Voices

“We have nowhere to go. We have no money, no clothes but the ones we have on, and no papers. I don’t know where we will go.”

Pedro Barajas, who fled with his eight children from the devastated Fillmore Hotel

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“I don’t think we’re going to rebuild. We’ll probably sell the bricks.”

Eric Marsh, owner of the Fillmore Hotel

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“It could have been a lot worse, but of course it’s devastating.”

Kathryn Scroggin, principal at heavily damaged Simi Valley High

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“A lot of people’s homes are ruined, a lot of jobs are up in the air and a lot of businesses that were already struggling may not survive.”

Chief Deputy Sheriff Oscar Fuller, who called the devastation the worst he has seen since floods 23 years ago

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“It’s going to cause a major change in a lot of people’s commuting patterns for months to come.”

Mary Travis, manager of the county’s transit programs

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“So far so good. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

Russell Snyder, Caltrans spokesman, on Tuesday’s commute

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“I was really scared. . . .I was screaming but they couldn’t hear me. . . .I was panicking.”

Robert Moss, buried for 90 minutes under a Coca-Cola display at a Simi Valley supermarket

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“People are buying all of the things they’re supposed to keep in their earthquake preparedness kits, but don’t have.”

John Politus, manager of a Camarillo supermarket

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“I think city councils will be looking at passing more laws with a critical eye now.”

Larry Hauer, structural engineer, on laws requiring reinforcement of old buildings

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“There’s no such thing as earthquake-proof. If it’s big enough and strong enough. . .the quake will knock it down.”

Tom Wood, who has reinforced several buildings he owns in downtown Ventura

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“This teaches you about getting back to basics. You get dependent on things like electric can openers and microwaves.”

Barbara Carbajal, buying provisions at a market in Ventura

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“I’m not selling liquor. People need necessities, and they can wait for liquor later.”

Nabeel Masannat, who sold provisions but not alcohol at his Simi Valley liquor store

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“I’m not about to pass up a half-price ice cream cup.”

Lois LaVasseur, taking advantage of a post-quake discount at a Ventura ice cream store, where freezers didn’t work during the power outage

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“If everyone could just smile and have a little patience, we’ll all be fine.”

A clerk at Sears in Thousand Oaks as people lined up to buy emergency supplies

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“There’s significant structural damage that we’re just beginning to see right now. The damage here could possibly be in excess of $200 million.”

Mike Sedell, assistant city manager in Simi Valley