When the ground beneath Southern California shook on February 9, 1971, young Mike Essrig was awakened by the chaos of a massive 6.6 magnitude earthquake that devastated homes and shattered lives. Though he escaped unscathed, the terrifying experience left a lasting impression. 

Decades later, this early encounter would become the catalyst for Essrig's groundbreaking career in earthquake safety and preparedness.

Essrig's journey began as many great ventures do—unexpectedly and in his garage. After leaving a career in entertainment and shifting to real estate, he found himself worrying more and more about his family's earthquake safety. This constant concern and the memories of the earthquake, which played on a loop in Essrig's head like a bad dream, led him to realize that the existing safety measures in his house and many others in California were insufficient.

According to the California Department of Conservation, California experiences two to three earthquakes each year that are large enough to cause moderate damage to structures, with magnitudes of 5.5 and higher. Essrig, knowing this devastation first-hand, switched careers once again. With the help of a neighbor and his cleaning lady, Essrig started his business of retrofitting homes for earthquakes.  

"I had to do something," Essrig said. "I went through the entire house, the cabinet doors, the refrigerator, the TVs, you name it, I fastened everything." 

Not even 48 hours after fastening down the remaining picture frames in his home, another massive earthquake hit California—the infamous Northridge quake of 1994. 

This time, Essrig and his family were prepared. 

"We weren't screaming, we weren't panicking, and nothing was falling in my house," Essrig stated.  "I put mercury switch lights in my house so if the power failed, the lights would come on. I put an automatic gas shut-off valve on my house, so if the gas pipe broke, the gas would shut off automatically."

When the shaking stopped and the dust settled, Essrig's phone started ringing off the hook. People lined up around the block, desperate to feel the same sense of security after an unpredictable disaster. 

"People are afraid," Essrig said.  "They don't know what to do. They don't know where to turn. I'm advising like I'm a therapist, right? And all of a sudden, the next day, I have a line. 

From there, Essrig's business grew rapidly. What once were customers lining up around the block and Tupperware parties for people to buy products to secure their homes evolved into storefronts in Westlake and Burbank.

Mike realized that the need for earthquake preparedness extended beyond homes and into critical infrastructure, like hospitals and research laboratories. He moved from residential to large-scale commercial projects and started ETC Building & Design, a construction company focused on seismic retrofitting and hospital safety compliance. 

The shift was a natural evolution, Essrig admits. Hospitals, in particular, can not afford to be unprepared. If a major quake strikes, lives would depend on the facility's ability to function. ETC Building & Design is instrumental in fortifying hospitals across California, installing cutting-edge seismic braces, and developing new fasteners for a variety of critical equipment.

Essrig's innovations didn't stop there. Today, his company holds patents on over 100 fasteners, such as Safe-T-Proof, designed to secure everything from laboratory tables to massive freezers in cutting-edge scientific research. Essrig has also been a pioneer in creating solutions for laboratories working on life-saving experiments and pharmaceuticals—projects that could derail years of research if lost in a quake.

Despite all his success, Mike remains modest, emphasizing that his work is far from done. 

"We've been doing this for over 32 years, and we're just starting," he said. 

With an eye on the future, Mike believes the next frontier lies in improving structural safety standards and continuing to innovate for hospitals and research facilities.

What began as a father's concern for his family has become a multi-million-dollar enterprise helping keep California safe. Mike's story serves as an inspiring testament to the power of perseverance, innovation, and a mission-driven approach to business. From one man in a garage to a team retrofitting hospitals, labs, and critical infrastructure, Mike's impact will be felt long after the tremors stop.