EARTHQUAKE IN B.C.

Subject: RE: EARTHQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 08:49 PM

Yes Joe you would ... but it would be lacking the inventive spelling ... wouldn't be nearly as exciting! LL

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 08:45 PM

It's interesting that I often hear of news events first on Mudcat. If it weren't for Mudcat, I'd probably learn about the earthquake in tomorrow's newspaper.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 08:26 PM

Hey Metchosin ... when the really big one hits you'd better make room ... the 78's, gramaphone and me will probably end up in your backyard! At least we'll be able to have music when the power goes out! LL

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: MMario
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 08:06 PM

Just heard from my cousin in Seattle - she's gonna have to have her mobile home re-leveled - but that's about the extent of damge for her place. Her Mom's retirement complex came through with flying colours (a major relief for our family!)

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Metchosin
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 07:31 PM

When a quake hit Seattle in 1965 (thought it was 64, I was a year out) I was sitting in a second floor class at school when the desks moved back and forth on the floor a good three feet in either direction. At the same time I looked out the window to see the wall of the school gym swaying back and forth about the same amount.

For some reason or other, that one was a lot scarier than this one. It seemed about the same length of time, but the house didn't sway, it just jiggled for a while and sounded as if a train was coming under the house from the south, northbound.

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Sarah2
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 07:22 PM

Benjamin,

Good, good, good! Big sigh of relief -- I don't know who all is up in that area, but I do hope all will check in here with the same news. You did good.

Sarah

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Benjamin
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 07:04 PM

Thanks for remembering me Spaw. All is fine in North Seattle. No damage here. I was in my American Sign Language class when it hit. Had it been worse, those individual desks attached to the seat they have in the class rooms would not of helped a bit.

That's the biggest quake I've felt. But then, I'm still young.

I'm sure Alex and Reggie are fine. The quake was centered deep (like 30 miles below the earths surface) so it could of been MUCH worse. I'm waiting to hear from them as well though.

Benjamin

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Metchosin
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 06:54 PM

Gary I don't know about stapping LePreau but there should be more concern on this coast about nuclear facilities. Fortunately we don't have any in BC, but the largest population is awfully close to those in Washington State. My concern here is the push for use of natural gas on this Island and all the lines laid in the last 10 years here. This was a very small quake compared to what is expected to happen given the geological record.

Far more severe quakes have occurred on the seabed off Vancouver Island. Scientists have determined that megathrust earthquakes, as the severe quakes are called, have happened off the West Coast 13 times over the past 6,000 years, the most recent on Jan. 26, 1700, when the area was hit by a whopper with a magnitude estimated at 9. A tidal wave generated by that event caused considerable damage to coastal communities in Japan. Apparently we are overdo. Seattle's 6.5 was the equivalent of the energy released from 5 million tons of TNT. The 9.0 that is overdue will be the equivalent of 32 billion tons of TNT. Then again, maybe we should strap the whole damned Island.

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Justa Picker
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 06:52 PM

According to CNN there are 17,000 without electricity in the Seattle area. It's possible Mousethief is one of those 17,000 so it might be difficult for him to logon, assuming he doesn't have more pressing priorities at the moment.

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 06:45 PM

Amergin and Spaw, during an earthquake it can be done. It's all a matter of timing and contortionism (not to mention exhibitionism)- as you're swaying back and forth. Kind of like playing snap the whip. *G*

Ebbie

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: JenEllen
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 06:36 PM

Must be the sea-legs..for I barely noticed. I was telling a friend earlier, that I was looking thru a microscope, and just thought I was heady from skipping breakfast this morning. The dogs set up an awful racket.

Still no news from AlexThief?? Anyone tried calling yet? I assume they are running ragged trying to collect the kids. All the schools are out and travel is T.U as usual...

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Sarah2
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 06:31 PM

Deckman, so glad you've checked in okay! One piece of good, good news. (I'm sitting here hitting this thread every time I see a new post, hoping to hear from each of you in that area.) Thanks for letting us know you're all right.

Sarah

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Amergin
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 06:25 PM

Spaw, you can reach your own arse with those lips? Now that's what I call talented....I've seen my dogs chew on theirs many times.....but never seen a human do it....

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Deckman
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 06:24 PM

Everythings O.K. here in the Pacific Northwest. A couple of dozen in the hospital, a few serious. A fair amount of damage, mainly old building facing coming down. The older and weaker bridges and viaducts are closed for inspection. A couple of majoy highways are shut down to serious bridge problems, including Hwy 2 over Stevens Pass. But basically, we are O.K. I was building a second story deck in Mukilteo ... we were rockin' and rollin'! CHEERS, Bob (deckman) Nelson, Everett Wa.

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: kimmers
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 06:22 PM

How are all of the lovely old buildings in Seattle's Pioneer Square? Did any of them get badly damaged?

And I hope they weren't taking a group through the Underground Tour at the time of the quake...

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 06:16 PM

Heard some reports that the "Needle" was basically fine, some elevator problem that wasn't structural is what the news reported. I gotta' tell you, being up in that thing during an earthquake??? I believe I would have just bent over and kissed my ass good-bye!

Some of the biggest problems seem to be in the SeaTac area and that's where Alex is I believe, so it may be awhile before we hear anything at all. Hope all is well with him and his family.

Spaw

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: JenEllen
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 06:08 PM

Billions of $ in damage. State of Emergency. Our news says the number injured is riding about 30+ with the majority of serious injuries being from a few pressure injuries and a lot of cardiac emergencies. There was also a mudslide that took out the 101. It was only a 6.8, and amazingly enough, almost in the exact same spot at the quake in '49.

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Sarah2
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 06:06 PM

MSNBC is saying right now that lots of electricity is out in the area and it will be "some time" before it's all restored. Wish he'd call someone...

Sarah

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 06:05 PM

No problem here, so far as I know. I didn't feel it.

In April 1949 I was a kid in school in Amity Oregon when the 7.1 Olympia Washington-epicenter one hit. The first one I ever felt- frightened me for a very long time.

In the 1960s, there were a number of minor ones in Oregon- again all from the north, I believe.

Juneau obviously has had major ones in its past- these sharp mountains around here came from somewhere- but it doesn't have a history of large earthquakes, very different from 600-mile-away Anchorage, for instance. Officially Southeast gets two quakes a year, not necessarily big enough to feel. These come from north about a hundred miles, as a rule.

I can sympathise with the mudcatters from the BC and Washington and Oregon areas. It's a really scary feeling, like the earth itself has betrayed you, that there is nothing to hang on to.

They're saying that there haven't been any reported deaths but there are at least 25 injuries, some of them serious.

Can you imagine the feeling in the Seattle Space Needle restaurant and observation deck!! They say there were more than a hundred people up there, swaying back and forth above the city...

Ebbie

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Metchosin
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 06:04 PM

The Governor of Washington has declared a state of emergency, from what I heard a few minutes ago the damage in terms of money is quite considerable. Do hope mousethief and others are safe.

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Sorcha
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 05:53 PM

Glad to know everybody seems to be OK, but we're still waiting to hear from Alex..........

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Amergin
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 05:16 PM

Last I heard, Sins, was that no one knew for sure....

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: GUEST,Gary Owens
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 05:13 PM

Metchosin - If you have never seen it before, it goes " For yeers ago, I coodn't even spel ingineer, now I are won."

I'll search BC Hydro. By the way, I will probably never use it as I am in NB. We only get little shakes here and they are once in a blue moon. Although.... they say that long periods of time w/o one means it may be building up. If that's the case, strapping be on the water heater be d***ed. We'd better strap LePreau - come to think of it, we may have to strap LePreau just to keep the plutonium inside on a ca'm day !

g

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: SINSULL
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 05:11 PM

And does the other side of the world have a tidal wave to look forward to?

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Metchosin
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 05:05 PM

some of the historic buildings in Seattle have been reported as damaged, quake has now been determined as 6.8, 12 injured, 3 seriously. Only reported damage in BC, some downed hydro poles in the Langly area.

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Metchosin
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 05:00 PM

So 2X4's on the flat, lagged to the concrete between the tank and the wall would suffice as a buttress? Still haven't checked out B.C. Hydro's site for recomendations, but if I find anything appropriate I will send it along. I noticed your spelling as well, but figured if that was the way you spelled it, who am I to question it, after all you're the Engineer.*BG*

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: GUEST,Gary Owens
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 04:35 PM

Metchosin - Actually there is no such thing as butressing. That should be buttressing. I usually proof my hunt n' peck before I send it, but I was between e's from relatives in Seattle and just forgot. Anyway, If there is a standard for this type of thing, I would love to see it. If you come across any standard drawing, I would appreciate knowing the name of the authority who drew it so I can search for it.

As for buttressing, it's really just filling the space between the tank and the foundation so that the tank doesn't smack the wall.

g

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Metchosin
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 04:32 PM

Ah forgot to mention Gary, designing houses is our business here, but if it is beyond the scope of existing building codes or we have some concerns, we always get get them engineered.

hoolet, don't worry about Cambell River, its quite a bit farther north on the Island so I don't imagine they felt much.

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Amergin
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 04:31 PM

Ok, all the phone lines and such are tied up right now, so that's probably why we haven't heard from Alex/Mousethief....I have been calling trying to get ahold of my friends in Sumner, WA....so far no such luck....

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Metchosin
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 04:23 PM

Thanks Gary I'll pass that on to my husband, he is usually the doer of such things but has been so busy this week that he was going to relegate. I think most of the plumbers do the strapping now because there is a lot more requests for it and perhaps the Code has changed from what was required 25 years ago. Interesting I've never heard about butressing though, I'll see what Hydro recommmends. Thanks again.

My father-in-law was just suggesting that I construct a supporting floor for the new one, as the place in the crawlspace where the new tank is going has a slope to the concrete. Now I'll have to rethink how I am going to attach the framed section below the pan to the concrete groundseal. hmmm.....major project for me....

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: radriano
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 04:23 PM

The earthquake was in Seattle (7.0). No deaths, three serious injuries. Lucky, lucky, lucky.

I work for the California Division of Mines and Geology, California's State Geological Survey. Shows you how different earthquakes can be. The Loma Prieta quake was around 7.0 as well and caused a lot more damage.

Richard

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 04:21 PM

Good to hear that you are okay, Nathan/Amergin.

I just got another email from my friend, he said the best news updates they have are available at www.nwcn.com. He is hearing lots of helicopters and sirens.

Good thoughts going out to all.

kat

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: JenEllen
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 04:20 PM

Been keeping an eye on the NWCN since the quake. We did get a bit of a roller.

Seems to be business as usual for those on the ground, but the hi-rise folks look a bit shook up.

Best of luck to those close to coast.

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 04:11 PM

I have friends in Bremerton...might hear something later today...I'd imagine that phone lines and email are humming right now...

The thing about super-fast modern communications is that everyone thinks they can run and use them at the same time....traffic jams can get as bad online as at rush-hour on the freeway.

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: GUEST,Gary Owens
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 04:06 PM

Metchosin - Securing the water heater is a good idea, but don't get the plumber to do it unless he knows how to do because it may worsen the situation. Esentially, the tank exterior, if cylindrical, should be braced vertically about the circumference and the strapping should be placed at least at the upper and lower quarter points. The tank should be butressed to the foundation wall. Braces and butress should be wooden or similar, to absorb some crushing. The straps should be designed based on the mass of the tank and contents in order to resist .... I am sure that there is some info on a government website somewhere that would have some details, but I think you can see why I have some trepidation about a plumber starpping it down. I know it sounds like I am making a big deal out of it, but in my 25 years in engineering and construction I have come to realize that everybody knows how to to everthing better than an engineer except stamping and signing the drawings.

g

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Amergin
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 04:04 PM

Boy, I was sitting here chatting with some one when I felt my house start shaking. At first I thought it was the washing machine, but then realised it was too strong for that....here in Saint Helens (just thirty miles from Portland) we got it worse than Portland did....

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 04:03 PM

Phonelines are down and jammed .. as well as hydro in Seattle. Probably won't hear from Mousethief for a bit. As time goes on, things are looking grimmer ... mudslides, elevator shaft collapsed in an old hotel, 10 people unaccounted for...

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: GUEST,hoolet
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 03:49 PM

hope all in Campbell River are safe and well

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Metchosin
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 03:40 PM

naw, it gave up the ghost on Saturday, but just prior to the quake today, I was busy cleaning around the old tank and emptying our containers of emergency water supplies and refilling them. Maybe I'm better at predicting them than the dogs.

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: SINSULL
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 03:33 PM

Metchosin - any chance your water tank death can be attributed to the quake? Heh Heh.

Keep us posted.

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 03:33 PM

My friends in Portalnd just emailed me. They were ina high-rise mall and watched the merchandise dance around a bit, went out onto the street where there were a lot of people from apparently evacuated buidlings, but they heard nothing official until they got home and turned on the news.

Sure would like to hear from Alex and the rest of the Mudcatters up there.

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 03:27 PM

The Bremerton-Manette bridge was getting pretty old and was thought that it might be getting dangerous, and there had been a lot of talk about tearing it down and replacing it at the time of the 1949 quake. The bridge survived better than many other structues around town, so they later built a new one about a mile north. The old one is still there.

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 03:22 PM

also: reggie miles....Benjamin

Spaw

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Metchosin
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 03:19 PM

Stewart I can imagine you are shook up, we're about 110 miles from Olympia, as the crow flies, and I was shaking for about 15 minutes afterward.

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: kimmers
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 03:19 PM

Felt a few nice little jolts here in Salem, OR. Very startling but not enough to be scary. The cats woke up and looked around but appeared unconcerned... so much for animal instincts. Or maybe they really did know it wasn't going to be a big deal here.

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 03:18 PM

Yikes! I just got a PM from Alex (mousethief) this morning- must have been about an hour before the quake. I hope he's all right! And that all are safe and well in the Pacific NW.

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 03:18 PM

Mouse Thief?

Spaw

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Metchosin
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 03:10 PM

BruceO the biggest one on the Island here was in 1949 too, wonder if it was the same one. It did a lot of structural damage in the Qualicum area.

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: Metchosin
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 03:06 PM

Reassuring, they are telling us now, that this is not the Big One that we are supposed to be getting any time soon. Reminds me , our hot water tank packed it in this weekend after 25 years service, should make sure that the plumber puts strapping to the foundation wall to keep the new one from walking.

Subject: RE: EARHTQUAKE IN B.C.
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 03:03 PM

I was in Bremerton for the big one in ?1949. A car passed on the road in front of our house during the tremor. I've always suspected that the driver just thought that he'd had too much to drink. I got to Olympia to see the dome of the state capitol on the ground. It wasn't uncommon to be lying in bed an watch top corners of the bedroom going in opposite directions.

After the last big one in California that knocked down the bridge over the bay my sister and her family pitched their tent in the local schoolyard and lived there for about a month. For no logical reason her daughter decided to go home from work the long way around that day, so she was on that route rather than on the bridge when it collapsed.