Damage to wood-framed homes in California during past earthquakes
This page was assembled to give a historical perspective of the damaging effects of past earthquakes on light wood-framed residential homes in California. Particular focus was placed on showing historical damage photos where cripple wall failures were the main reason causing the collapse. Double-click on any photo to enlarge it and view it at its original resolution.
Northridge Earthquake: January 17, 1994
Magnitude: 6.69
Mobile home shifted off of its foundation
Location: Balboa Blvd. at Stagg St. North of I-101		 Collapsed first story apartments
Location: Northridge Meadows Apartment Building
Leaning mobile home
Location: Mobile home park,
7800 Balboa and Stagg St. L.A
The valley apartment house on the left has collapsed onto the former garage level.
Location: San Fernando
Loma Prieta Earthquake: October 17, 1989
Magnitude: 7.09
Cripple wall failure in damaged woodframe house. Location: Los Gatos Area, California Close-up view of cripple wall failure in woodframe house
Foundation damage of a home on Pearl St.
Location: Santa Cruz area		 Home dislodged from its foundation and moved 0.75 meters from its concrete stairway. Location: downtown Watsonville
This home, without adequate
connection to its foundation, shifted
during earthquake shaking, causing extensive damage.
Location: Santa Cruz mountains
Imperial Valley Earthquake: Oct. 15, 1979
Magnitude: 7.0
Typical damage at mobile home park due insufficient cripple wall support at foundation
Location: Gio's Mobile Home Estate, 1850 Lincoln Avenue at 18th St. El Centro
San Fernando Earthquake: February 9,1971
Magnitude: 6.5
Damage to old wood framed homes
Location: Olive View Hospital miscellaneous woodframed structures
Foundation failure
Location: City of San Fernando, San Fernando Valley		 Details of damage
Location: San Fernando Valley
Long Beach Earthquake: March 10, 1933
Magnitude: 6.30
Subfloor damage at a wood-framed dwelling
Location: Long Beach, CA
San Francisco Earthquake: April 18, 1906
Magnitude: 8.03
All homes shifted towards the left. Two different views of the tall house dropped from its south foundation wall and leaning against its neighbor.
Location: Howard St. near 17th St
Hayward Earthquake: October 21, 1868
Pierce's House shifted from its foundation
Location: Hayward, CA
Photos are courtesty of:
-Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley
-U.S. Gelogical Survey Photographic Library Digital Data
-South California Earthquake Data Center
-Derleth(Charles) Papers
-The Museum of the City of San Francisco
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