Schools reported minimal damage

Ruth Longoria, The Olympian

Despite shaking, rattling, rocking and rolling, there were few minor injuries -- and no major ones -- in South Sound schools after Wednesday morning's earthquake.

Although most school districts reported minimal structural damage, Olympia, Tumwater and North Thurston school districts and The Evergreen State College will be closed today to assess damages.

Newer sections of Capital High School sustained major cracks in beams. The campus is one of 13 structures in Olympia to receive a red tag, which means the building cannot be entered for an undetermined period.

"There was some concern with buckling and separation on the floor in the central hallway at Olympia High School," said Shelley Carr of the Olympia School District.

"But our biggest concerns are with the performing arts building and the gymnasium there. We will know more tomorrow, though."

Olympia High School was yellow-tagged by city building inspectors, meaning the building is closed until structural inspections are completed.

Other than the two high schools, Lincoln Elementary School, Centennial, Washington and Marshall Middle Schools appear to have sustained the most damage, Carr said.

There appeared to be no major damage to John Rogers Elementary School, a school that is being considered for closure by the district due to financial and maintenance concerns, she said.

"It's kind of ironic; you never know," Carr said.

Schools in Yelm, Rainier, Shelton and Rochester came through the shifting ground with minimal damage.

A Rochester school water line broke but was repaired quickly, administrators said.

Damage in the Shelton School District was limited to a gas leak at the administrative building, which was quickly repaired.

Injuries for schoolchildren also were minimal, confined to reports of an asthma attack at Michael T. Simmons Elementary School in Tumwater and two sprained ankles at Chinook Middle School in Lacey.

"We've been very fortunate," said Terry Hodge, principal at McLane Elementary School in Olympia.

Damage there consisted mainly of a few ceiling tiles and a light fixture falling down in the cafeteria and gymnasium, Hodge said.

Earthquake and fire drills, which are practiced regularly at the school, were helpful in maintaining order, she said.

"The kids did perfectly, and it was wonderful to see that all of our practice paid off," Hodge said.

Ruben Gomez, the parent of a Meadows Elementary School student, said he was impressed with how administrators handled the emergency.

The principal, teachers and school nurse were out in the parking lot keeping track of children and greeting all the parents, Gomez said.

"Some of the kids were pretty scared, but fourth-grade teacher Mrs. Kuhnau and the others were out there keeping it all organized," he said.

"I've been in the military, but I've never seen anything go this well. It's a tough job keeping fourth-graders calm."

Some high school students had a difficult time remaining calm during the quake, said Rachel Hanson, a 15-year-old North Thurston High School sophomore.

"Everyone started running, and my friend and I had to wait to go outside so we didn't get trampled," Hanson said.

She was in the auto shop at the school when the ground began to move.

"It was kind of scary; all the cars suddenly had hydraulics," she said.

Casey Michaelson, a senior at North Thurston High School, said he had never been in a major earthquake before, but knew enough to jump under his desk.

"I thought we were going to die -- seriously," he said. "In three seconds, I was under that desk. It was scary."

But, high school seniors Leeroy Cohen and Albert Flores said the earthquake didn't frighten them.

"It felt like a big ol' tidal wave," Cohen said. "I tried to stand up, and I felt like I was riding the wave. I thought it was fun at first, but then it kept going on, so I got in a doorway."

Flores recently moved to Lacey from Petaluma, Calif., and said his first day at North Thurston High School on Wednesday was nothing out of the ordinary.

"At first everybody told me it was some sort of blasting at Fort Lewis," Flores said. "But then I realized it was just an earthquake."

Ruth Longoria writes for The Olympian. She can be reached at 754-5435.

The Olympian Copyright 2000

back to main Earthquake Stories index