ICAR Research Data Repository for Knowledge Management

This is a telephone survey of Los Angeles County residents' experiences in and-responses to the Whittier Narrows earthquake that occurred on October 1, 1987. Six hundred adult residents of the County were selected by random digit dialing (RDD) and interviewed by telephone for this study. Overall, 600 persons were interviewed: 200 in the high impact County communities of Whittier, Monterey Park, Rosemead, El Monte and South El Monte; and 400 throughout the rest of Los Angeles County.

The study collected information about the effect of the earthquake on the household including questions about damage to the house, injuries to household members and power cuts; respondents’ reactions to the earthquake including questions about evacuation and information-seeking behaviors; and general socio-demographic characteristics of the household and respondent. Similar questions were asked about other family members. Respondents were asked about the numbers and types of injuries incurred as a result of the earthquake.

Demographic variables that were examined as predictors of injury were the respondent’s age; gender; marital status; race/ethnicity; family income; and type of dwelling. Characteristics of the earthquake’s impact on the respondent that are examined include: damage/inspection status of the home; Modified Mercalli Intensity; Peak Ground Acceleration; and perception of oneself as an earthquake victim . The relationship between the respondent’s first actions at the time of the earthquake and whether or not s/he was injured was also examined. For those respondents who were not in a car at the time of the earthquake, those who stayed in one place during the earthquake were compared to those who moved or attempted to move.

Bourque, Linda, 1994, "Community Response to the January 17, 1994 Northridge Earthquake"

Bourque, Linda, 1990, "Bay Area (Loma Prieta) Earthquake Study, 1990 "