The 1933 Long Beach earthquake struck on March 10 at 5:54 P.M. PST, originating offshore on the Newport–Inglewood Fault with a magnitude of 6.4 Mw and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). The quake caused widespread destruction across Southern California, resulting in 115–120 fatalities and roughly $40 million in property damage, with most deaths occurring as people ran outside into falling debris. The hardest-hit areas were Long Beach and Compton, where poorly constructed buildings and unfavorable soil conditions led to collapses, and over 120 schools were damaged—70 of which were destroyed—due to unreinforced masonry walls. Casualties would have been far higher if the earthquake had occurred during school hours, and the event starkly highlighted the need for earthquake-resistant design. Just 30 days later, Governor James Rolph Jr. signed the Field Act, which mandated strict seismic safety standards for public school construction, permanently transforming building codes in California. The quake also heavily damaged the La Grande Station and was felt as far away as the San Joaquin Valley and Northern Baja California, leaving a lasting legacy of heightened earthquake awareness.