What earthquake had a magnitude of 6.6, led to 65 deaths, and resulted in several legislative acts related to seismic safety?

The San Fernando earthquake, which occurred in 1971, had a significant magnitude of 6.6 and tragically resulted in the loss of 65 lives. This earthquake highlighted severe flaws in building codes and emergency preparedness in California, leading to a substantial legislative response aimed at improving seismic safety.

In the aftermath of the San Fernando earthquake, California implemented measures such as the Field Act, which strengthened the seismic safety standards for public school buildings, and the Alfred E. Alquist Hospital Seismic Safety Act, which aimed to ensure that hospitals can remain operational during and after an earthquake. These legislative acts were direct responses to the vulnerabilities exposed by the earthquake, focusing on enhancing the resilience of infrastructure and protecting public safety in future seismic events.

The other earthquakes listed, such as those in Parkfield, White Wolf, and Imperial, either did not have the same immediate impact in terms of legislative changes or had different magnitudes and effects. Thus, the San Fernando earthquake stands out as a pivotal event in California's seismic safety history.