20 years after Landers-Big Bear earthquakes, safety still a priority

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Aerial photograph of the Homestead Valley and Emerson faults, where the Landers quake originated. The California Emergency Management Agency is marking the 20th anniversary of the Landers-Big Bear earthquakes with a call for preparedness.

The California Emergency Management Agency is marking the 20th anniversary of the Landers-Big Bear earthquakes with a call for preparedness.

The magnitude 7.3 Landers earthquake struck in the San Bernardino County desert east of Los Angeles shortly before 5 a.m. on June 28, 1992. Three hours later a magnitude-6.5 quake struck near Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains.

The quakes caused more than 400 injuries and $91 million in losses.

Emergency Management Agency Secretary Mark Ghildarducci says the anniversary of the devastation is a reminder that California is earthquake country. Survival and recovery begin with steps taken now.

It's also the 21st anniversary of the magnitude-5.8 Sierra Madre temblor that caused one death, more than 300 injuries and $33.5 million in losses on June 28, 1991.