The San Fernando Earthquake, 1971
On February 9th, 1971, at approximately 6:00am, the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains were struck by a 6.7 earthquake.
Later known as the San Fernando Earthquake, the quake was responsible for $500 million dollars worth of damage and causes 65 deaths (most of the deaths occurred when the Veteran's Administration Hospital collapsed).
A little known fact was that the Van Norman Dam was seconds away from being destroyed by the quake, which would have released the reservoir's water supply (3.6 billion gallons) on over 80,000 residents, possibly killing most of them.
Another earthquake of this size did not strike Southern California again until 1994.
Later known as the San Fernando Earthquake, the quake was responsible for $500 million dollars worth of damage and causes 65 deaths (most of the deaths occurred when the Veteran's Administration Hospital collapsed).
A little known fact was that the Van Norman Dam was seconds away from being destroyed by the quake, which would have released the reservoir's water supply (3.6 billion gallons) on over 80,000 residents, possibly killing most of them.
Another earthquake of this size did not strike Southern California again until 1994.
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