150TH ANNIVERSARY OF FORT TEJON QUAKE PASSES BY QUIETLY.Byline: GIDEON RUBIN Staff Writer With little fanfare, the largest recorded earthquake in state history -- the magnitude 7.9 Fort Tejon This article has multiple issues: * It does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by citing reliable sources. * It needs to be expanded. quake -- had its 150th anniversary on Tuesday. The Jan. 9, 1857, Fort Tejon quake is said to have sent the Kern River Kern River A river rising in the Sierra Nevada of eastern California and flowing about 249 km (155 mi) south and southwest to the southern San Joaquin Valley. gushing gush v. gushed, gush·ing, gush·es v.intr. 1. To flow forth suddenly in great volume: water gushing from a hydrant. 2. upstream, four feet over its banks, and was felt as far north as San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden . But it is known as the forgotten temblor because just two people died -- one a Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. man who suffered a heart attack, one a woman killed near Fort Tejon by a collapsing adobe -- in what was then a sparsely populated state. Today, seismologists say, death and injury would be widespread, and damages would be in the billions of dollars. Earthquake preparedness Earthquake preparedness refers to a variety of measures designed to help individuals, businesses, and local and state governments in earthquake prone areas to prepare for significant earthquakes. groups and the U.S. Geological Survey have tried in recent weeks to publicize the forgotten quake to make state residents aware of what can happen. Seismologists say California is all but certain to inevitably experience another Big One. The only question is when. Earlier this week, the Daily News asked 10 people at random in front of Palmdale's Antelope Valley Mall The Antelope Valley Mall is an enclosed shopping mall in Palmdale, California. Opened in September, 1990, its buildings take up around 1 million square feet (90,000 m²). Its physical main building, parking lots, and ring road businesses encompass an area a bit less than 0. if they think they're prepared. Here's what they had to say: Micah Small, 21, Electrician: ``I used to live in Bishop and I always used to go backpacking. So if it ever happened, I'd be ready.'' Cindy Avery, 38, self-employed: ``I'm not (prepared). I spend a whole bunch of time being too concerned about what could happen. I just live for today. If it happens today, I'll deal with it today.'' Robert Brandelli, 22, vehicle service technician: ``I guess so. I've got supplies, but in preparedness, I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. how much more you can do.'' James Wright, 22, correctional officer: ``I don't think about it much. We've felt so many, I just think it's second nature to us. I know I'm not prepared and I don't think anyone really is, especially cities. If a big one hit L.A., I think we'd be in a lot of trouble.'' Norma Blackman, 45, homemaker: ``I'm not prepared. I'm supposed to be, I know, but I'm not. I'm going to think about it more.'' Buffy Miller, 32, Massage therapist: ``No, I'm not, I'm moving from one place to another right now, but we are talking about it.'' Kevin Carter, 33, oil worker: ``No, I'm not prepared. I don't think anyone is. I don't think there's any way to prepare for it other than (storing) food and water.'' Eddie Corletto, 36, real estate investor A real estate investor is someone who actively or passively invests in real estate. An active investor may buy a property, make repairs and/or improvements to the property, and sell it later for a profit. : ``We try, but are we ready? I don't know. We keep water and camping food in our garage, but what if our house goes down?'' Ryan Vanshur, 21, business owner: ``I don't know when the next big one is going to happen but when it does, I don't think anybody's really going to be ready for it. I'm trying to move out of its way, maybe out to the Midwest, because I don't want to be here when it goes down.'' Richard Walden, 57, self-employed: ``Yes, I am (prepared). I always keep a good supply of water and food around.'' CAPTION(S): 10 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Micah Small (2) Cindy Avery (3) Robert Brandelli (4) James Wright (5) Norma Blackman (6) Buffy Miller (7) Kevin Carter (8) Eddie Corletto (9) Ryan Vanshur (10) Richard Walden |
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