Nerves Rattled, but L.A. Stands Up to Temblor

As quake-weary residents returned to work Monday to right their tipped coffee mugs, it became increasingly clear that Sunday’s 5.3-magnitude aftershock was the sort of jolt that residents have come to expect--a shaker that leaves Los Angeles jittery but still standing.

Although it ranks as a significant temblor in its own right, the third-most powerful aftershock since the Northridge earthquake caused only minor injuries and little damage.

“No pun intended, but there are no earthshaking events to report,” Bob Collis, a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman, said. “We’re back to our normal workload.”

In contrast, the Jan. 17 quake left 61 dead and caused at least $13 billion in damage.

Part of the reason that overall damage was minimal is that most buildings and utilities in Southern California are designed to withstand much stronger quakes, said Tom Tobin, executive director of the state’s Seismic Safety Commission.

Still, in dozens of pockets around Southern California, Sunday’s aftershock caused headaches and heartbreaks.

In Sherman Oaks, a hillside home hit hard by the January quake was damaged further Sunday and threatened to slide onto houses below. Wrecking crews finished the demolition Monday, causing the house to cave in on itself in a crash of cracking wood and shattering glass.

“I’m very sad to lose my house,” said Mary Bond, 85, who built it with her late husband 38 years ago. “Now I’m homeless. Otherwise, I’m doing OK.”

At the Van Nuys Superior Court building, the seventh floor was shut down because of concern about asbestos contamination. The closure forced two death penalty trials to be moved to other courtrooms.

During the aftershock, ceiling tiles in all four courtrooms on the top floor of the building were damaged. Because there is asbestos on beams and pipes above the false ceiling, the entire floor was closed as a precaution.

Officials hope to reopen the seventh floor Wednesday. The Van Nuys Courthouse is overwhelmed because it has taken over cases that would have been heard in the San Fernando Courthouse, which was closed after the January quake.

“It delays things, with the courthouse being crowded anyway,” said Superior Court Judge Michael R. Hoff. “But I’m sure this is going to work out as it always does.”

Delays were not a problem for morning commuters. Getting to work was no more of a hassle than it has been since the January quake knocked out stretches of the Santa Monica, Golden State, Simi Valley and Antelope Valley freeways.

Caltrans spokesman Russ Snyder said Sunday’s shaking caused a few cosmetic cracks but did no further damage to bridges or overpasses. “There is no significant damage to report,” Snyder said.

Also on Monday, Caltrans announced a contract to rebuild parts of a broken interchange in Sylmar. Work began Saturday on two transition roads connecting the Antelope Valley Freeway to the Golden State Freeway. Construction is expected to be completed by June.

Work on two other transition roads is expected to begin next month.

Bill King, a Los Angeles city building inspector, said his office saw a slight increase in the number of residents requesting inspections Monday, but added that there did not appear to be new significant damage.

“We are really in good shape,” he said. “We’re going to have aftershocks. We anticipate further aftershocks. I don’t think there is any reason to be panicked. People just need to be prepared.”

Indeed, said Caltech spokesman Jay Aller, who advised that there may be more such jolts the coming months. “That’s pretty fair to say.”

Aller added that there is a 1 in 20 chance that Sunday’s jolt, centered about a mile west-northwest of Panorama City, was a foreshock to a larger quake.

Times staff writer Chau Lam and correspondent Thom Mrozek contributed to this report.

Sunday’s Aftershock The 5.3 magnitude aftershock of the Jan. 17 Northridge quake was centered one mile west-northwest of Panorama City.