Seismic trouble spots - those that are the most vulnerable to a major earthquake - throughout Ventura County include the Red Mountain fault ranging from the Ventura River to the Santa Barbara County line and the Big Pine in the county’s north end Lockwood Valley area. The San Cayetano and the Oak Ridge fault zones are respectively ranked first and second on the list of faults considered most at risk to break lose.Some basic home and office seismic safety measures to keep in mind are making sure top-heavy furniture is bolted to the wall, securing home electronics, avoiding high places when placing heavy objects, anchoring and strapping your water heater, keeping flashlights and a battery operated radio handy.At home it’s wise to never hang a framed picture over a bed and use plexiglass instead of real glass when framing. Chimneys – the only damage in Santa Paula resulting from the Northridge earthquake was fallen chimneys – should be reinforced with steel rods.Keep a crowbar handy to pry open doors if need be, and make sure you have at least a five-day supply of emergency food, water, first aid products, prescription medicine, spare eyeglasses and plenty of water on hand. There are also a variety of “touch” lights and plug-in emergency escapes lights that are on the market at a relatively low price.Emergency supplies can be stored in a lidded plastic trash can and kept in an area that will remain accessible even if there is heavy structure damage to your home or garage.
10th anniversary of Northridge earthquake prompts safety measures
January 21, 2004
Santa Paula News
Saturday was the 10th anniversary of the Northridge Earthquake that killed 57 people and caused billions of dollars in damages including to Santa Paula’s neighbor to the east, Fillmore.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesSaturday was the 10th anniversary of the Northridge Earthquake that killed 57 people and caused billions of dollars in damages including to Santa Paula’s neighbor to the east, Fillmore.And with the anniversary and the recent Paseo Robles quake that left two people dead, it’s time to review emergency measures.Those who live in the Santa Clara River Valley are smack in between two major faults that are given to rumblings and are moving closer together at a snails’ pace.The Oak Ridge fault to the south of Santa Paula and the San Cayetano fault zone to the north of the city are considered two of the most seismically risky in a state crisscrossed with active faultlines.Ventura County overall is considered at high risk, according to a Southern California Earthquake Center study that notes there is a 60 percent chance in the next three decades the earth will shake with enough force to cause major structural damage.If a magnitude 8.3 quake struck along the south central San Andreas fault, it has been projected that up to 14,000 people in Ventura County would be killed and property damage would top $30 billion.