It was 10 years ago today that the Nisqually Earthquake shook the Puget Sound region, damaging buildings but miraculously not killing anyone. The 6.8 quake was one of the largest in state history.
Where were you when it hit? I was at my home office, waiting for the printer to arrive with a proof of a book that I had done some graphic design on. My house shook and the noise was so loud, that I thought a semi-truck was plowing into my home. The printer arrived, late and visibly shaken. He had been on the Alaskan Way Viaduct when the earthquake hit.
Luckily for us, only a few pictures fell off shelves and some new cracks appeared in the walls and ceilings of our solidly built 1923 house. But downtown, brick facades fell onto sidewalks and cars, and King County International Airport at Boeing Field suffered cracks in the runway.
In the decade since, many buildings have underdone renovation and earthquake retrofitting. Since 2001, what have you done to make your home less susceptible to earthquakes? If you’ve got any interesting pictures of damage to your Phinney Ridge or Greenwood house from that day, please send them to us.
King County’s Office of Emergency Management is reminding people what to do when another earthquake happens: Drop, Cover, and Hold:
- DROP to the floor
- Take COVER under a sturdy table, desk, or chair
- HOLD in place until the shaking stops.
Since many services will be disrupted in an earthquake, residents should have at least a three-day supply of food and water for themselves, their family, and their pets. It’s also a good idea to have an emergency kit that contains supplies such as a flashlight, blankets, a first-aid kit, and a battery-powered radio. For more information on preparing an emergency kit, visit www.3days3ways.org.
