USGS marks 20 years since Landers earthquake
The California Emergency Management Agency is marking the 20th anniversary of the Landers-Big Bear earthquakes with a call for preparedness.
The magnitude 7.3 Landers earthquake struck in the San Bernardino County desert east of Los Angeles shortly before 5 a.m. on June 28, 1992. Three hours later a magnitude-6.5 quake struck near Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains.
The quakes caused more than 400 injuries and $91 million in losses.
The Landers Earthquake is the fifth largest in California’s history.
Many Hi-Desert residents are remembering the horrifying event.
“The memories still haunt us in this community. I don’t want to say we live in fear, because we don’t. I think we’re very well prepared. But the thought of another big earthquake coming is very scary,” said Marilyn Forman, a Twentynine Palms resident who lived in Flamingo Heights at the time of the quake.
Emergency Management Agency Secretary Mark Ghildarducci says the anniversary of the devastation is a reminder that California is earthquake country and survival and recovery begin with steps taken now.
It’s also the 21st anniversary of the magnitude-5.8 Sierra Madre temblor that caused one death, more than 300 injuries and $33.5 million in losses on June 28, 1991.
