To the editor: The few stories about the Northridge earthquake, which occurred 30 years ago on January 17, 1994, sparked many feelings and memories.
In January 1994 I was living in Granada Hills, while my parents lived directly behind the Northridge Meadows apartment complex. I saw the damage there (the complex collapsed, killing 16 people) and in many other buildings that morning.
My cousin and her husband kindly came to help me clean. My 45s had fallen off the wall cabinet, but there was a Carole King single that, oddly, fell off on its own: “I Feel the Earth Move.”
Our house was not as damaged as many others, but we had to move to the city due to lack of utilities and to be close to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Six days after the earthquake my daughter was born.
It was an unstable week that ended with joy.
Ken Feldman, Tarzana
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To the editor: Lorraine Ali's article on the Northridge earthquake had a photo of the destruction of the 5-14 freeway interchange near Santa Clarita. A caption mentioned that a police officer had died there. It would have been nice to have read his name.
Clarence Wayne Dean was a Los Angeles Police Department officer with 26 years on the force. His shift wasn't supposed to start when the earthquake hit, but he got dressed, got on his motorcycle early, and went to work.
It was still dark and he did not realize that the overpass had collapsed. He came out of the abyss and died.
The exchange there now bears his name. Wave at the sign as you drive.
Pete Sloman, Pasadena
