Of the counties represented Napa was undeniably the hardest hit. There were nearly 300 injuries countywide, one fatality. About 150 buildings were red tagged, meaning they were not fit for occupancy, and more than 1,000 were yellow tagged, meaning that they needed repairs. The damage is currently estimated at more than $300 million. 

Napa received help with inspections, fire response and water system repairs from all over the state, from as fair afield as Truckee and Santa Cruz. 

Several procedural matters should be addressed prior to the next big quake, said Napa City Manager Mike Parness. The Napa County Jailhouse, for example, suffered damage and while it was ordered to transfer about 60 inmates to a Solano County jail several weeks after the quake, Parness says it’s not clear what should have happened earlier if damage had been more severe. 

"If it had been any worse it think we would have run into very significant issues with regards to state laws, constitutional rights and what you're actually doing with these inmates," he said. 

Several officials also mention the need to provide better information to the non-English speaking public. 

"I think we assume that everyone speaks English and we know that they don't," said Vallejo mayor Osby Davis. "But when we give out communications it seems that's our assumption."