19 years ago: Western Washington rocked by 6.8 Nisqually quake

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

A magnitude 6.8 quake shook the Nisqually Delta, to the northwest of Olympia, for 40 seconds. In less than a minute, an estimated 200 people were injured. The quake was also cited as the cause for one man's fatal heart attack in Burien.

Damages topped $1 billion, with higher-end estimates as high as $3 billion, according to Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports from that day and History Link. The State Capitol in Olympia and several buildings in Seattle's Pioneer Square suffered. One of Sea-Tac International Airport's two runways cracked. Debris from buckling buildings smashed parked cars. The facade of the Starbucks headquarters in SoDo crumbled.

The Alaskan Way Viaduct was damaged and eventually closed for inspection. The elevated highway needed to be reinforced and a stringent biannual inspection calendar was put in place.

Nineteen years later, the effects of the quake are still being felt by Seattle. The era of the Alaskan Way Viaduct has come to an end, in large part because of the seismic vulnerability it represents.

https://www.seattlepi.com/local/seattle-history/article/Nisqually-earthquake-18-year-Seattle-magnitude-6-8-13653074.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailynewsletterspi&utm_term=spi

I remember I was working in Duvall at the time. I was building some iron scaffolding and had just stepped off the ladder when it struck. My first thought was to look at my work to see if it was secure. It seemed to hold together pretty well but I moved the hell out of the way just in case.

[Aristus]

1. I'll never forget that.

I happened to be seated in front of a plate-glass window when the quake struck. I got out of the building fast. I was lucky the window didn't shatter...

[Sanity Claws]

2. I remember it well

I was in my office on the 43rd Floor in Seattle and remember the up and down movement. My computer was literally bouncing up and down on the desk.
After the quake stopped, we had to walk down the stairs. I was somewhat traumatized over the next several months.

[MFM008]

3. Jan 28. 2001

I was asleep still at 10:45 ....
Lived on the third floor at the time.
Really felt it.
everything in living room
Knocked over and busted stuff in kitchen.
I deeply fear that was a taste of whats coming
Sooner or later.

[mrs_p]

4. How can it be so long ago

It seems like yesterday!

[KT2000]

5. Oh yes!

I was in bed and felt the shifting and nails squeaking in the house, then the shifting changed direction. I thought for sure the roof was going to come down on top of me. I had a few cracks and the worst was that a wall is bowed a bit behind a woodstove brick backing.

My sister lived and worked in Olympia at the time. They had quite a bit of damage in their home. It was mostly things such as bookshelves falling over - now they are bolted to the wall. So much for her crystal and pottery collection though.