The Northridge Legacy

Four years ago today, the Northridge earthquake rumbled across Los Angeles and wrecked neighborhoods from Sylmar to Santa Monica--socking the region with as much as $42 billion in damage just as it was recovering from recession, wildfires and riots. Although the devastation of that morning lingers, the 6.7 magnitude quake that killed 72 and injured 12,000 gave neighborhoods across Southern California--but particularly in the hard-hit San Fernando Valley--the chance to rebuild themselves better than before.

Like the scattershot damage of the 4:31 a.m. quake, its legacy is mixed. Some who lost everything remain no better off than they were in the first frightening days. Overall, though, Southern California has bounced back from the nation’s most costly natural disaster faster than many thought possible. A $25-billion infusion of cash from insurance companies and state and federal disaster agencies certainly helped, but even more important was the resiliency of residents who found hope amid the rubble.

City ordinances enacted after the quake properly strengthened building codes and required gas shut-off valves. But the real story of the quake has played out on hundreds of individual blocks as communities rebuild. In Canoga Park, the quake destroyed an X-rated movie house, which has been replaced by a community theater. In Granada Hills, Van Gogh Elementary School was rebuilt from the ground up as a high-tech campus. In San Fernando, quake money sparked a renovation of the downtown area. In Sherman Oaks, large neighborhoods of condemned apartments were refurbished and modernized. Across the Valley, homeowners used insurance and disaster relief money to put a polish on aging tract homes. Even the site of the Northridge Meadows apartments--which became the quake’s tragic icon--is being developed. Trees along the driveway of the new complex stand in memory of the 16 people who died there.

Much work remains. Repair of public buildings has been delayed by political disputes and fights with insurance carriers. The San Fernando Courthouse, scheduled to open Tuesday, stood empty for more than two years before work began. The walls of the Van Nuys City Hall remain cracked and some workers wear masks at their desks because the dust makes them ill. Downtown, City Hall is nearly empty as quake repairs continue. The monumental task of rebuilding Cal State Northridge continues, but portable classrooms and offices still dot the campus. At least 20 damaged steel-frame buildings have not passed safety inspections by the city. This work must not drag on.

Personal nightmares of the quake linger. Residents in South-Central Los Angeles have been scammed by bogus contractors. Across the region, many homeowners still wrestle with insurance companies over damage claims. Although most claims were settled promptly and fairly, thousands were not. About 500 lawsuits have been filed against insurers, many of which refused to honor claims for damage found more than a year after the quake. A bill by state Assemblyman Wally Knox (D-Los Angeles) would clarify the rules on such claims and could help hundreds of families finally fix their homes. AB 1120 deserves support.

As the shadows of the Northridge quake recede, its lessons must not be forgotten. Despite all that seismologists know about Southern California geology, for instance, the puzzling damage patterns of Northridge call into question how insurance rates are calculated and reinforce the need for vigilance and preparation. One thing is certain: Another quake will hit this city, perhaps even stronger and more devastating than the Northridge temblor. If any city knows the price of paradise, it’s Los Angeles.