthquake was one of the most severe earthquakes in Los Angeles history, and it also served as a real-world test of emergency procedures and building codes.
It also helped spur legislative changes and advances in earthquake preparations. The Northridge earthquake prompted the creation of a California Earthquake Authority, a publicly managed organization.
In addition to the damage to homes and buildings, the earthquake damaged four major freeways, including Interstate 10 and the nation’s busiest Interstate 5, as well as several connections. The freeways would take years to be restored.
The most extensive damage was found in the San Fernando Valley, especially in Simi Valley and Santa Monica. Damage was less severe in Santa Clarita and western Los Angeles.
Santa Susana earthquake
During the Northridge earthquake, hundreds of landslides were triggered in the Santa Susana Mountains. These landslides disrupted pipelines, homes, and other structures. It is estimated that the earthquake damaged more than 60 million dollars in infrastructure, and caused thousands of fatalities.
The Santa Susana fault is part of a complex system in the Transverse Ranges. It is also part of the Sierra Madre fault system. It is located in the northern part of the San Fernando Valley.
The fault has experienced several large earthquakes. During the 1971 earthquake, the fault ruptured to the surface. It is also thought to have experienced more large earthquakes than any other California fault.
The fault has a high rate of slip. GPS measurements show that vertical displacements of more than 40 cm occurred during the Northridge earthquake. This is one of the highest average slip rates in the Transverse Ranges.
Aftershocks
Hundreds of aftershocks are expected to follow the magnitude 5.1 earthquake that hit the Santa Clara Valley early Tuesday morning. Some of the strongest shaking was felt in Burbank and Los Angeles.
Aftershocks of the Santa Clarita earthquake are expected to occur for a week or more, according to the USGS. Seismologist Lucy Jones, of the Seismological Laboratory at Caltech, said 5% of the time an aftershock will be stronger than the original earthquake.
In addition, the USGS reported that there was no immediate damage in the region. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority stopped running its trains until a post-earthquake inspection could be done.
There were no immediate injuries reported as of 5 a.m., according to the San Francisco Fire Department. The USGS said that there was no indication of major damage in Los Angeles, San Francisco or the Bay Area.
