What Happened On February 9th?

February 9th, 1971 was the unforgettable day of the earthquake that ripped right through San Fernando Valley, California. At precisely 6:01 AM PST, a powerful 6.6 magnitude earthquake, now remembered as the Sylmar quake, struck with the suddenness for 12 seconds.

Innocent civilians were jolted awake as furniture flew across rooms and panicked screams eliminated pre-dawn silence. In many homes and buildings across the valley, walls cracked and windows shattered as the earth violently shook.

The epicenter of the quake laid in the San Gabriel Mountains, north of the lively city of Sylmar. Here, the devastation was most prominent… Buildings crumbled and fires erupted from ruptured gas lines. The iconic Veterans Administration Hospital tragically succumbed to the quake’s fury, where four large buildings collapsed.

Across the valley, freeways were warped, making bridges impassable and public transportation a massive issue at hand. In Hollywood, plaster rained down from movie theaters, and in Burbank, the Warner Bros. studio sustained a large amount of damage.

Thankfully, the Sylmar Earthquake did not have has many casualties as the Avezzano Earthquake (30,000 lives), which had a magnitude of 7.0 (only 0.5 larger than Sylmar). Nevertheless, sixty-five lives were lost, and over 2,000 people were injured. Medical facilities were overwhelmed by the amount of casualties, as they were also concerned about potential aftershocks.

Yet, amidst constant fear and destruction, heroic stories of resilience emerged. Communities rallied together, neighbors checked on neighbors and shared resources. Volunteers formed human chains to clear debris and assist with rescue efforts, almost seeming like it was straight from a movie. The “L.A. spirit” shone through the chaos.