Earthquake February 9, 1971

At 6 a.m. on February 9, 1971, a 6.6-magnitude earthquake rocked the Los Angeles area, reportedly claiming 65 lives and leaving $500 million in destruction in its wake. David Horowitz delivered the only live television coverage of the quake, broadcasting worldwide from the KNBC studio parking lot in Burbank. When the station lost power, he and a small team of four news personnel commandeered a mobile unit originally intended for the Bob Hope Desert Classic to get back on air and report vital information. His courageous, real-time reporting earned him the nickname “Earthquake Horowitz.” The Los Angeles Times later called his coverage “one of the most memorable passages in Los Angeles TV history.” The quake led to major federal, state and local reforms aimed at reducing seismic risk and improving public safety. #80s #retro #california #losangeles