Following many of California 's major earthquakes , lawmakers have acted quickly to develop legislation related to seismic safety . After the M6 .4 1933 Long Beach earthquake the Field Act was passed the following month , and after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake , the Seismic Hazards Mapping Act and Senate Bill 1953 ( hospital safety requirements ) were established . Following the San Fernando event , earthquake engineers and seismologists from established scientific organizations , as well as the newly formed Los Angeles County Earthquake Commission , stated their recommendations that were based on the lessons learned . The list of items needing improvements included building codes , dams and bridges being made more earthquake resistant , hospitals that are designed to remain operational , and the restriction of development near known fault zones . New legislation included the Alquist-Priolo Special Studies Zone Act and the development of the Strong Motion Instrumentation Program
1933 Long Beach earthquake
1933 Long Beach earthquake
1971 San Fernando earthquake