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Picking Up the Pieces - After the Earthquake

© Jerri Brooker

Washington State's recent 6.8 earthquake is still a topic of conversation around the state. "Where were you during the quake?" is a common question.

What really surprises me is how many folks are still reeling, emotionally, from the quake. Yesterday, conversing with a stranger who hailed to Washington from the midwest, I learned she was ready to move back to tornado country. "You can at least see tornadoes and get prepared."

But there's something about a catastrophe that brings folks closer. FEMA has set up offices in Olympia's Capital Mall. Many are rallying to help others, even from other countries. Japan's Yashiro, sister city to Olympia, sent a $9,000 gift to help with disaster relief. The Red Cross is still distributing free drinking water in Thurston County (hardest hit) from a donation by Miller Brewing Company in Tumwater.

Local newspapers are still headlining quake stories. Sunday, March 4th's The News Tribune, Tacoma, read, "Engineers Red-tag State Capitol." From that headline you learn that eight pillars on the capitol tilted out of plumb, but are fixable. Keeping tabs, you know the Legislature is having to convene elsewhere. But life goes on as usual with just a few stones in the way.

The University of Washington's (UW) Seismology Department has even issued a map of "Who Got Hit Hardest?" How amazing this communication system is - we knew the day of the quake, by the UW's data, just where the hardest hit were located. I listened minutes after the quake to personal accounts from folks hit the hardest, live on my battery-run radio. The power returned thirty minutes later, and the national and international news stations took over.

Now, March 8 and 9, the Olympian and News Tribune headlines are settling down a bit, but still there. "Capitol Remains Off Limits; Legislators Try to Adapt." Does that mean they aren't doing well? From what I read they miss their electronic voting, etc. Sunny weather has given the lobbyists an outside work area between the Houes and Senate Buildings, however, and they aren't too put out at being in the sunshine.

"Tribe Says Quake Damage Extensive." The Nisquallys are picking up the pieces. Their lands are at the epicenter. I'm saddened to hear the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge has suffered extensive damage. The dike is allowing more saltwater from Puget Sound to seep into the freshwater areas. This may not be all bad, as it will aid the fish migration in our drought-ridden state. But there is a large crack five-feet deep on a walkway, the barns are no longer safe and mini dirt-volcanoes dot the area, showing the ground liquified there.

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