European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 19, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes California earthquake wednesday january 19,1994 radio san fun Cusco a an Amateur who studies radio signals warned Over the weekend that an earthquake capable of a a devastating damage would hit California within three Days. Jack Coles a former stereo Salesman with no College degree operates the Early warning earthquake detection network out of his Home in san Jose occasionally faxing his warnings to the . The fax he issued saturday said he had received reports or a increased radio signals magnetic anomalies and Many cases of electrical  he warned that the results could mean a quake measuring More than 6 on the Richter scale. The quake that hit before Daybreak monday in Southern California measured 6.6. A i had no idea the quake would Roll the Way it did a Coles said in an interview monday night. A i did t think it would he this bad and last As Long As it did reporters stung by a failed prediction by Coles two years ago. Apparently ignored saturday s message l scientists at the . Geological Survey in Menlo Park find Little to Back Coles theories. Quot we sent three scientists Over there some time ago to look at his stuff a spokeswoman Pat Jorgenson said monday a we could t make any sense out of  the scientists at uses study the Earth not the atmosphere. But Jorgenson added that the Survey has been cooperating with Stanford. Scientist Anthony Fraser Smith who is studying radio Waves and quakes. Coles started developing his theories a few years Back when a radio he was repairing started making strange noises. A v. A v a a a a a a about four hours later we had a quake and 1 wondered if there was a connection a he said. For about three years he has worked full time on his forecasts trying to prove there a something More than coincidence involved. He depends on whatever Money comes in from people interested in his theories. In 1991, he predicted a a big one would hit sept. 11, and sales or bottled water and batteries shot up. Two Small quakes rocked the Santa Cruz area on sept. 10, but the big one never materialized. \ Coles gave the 1991quake a 72 percent Chance while saturdays forecast listed a 54.3 percent Chance. Los Angeles a in seconds mondays powerful earthquake snapped Southern californians lifeline the freeway system that keeps the car dependent Region in gear. Five interstates including the states major North South route and three state highways were closed at several Points after mondays estimated 6,6-magnitude quake collapsed overpasses and ramps. And buckled roadways a a you re talking about millions and millions of vehicles and travellers that will be impacted a said Jim Drago spokesman for the California department of transportation. Since the 1989 san Francisco quake the state has been trying to strengthen older freeways by reinforcing Bridge supports. The state was planning to seek bids next month for that work on the Santa Monica freeway portion of interstate 10, one of the highways damaged by mondays quake Drago said. All the damaged freeways had previously had steel cables added to help secure their Bridges said department spokesman Steve Saville. That program was begun after the 1971 Sylmar quake. Transportation officials said the exact nature of mondays freeway failures has yet to be determined. After the san Francisco quake the  a list of 900 top priority Bridges that needed reinforcement. About a third of the projects have been completed or Are under Way in the $1 billion Effort. A what we be done Over four years has quite frankly been monumental a Drago said. A obviously when anybody is Hurt or killed its not  each Bridge has to be evaluated individually and requires different kinds of reinforcement he said. In a Region that has largely snubbed mass transit in favor of the car the quakers blow is vicious. Commuters already Cope with routinely jammed freeways now the fragile balance is undone. Melissa Edwards said her usual half hour freeway commute to work from the Castaic area South to the san Fernando Valley turned into a three hour ordeal on surface streets. Here is a breakdown of the troubles a interstate 5 a the Golden state freeway favored by Drivers As the fastest if less Scenic route a was closed North of los Angeles when roads connecting it to route 14 collapsed onto it. Violent aftershocks sent Clouds of dust shooting up near the damaged interstate 5-route 14 intersection an elevated interchange that dangled strands of steel from its wounded sections monday. The interchange stands at the Brink of the High desert connecting burgeoning suburban communities to the metro area. Two of the interchanges Bridges were on the list to be further reinforced Saville said. He did no to know when that work was to have been done. A interstate 10, which links Beach communities with downtown los Angeles and Points cast was closed about five Miles West of downtown. A two mile stretch of state route 118 was shut by damage in the san Fernando Valley where the quake was entered. A the san Diego freeway Section of interstate 405 was closed at two Points in the san Fernando Valley because of buckled Roadway and at route 118. A quake damage also shut Down route 126, which runs from interstate 5 across Central Ventura county to Beach communities Northwest of los Angeles and parts of interstates 105 and 210. Drago said his Agency a first Job is to examine every Structure within a 50-mile radius of the quakers epicentre. Where possible state officials will seek emergency contracts to restore traffic Levels As soon As possible. Freeway deprived commuters had few mass transit options despite the areas new subway and commuter train network. The 2.3-mile-Long, 2-year-old downtown subway was closed monday As aftershocks forced constant re inspections of the system said spokesman Dill heard of the metropolitan transit authority. Some commuter train stations were shut Down because of possible track damage. Some major . Earthquakes m sept. 20,1993. A 5.4-magnitude earthquake hits Southern Oregon burying a car in a Rock slide and killing the Driver. A june 28,1992. Two earthquakes measuring 7.4 and 6.5 on the Richter scale hit Southern California killing a Yucca Valley boy. A june 28,1991. A 5.8-magnitude quake under the san Gabriel mountains in Southern California kills two people. A oct. 17,1989. A quake that shakes the san Francisco Bay area registers 6.9 on the Richter scale and kills 63 people. A oct. 1,1987. An earthquake in Whittier Calif. Measuring 5.9 and a 5.3-Magnttude aftershock kill nine people. A Jan. 24,1980. A 5.8-magnitude quake rocks the Livermore area East of san Francisco damaging a nuclear weapons Laboratory m feb. 9,1971. In californians san Fernando Valley a 6.5-magnitude quake leaves 65 people dead. A March 27,1964. Known As Trie Good Friday earthquake an 8.4-magnitude quake near Prince William sound Alaska kills 131 people a july 21,1952. A quake in the Tehachapi Bakersfield area 50 Miles North of los Angeles registers 7.7. A March 10,1933. A 6.3-magnitude quake in Long Beach Calif., kills 115 people. H april 18-19,1908. An earthquake and fires level san Francisco killing an estimated 700 people. Scientists later figure it would have registered 8.3 on the Richter scale which was adopted in 1935. Source the associated press. The world almanac facts on file s4s some scared angeleno los Angeles for generations it was the american promised land. Nowadays it seems As if Southern California is cursed ground fire flood riot drought recession earthquake. Residents can still thumb their noses at the rest of the country on those sunny 70-degrees-in-Winter Rose Parade broadcasts every new years Day. But those chamber of Commerce images keep getting overshadowed by scenes of destruction. A you begin to wonder How much angeleno Are really expected to Lake a gov. Pete Wilson said monday after an earthquake brought los Angeles to its Knees. In Culver City Debbie Boyd a who spent two hours monday cleaning up a Salsa Jelly and Tabasco sauce from one end of the Kitchen to the other a said a i think of los Angeles As my Home. In be always loved l a. But Idaho is looking better and better a and in Sherman Oaks Wendy Chalson said a i have a Wall unit i screwed into the Wall in Case of earthquakes. Well it Felt on me and  you know it was the one night i went to bed naked. A i m moving to Tennessee. In a out of  mondays 6.6-magnitude earthquake killed at least 33 people and injured thousands. The Shock Waves shattered freeways crumbled buildings and triggered Gas line explosions. Less than three months ago it was residents of Malibu. Laguna Beach and other fire ravaged areas who were considering a move to a new zip code. Skies and to screens grew Black with smoke As fires raging from Ventura county to the mexican Border claimed four lives and destroyed 197,000-plus acres and 1,200 buildings. The financial toll is billion or More. The emotional Cost insecurity and fear. The Public relations Cost in its Greener pastures .1 think of los Angeles As my Home. In be always loved la. But Idaho is looking better and  a Debbie Boyd calculable. A windblown Brush fires that spread through residential neighbourhoods of Southern California have dealt yet another blow to the recession battered area a read a Wall Street journal commentary. A Valley of the smokes a the new York times headlined in one article. On june 28, 1992, Southern California was jolted by a 7.4-magnitude quake and a few hours later a 6.5 quake. The quakes left one dead and More than 400 injured. Damage was nearly $100 million. On april 29, 1992, the acquittal of four White defendants in the police beating of Black Motorist Rodney g. King set off three Days of rioting in los Angeles and surrounding communities that left 54 people dead and caused $1 billion in damage. There was also the six year drought that came to an end last Winter with heavy Rains which turned into floods that caused major mudslides. And As the once All important defense Industry in Southern California dwindled unemployment soared to one of the highest Levels among . Urban areas. Loyalists insist however that the residents the Region and the image can take the heat. A there seems to be remarkable resilience and also these tragedies seem to bring out the Best in people a Wilson said