The 1986 North Palm Springs earthquake, though lesser-known, triggered a series of major quakes in Southern California over the next decade, including the 1994 Northridge disaster. Seismologists warn that California's current quiet period is not the norm, and uneven progress in building retrofits leaves cities vulnerable.
The ShakeOut scenario predicts a magnitude 7.8 quake could kill over 1,800 and cause $200 billion in damage. - The 1986 quake (magnitude 6) broke the California Aqueduct and flooded a desert lake bed.
- Subsequent quakes included Whittier Narrows (1987), Loma Prieta (1989), Landers (1992), and Northridge (1994). - Many cities, especially in the Inland Empire, have not retrofitted old brick buildings.
- Updated ShakeOut scenario will assess risks of massive urban fires and public health impacts.