Councilman Bernson Gets Quake Safety Award

Just hours after a 3.3 earthquake shook Los Angeles on Friday, City Councilman Hal Bernson received the Alfred E. Alquist Award for Achievement in Earthquake Safety.

Bernson represents the northwest Valley and chairs the council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Earthquake Recovery. He also sits on the state Seismic Safety Commission and a city panel that evaluated governmental response to the 1994 Northridge quake.

The Alquist Award is given by the nonprofit Earthquake Safety Foundation, which seeks to raise public awareness of and preparedness for earthquakes. The award annually recognizes people in several fields of seismic safety.

Referring to the minor quake at about 1:30 a.m. Friday, Bernson deputy Francine Oschin said, “That shows us that it can happen at any time, and that’s why it’s so important to be ready.”

Bernson was on the original board of the Earthquake Safety Foundation, which gave its first award to Alquist, a state lawmaker known for advocating quake preparedness in Sacramento.

Bernson “suggested the award be given in the first place,” Oschin said. “He believed [Alquist] represented the true pioneer spirit of earthquake safety.”

The award also capped a quake-oriented week for Bernson. On Tuesday, he led the City Council in a safety drill that was executed throughout the state.