Our Response On Feb. 28, 2001 at 10:54 a.m. a moderate to strong earthquake centered north of Olympia struck Western Washington. The earthquake registered 6.8 on the Richter scale. Immediately following the quake, the King County Emergency Operations Center activated to Level 3 (full activation). The King County Executive, his cabinet, County Councilmembers and department representatives self-deployed to the Emergency Operations Center.

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Issues that county leaders and policy makers were faced with that day included gaining a rapid assessment of the region's infrastrucure (including road systems and port, communications system and utilities) as well as critical facilities and other structures, including area homes and businesses. Crews from a number of different agencies in King County immediately began assessing the damage. The King County Sheriff's Office dispatched deputies from local precincts on an emergency basis. The Sheriff's Communications Office located in the County Courthouse was forced to evacuate and relocate. King County courts and county office buildings were closed. Within 1 hour and 45 minutes of the event, King County Executive Ron Sims issued an emergency proclamation. Following are links to news and other information released by King County in the days and weeks following the Nisqually Earthquake. Feb. 28, 2001 Earthquake rocks King, Pierce Counties Local Proclamation of Emergency Solid Waste Division offers free disposal of earthquake debris Statement regarding King County court operations Emergency permits for earthquake and related damage March 1, 2001 Regional earthquake information resources Project Impact partnership helps King, Pierce Counties resist quake damage Updated earthquake injury information King County International Airport/Boeing Field presentation to the Federal Emergency Management Agency Executive Sims' talking points during Federal Emergency Management Agency visit on March 1, 2001 Updated information on Public Health services County begins home inspections Commuters urged to share a ride to work Regional Justice Center in Kent to reopen on Friday President signs emergency declaration; King County continues damage assessments, clean up March 2, 2001 King County transportation update Residents, businesses should call FEMA directly to report earthquake damage King County International Airport increases takeoff limits, terminal opens King County Recorder’s Office sets up temporary offices Road and sewer retrofits pay off for King County King County Courthouse open to public Food Worker Card training and testing in downtown Seattle is cancelled King County continues clean up efforts, transitions to recovery from earthquake Independent structural engineers confirm: County Courthouse structurally safe; structure not weakened by quake March 3, 2001 King County coordinating damage assessment for public entities Employee status, work update Yesler Building set to open Monday Buildings report March 4, 2001 Sims honored with leadership award for disaster preparedness Recovery continues King County Joint Information Center closes March 5, 2001 King County Courthouse open to public Executive Sims' briefs employees and members of the public First joint county forum to focus on regional disaster preparedness County Council to receive post-earthquake briefing Prepare your pets for disaster! Lessons learned from our quake March 6, 2001 Judges' statement regarding Courthouse operations King County Courthouse post-earthquake site review March 7, 2001 Executive's one-week recap letter to employees Accelerating courthouse seismic retrofit means being resourceful Post-quake hazardous building materials review March 9, 2001 Cedar River landslide Post-earthquake buildings report King County reports damage estimate to state; initial assessments top $173 million Long runway closed over weekend for repairs King County poll results - Earthquake (what action did you take?) March 12, 2001 Employees for outstanding efforts during and after quake Executive's letter to employees re seismic retrofit project Sims expedites seismic retrofit, facility repairs March 15, 2001 Airport staff reopen long runway ahead of schedule March 16, 2001 King County poll results - Disaster Preparedness March 20, 2001 Building report: Post-quake update March 26, 2001 Competitive bidding for seismic retrofitting of Courthouse waived April 5, 2001 Building Report: Post-earthquake repairs April 25, 2001 Sims encourages King County residents to "Drop, Cover & Hold" April 27, 2001 Nickels insists on immediate plan for viaduct alternatives Oct. 30, 2001 Council adopts new disaster response standards Dec. 3, 2001 Council calls for viaduct replacement Feb. 2, 2002 McKenna calls for better estimate on courthouse seismic project and earthquake repairs Updated: Feb. 24, 2002 Nisqually Earthquake home The Damage | Our Response | Image Gallery | Get Prepared Executive's home | Executive's news Executive's schedule | Executive's e-mail King County | Executive | News | Services | Comments | Search Links to external sites do not constitute endorsements by King County. By visiting this and other King County web pages, you expressly agree to be bound by terms and conditions of the site. The details.