When it comes to potentially disastrous earthquakes, The Los Angeles Times wants to make sure Californians are informed and aren't left in the dark or on shaky ground.

According to an LA Times analysis, more than 1,000 old concrete buildings in Los Angeles and hundreds more throughout the county may be at risk of collapsing in a major earthquake.

"By the most conservative estimate, as many as 50 of these buildings in the city alone would be destroyed, exposing thousands to injury or death," the newspaper adds.

While some of the buildings on the list may appear to be sturdy, the LA Times says, don't be fooled -- many older concrete buildings are vulnerable to the sideways movement of a major earthquake because they don't have enough steel reinforcing bars to hold columns in place.

What inspired the LA Times to compile this analysis?

The 1994 Northridge earthquake near Los Angeles that killed 72 people and caused $20 billion in damage. When this tragedy occurred, some city leaders called for a list of all buildings in Los Angeles that could collapse during a major quake. However, it was considered too costly to force building owners to retrofit their properties, so the list was never made," CBS News reports.

The LA Times analysis includes concrete structures that were built in the 1920s and 1930s, when the city rapidly expanded. They are mainly in downtown and Hollywood and include office towers and apartments that line some of L.A.'s most famous streets, including: Wilshire, Hollywood, Sunset, Ventura, Main and Broadway. They also include landmarks such as the Capitol Records tower, the Hollywood Plaza apartments and the W Hotel in Westwood, according to city records.

For over 40 years, Los Angeles officials have known about the dangers but have failed to force owners to make their properties safer. The city has even rejected calls to make a list of concrete buildings, the LA Times reports.

In the absence of city action, university scientists compiled the first comprehensive inventory of potentially dangerous concrete buildings in Los Angeles.

The scientists, however, have declined to make the information public. They said they are willing to share it with L.A. officials, but only if the city requests a copy. The city has not done so, the scientists said.

Another earthquake is on the horizon. Seismologists confirm the concern, saying "a bigger quake is overdue."

"We know darn well that if a bunch of people die, there will be lots of stories, lots of reports, things will change," said Thomas Heaton, director of Caltech's Earthquake Engineering Research Laboratory. "But the question is, do we have to have lots of people die in order to make this change?"

For more information on buildings at risk, visit the LA Times.