August 5, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

L.A.’s Earthquake Doyenne Lucy Jones to Retire After 33 Years

US Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne (C) and United States Geological Service (USGS) Seismologist Lucy Jones (L) participate with students of Stevenson Elementary School as they drop, cover and hold on during the region-wide simulation of an expected catastrophic 7.8 magnitude earthquake on the San Andreas Fault during the Great Southern California ShakeOut earthquake drill, the largest earthquake preparedness event in US history, on November 13, 2008 in the Los Angeles area city of Burbank, California. An estimated 5.2 million people in Southern California are expected to participate in the scenario in which 1,800 people die, 53,000 people are injured, 1,500 buildings collapse, 1,600 fires ignite, and $213 billion in damage are done by a quake 50 times more intense than the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Scientist believe that on average, a massive earthquake occurs south of the San Gabriel Mountains about every 150 years. The last one was at least 300 years ago. (Thinkstock: Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
US Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne (C) and United States Geological Service (USGS) Seismologist Lucy Jones (L) participate with students of Stevenson Elementary School as they drop, cover and hold on during the region-wide simulation of an expected catastrophic 7.8 magnitude earthquake on the San Andreas Fault during the Great Southern California ShakeOut earthquake drill, the largest earthquake preparedness event in US history, on November 13, 2008 in the Los Angeles area city of Burbank, California. (Thinkstock: Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Seismologist Lucy Jones, who for years has made earthquakes understandable to Soutlanders and perhaps a tad less scary, is retiring from the U.S. Geological Survey after a 33-year tenure.

The Los Angeles Times this morning described her standing in the region this way: In a city defined by celebrity, Jones has a unique kind of fame. She’s been called the Beyonce of earthquakes, the Meryl Streep of government service, a woman breaking barriers in a man’s world.

Jones, by propagating knowledge about earthquakes, is credited with having dramatically changed the way the Southland prepares for temblors. The Times noted that buildings are safer, first responders are better equipped and millions of residents have learned that the worst thing to do in an earthquake is to run outside.

“When the big one hits, people will be living because of the work that she has done,” says Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Jones, a fixture on Twitter, with more than 15,000 followers, is retiring from the USGS this month to help officials develop science-based policies related to climate change, tsunamis and other kinds of natural disasters, the Times reported. She will also maintain her relationship with Caltech.

After her last day at the USGS on March 30, she can start raising money to create a center that bridges science and public policy, according to The Times. She can also partner with cities on disaster issues the way she worked on earthquakes with Los Angeles. In the same blunt way she persuaded the public to confront its denial about earthquakes, Jones will try to force a conversation about the need to adapt to a warming planet.

Related Posts

Late-Night Traffic Stop in L.A. Lands Rap Star Soulja Boy Back in Legal Spotlight

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

Rapper Taken Into Custody During Early Morning Traffic Stop Rapper Soulja Boy was taken into custody early Sunday after Los...

Deadly Crosswalk Hit and Run in West Adams, Victim Hit Multiple Times and Left to Die

August 4, 2025

August 4, 2025

Police Seek Public Help to Identify Three Drivers Who Struck and Killed a Pedestrian  Detectives with the Los Angeles Police...

Brentwood Bookstore Welcomes a Hollywood Insider and Secret Service Agent for a Night of Noir

August 4, 2025

August 4, 2025

Tinseltown Thrills Meet Real-Life Intrigue With Author of To Live and Die in LA Diesel, A Bookstore will host a...

Woman Shot During Attempted Electric Bicycle Robbery in Culver City

August 4, 2025

August 4, 2025

Suspects Remain at Large After Confrontation Ends in Gunfire Early Monday morning, gunfire erupted during an attempted robbery on Sepulveda...

Elvis Meets Oedipus at the Getty Villa in Fall Premiere of Oedipus the King, Mama!

August 4, 2025

August 4, 2025

Getty Villa Stages Rock-Fueled Oedipus Satire Under the Stars The Getty Villa Museum will bring the myth of Oedipus to...

Cary Grant’s Former Beverly Hills Estate Hits Market for $77.5M

August 3, 2025

August 3, 2025

Rebuilt by His Widow, the Home Now Offers Sweeping Views Once owned by Hollywood legend Cary Grant, a Beverly Hills...

LA Housing Permits Rebound in Q2: Wildfire Rebuild and Fast-Tracked Reviews Spur Modest Growth

August 3, 2025

August 3, 2025

New Data Shows a 37% Quarterly Jump in Residential Permits, Long-Term Uncertainty Looms Residential development in Los Angeles picked up...

Federal Court Upholds Stay on Trump-Era Immigration Raids in California

August 3, 2025

August 3, 2025

Detention Horror Stories and Legal Pressure Keep Feds at Bay  A federal appeals court on Friday upheld a temporary order...

Despite Billion-Dollar Fortune, Beyoncé and Jay-Z Double Down on Real Estate Debt

August 3, 2025

August 3, 2025

Superstar Pair Is Now Paying Over $637,000 per Month in Mortgage and Taxes Music power couple Beyoncé and Jay-Z have...

Two LA County Deputies Charged in Off-Duty Scheme Tied to Crypto ‘Godfather’

August 2, 2025

August 2, 2025

Deputies Accused of Abusing Law Enforcement Powers for Beverly Hills Mogul One Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy pleaded guilty,...

Metro Releases Draft Environmental Report for Sepulveda Transit Project, Public Comment Now Open

August 2, 2025

August 2, 2025

Six Route Alternatives Under Review for Valley-To-Westside Connection The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has released its Draft...

National Night Out Returns to Beverly Hills With Police Demos, Kids’ Activities, and DJ Music

August 1, 2025

August 1, 2025

Beverly Hills Police and Fire Departments Invite Public to Family-Friendly Night Out  The City of Beverly Hills will transform the...

City Installs Crosswalks In Sawtelle District After Residents Paint Their Own

August 1, 2025

August 1, 2025

Los Angeles Begins Official Safety Upgrades Near Stoner Park City crews began installing official crosswalks Friday near Stoner Park in...

HARD Summer Returns This Weekend With New Sound Strategy After 2024 Noise Complaints

August 1, 2025

August 1, 2025

Sold-Out EDM and Hip-Hop Festival Runs Saturday and Sunday at Hollywood Park The HARD Summer music festival is set to...

Trump Administration Freezes $200M in UCLA Research Funds Over Student Protests

August 1, 2025

August 1, 2025

UCLA Says Freeze Harms Life-Saving Research With No Connection to Stated Reason Donald Trump’s administration has blocked $200 million in...