The Big One: a Drill : City Officials Gather at Stadium to Practice Response to Major Quake

Los Angeles city officials cast themselves as heroic leaders responding to a crisis Thursday, dragging themselves to Dodger Stadium to take command of a chaotic city after a devastating fake earthquake.

Under a scenario designed by the City Council, nearly 1,000 people died in the calamity, 12,000 were injured and fires and toxic spills threatened to consume the city. City Hall and other downtown buildings were severely damaged and unusable.

Nine of the council’s 15 members made it to the emergency command center Thursday morning for the council’s first simulated emergency meeting six days after an imaginary 7.3-magnitude temblor hit along the Newport-Inglewood fault.

Part of the city’s earthquake preparedness program, the exercise was intended to demonstrate how the city would respond to a major disaster.

Mayor Tom Bradley, cast as himself, kicked off the earthquake drill with a news conference. He described the damage from the mock quake and said Los Angeles is “trying to be ready for any eventuality.”

Bradley also passed along a report that Councilman Nate Holden--a Bradley nemesis--had been injured, and as a result his jaw was wired shut.

“These are only hopes on my part,” Bradley added wryly.

A short time later, Holden emerged from a helicopter at the scene with his neck in a brace, his jaw having been “broken” when he was flung against a wall. Councilman Michael Woo hobbled off the chopper on crutches and Councilwoman Ruth Galanter emerged with her arm in a sling, all casualties of the fake quake or its aftershocks.

They all rose to the occasion as Councilman Hal Bernson, the city’s earthquake coordinator, gaveled open the emergency meeting under a tent in the stadium parking lot to hear reports from Bradley and police and fire officials.

The council members were told that two colleagues, Marvin Braude and Joy Picus, were among the dead and two other council members had been seriously injured.

“We have two deceased, two injured and two brain-dead. Is that it?” Bernson quipped.

Despite the disheartening news, the council pressed on with its business, approving emergency measures and questioning department heads about their activities.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Police Chief Daryl F. Gates and Fire Chief Donald Manning reported that their departments had performed well.

Bernson congratulated the council for having had the foresight to demand 10 years ago that unsafe buildings be brought up to new earthquake codes.

As the members began to munch on lunches provided in emergency survival kits, Woo rose to hobble away, saying he was going to “check out the damage in the Hollywood Hills.”

The only real casualty of the day was a television cameraman who fell off a table while shooting the council meeting. He climbed back on and assured the group he was unhurt.