|
FEBRUARY 28, 2001 NISQUALLY EARTHQUAKE
Time of Occurrence (GMT): Wednesday February 28, 2001 at 18:54:32.78 Z
Time of Occurrence (PST): Wednesday February 28, 2001 at 10:54:32.78 AM
Depth (km) 52.40
Magnitude (Mc) 6.8
Location 47.1525N 122.7197W
17.6 km NE of Olympia, WA
23.7 km WSW of Tacoma, WA
57.5 km SSW of Seattle, WA
From Steward Park, Seattle Washington 2-28-2001
The following is a revised REPEAT revised release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: A strong earthquake occurred about 10 miles (20 km) northeast of Olympia, Washington at 11:54 AM MST today, Feb 28, 2001 (10:54 AM PST in Washington). A PRELIMINARY MAGNITUDE OF 6.8 WAS COMPUTED FOR THIS EARTHQUAKE. The magnitude has been revised based on further processing of available data. The preliminary mechanism for this earthquake is tensional (normal) faulting in the subducting (downgoing) Juan de Fuca Plate, caused by bending of the plate. Damage and injuries have occurred in the Olympia-Seattle area. The earthquake was felt as far away as Salt Lake City. This earthquake is located in the same general area as a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on April 13, 1949. In terms of energy released, today's earthquake is about one-third as strong as the 1949 quake. The location for this earthquake was furnished by the Geophysics Program, University of Washington, Seattle.
The preliminary mechanism for this earthquake is tensional (normal) faulting in the subducting (downgoing) Juan de Fuca Plate, caused by bending of the slab.
|
Earthquake the big picture
|
|
|
|
March 2, 2001, 10:30 PM
|
|
|
|
SEATTLE Inspecting for earthquake damage is a huge, time-consuming task, done on homes, buildings, roads, bridges one at a time, slowly and carefully. Damage undetected now could spell disaster long after the earthquake.
|
|
Boeing spokesman Craig Martin confirmed to KING 5 News that at least a dozen Boeing buildings have been red-tagged designated unsafe to occupy.
Boeing says 80 percent of its workforce is back at on the job and they hope to have the remainder back soon.
Boeing's experience is the latest dramatic evidence that much of damage caused by this quake is not visible to the untrained eye.
In the hours since the quake, the focus has shifted away from feeling lucky to have survived to surveying the damage, which will take time.
The six counties included in the disaster declaration are King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pierce and Thurston. Taxpayers outside of those counties can claim casualty losses on next year's returns.
Cost estimates
"People are saying, jeez, it doesn't look like that much damage, but deep down underneath, whether it's roads, buildings or bridges, it's very extensive, said Gov. Gary Locke.
So far, from the six-county disaster area, damage estimates are spotty and preliminary. In King County, damage to Sea-Tac Airport alone is in excess of $30 million.
Pierce County mudslides still endanger homes in the Salmon Beach area damage to public facilities including roads are now estimated at $53 million.
In Thurston County, the State Capitol dome is damaged and 30 buildings are closed the disaster dollar amount still being tabulated.
Lewis County has damage to roads, bridges, public buildings, approaching half a million dollars, but the amount is expected to rise.
In Mason County, so far 13 homes were reported off their foundations no dollar figures yet.
And in Kitsap County, damage has not been estimated yet, but officials are warning people not to use their chimneys for fear that quake damage could create fire or carbon monoxide risks.
"Some of the initial estimates of the damage in California from their earthquakes, while it started at a billion dollars, it actually multiplied 15 times by the time they were all done examining, build roads and bridges, and so forth, and the estimates skyrocketed. The actual costs really skyrocketed, said Locke.
How much with the Western Washington earthquake cost us? Nobody know right now. It could be a week before the estimates, claims and damage figures are added up.
One conservative estimate puts the damage toll at $1 billion, but earthquakes have this nasty habit of doing more damage and costing more money than first meets the eye.
Aftermath
Some of the worst damage from Wednesday's magnitude-6.8 quake was in Olympia, 11 miles from the epicenter. While Seattle and other areas escaped major damage, piles of rubble still blocked downtown sidewalks here Friday. Major buildings remained shuttered and buckled roads were blocked off.
In downtown Olympia, older buildings remain shut down as crews work to remove dangerous, overhanging bricks.
Two high schools and a grade school also remain closed. Crews are working through the weekend to have the damage repaired to have everything reopened by next week.
Buckled roads keep showing up across Western Washington. Massive cracks were round along Highway 302 in Mason County near Victor. Another key roadway in the area, the Deschutes Parkway, has been closed. Officials say both roadways may never reopen.
The closure has added to an already ugly traffic mess, because the 4th Avenue bridge remains shut down. For medical patients, it means up to an extra hour on the local transit service.
In Burien, over a dozen families are still out of their homes. Their homes have been declared uninhabitable by inspectors. They all border Puget Sound.
Another hard-hit area is along the Cedar River, where the quake triggered a landslide near Renton. One home will have to be destroyed.
More damage reported
Slide damage and a huge crack in the roadway will close Highway 202 near Snoqualmie for at least a year.
The section of the Magnolia Bridge that lets you drive to the Elliott Bay Marina and Piers 90-91 reopened Friday. The rest of the bridge is only open to pedestrians and bicyclists until repairs are finished, which could take months.
Between Shelton and Olympia, on Highway 101, the quake opened up a major hole in the roadway. Crews are working to stabilize the area around the hole.
On South Puget Sounds Fox Island, a dozen homes are almost cut off because of damage to a steep road leading into the area. The Pierce County Sheriff is urging the residents to evacuate in case the situation gets even worse.
Injuries and inconveniences
The tally of injuries had climbed to 410 by Friday, but most were minor, said Rob Harper, a state emergency spokesman.
In Steilacoom, near Tacoma, more than 200 patients at a state hospital for the criminally insane were moved to another ward after inspectors condemned a building.
Another 21 uninhabitable buildings are in Seattle.
Headaches for lawmakers
State lawmakers, who are already wrestling with major financial headaches, now must come up with millions of dollars to fix the damage caused by this week's earthquake as soon as they find a place to work.
The larger problem may be paying for damage estimated at more than $2 billion. Gov. Gary Locke and lawmakers are already stymied by a state spending limit, a budget shortfall in the hundreds of millions and the need to make $10 billion in highway improvements.
The state insurance commissioner, flooded with inquiries about coverage for quake damage, was back at work Friday as was Locke's budget agency.
The Bush administration on Thursday issued a disaster declaration that makes aid available.
|
EARTHQUAKES
Before :
(Download the document 33 Things To Do Before An Earthquake. It's in Adobe PDF* format)
- Get together with the members of your household and put together a disaster plan.
- Assemble disaster supplies and store them in an easy-to-get to location.
- Identify safe spots and danger zones in each room.
- Consider buying earthquake insurance.
- Know how to shut off all utilities.
- Ensure your house is firmly anchored to its foundation.
- Anchor overhead lighting fixtures.
- Store breakable items on low shelves or in cabinets that can fasten shut.
- Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves.
- Fasten shelves to walls. Brace high and top-heavy objects.
- Repair defective electrical wiring, leaky gas and inflexible utility connections.
- Securely fasten water heaters and gas appliances.
- Anchor wood burning stoves to the floor. Secure stove pipe to the flue exit and securely fasten stove pipe segments together.
During During During During :
- If indoors -- take cover under sturdy furniture or against an inside wall, and hold on, "Drop, Cover and Hold". Stay away from the kitchen!
- If outdoors -- stay there. Move away from buildings, street lights and utility wires.
- If outdoors near tall buildings -- step inside a doorway, drop down and cover your head and shoulders to protect yourself from falling glass and other debris.
- In a high-rise building -- take cover under sturdy furniture away from windows and outside walls. Stay in the building on the same floor. An evacuation may not be necessary. Wait for instructions from safety personnel. Do not use elevators.
- In a vehicle -- stop as quickly as safety permits, and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses or utility wires.
After After :
- Check yourself and other for injuries.
- Prepare for after shocks.
- Wear study shoes to prevent injury.
- Use flashlights or battery powered lanterns if the power is out.
- If you smell gas or hear a hissing sound - open a window, leave the building and shut off the main gas valve outside.
- If water pipes are damaged -- shut off the water supply at the main valve.
- Check your home for structural damage to include the chimney.
- Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, and flammable liquids.
- Visually inspect utility lines and appliances for damage.
- Do not flush toilets until you know that sewage lines are intact.
- Open cabinets cautiously. Beware of objects that can fall off shelves.
- Use the phone only to report a life threatening emergency.
- Listen to the radio for the latest emergency information.
- Stay off the streets and avoid damaged areas, unless you have been asked to help by proper authority.
CLEARINGHOUSE -- FEBRUARY 28 NISQUALLY EARTHQUAKE
To all concerned and interested scientists and engineers wishing to assist with post-earthquake investigations: please coordinate with efforts already in progress to insure that data collection is not redundant and does not interfere with efforts at damage assessment by local governments; and we are also concerned with public safety and the privacy of residents. Please contact the following people:
|
- Structural engineers: Marc Eberhard, University of Washington -- 206-543-4815
- Geotechnical engineers: Steve Kramer, University of Washington -- 206-685-2642
- Seismologists: Tom Pratt, U.S. Geological Survey -- 206-685-2068
- Geologists: Tim Walsh, Washington Department of Natural Resources
- Office: -- 360-902-1432
- EOC: -- 253-912-4937
|
|
Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
|
|
George Crawford
Earthquake Program Manager
Emergency Management Division
Military Department
|
Timothy J. Walsh
Environmental Section
Chief Geologist
Department of Natural Resources
|
|
