Engineers have checked 298 structures; 13 red-tagged

Because more than one inspector might come to look at a damaged property, property owners should ask for identification from everyone saying they are damage inspectors.

RUTH LONGORIA, THE OLYMPIAN

The ground might have stopped shaking in South Sound, but structural engineers were still on the move Sunday.

Engineers are still inspecting the hundreds of homes and commercial buildings damaged during Wednesday's magnitude 6.8 earthquake.

City of Olympia building inspectors and inspectors from Thurston County development services completed their fourth day of structural evaluations Sunday.

Of the 298 structures evaluated, 13 remain red-tagged and 52 received yellow tags. The rest of the buildings received green tags.

A red tag indicates the most serious damage, meaning the building is considered unsafe and should not be entered.

"Most of the red tags are commercial buildings, with the exception of one duplex," said Steve Friddle, city of Olympia principal planner. "But some of the commercial buildings are apartments, so we're still talking about a lot of people's homes."

In addition to the red- and yellow-tagged buildings, visual inspections of residential porches, foundations and chimneys have led to concern over several homes in the South Capitol and Governor Stevens neighborhoods, Friddle says.

"We seem to have a serious problem with chimneys that seem to not have fared so well," Friddle said.

Several chimneys have bowed and pulled away from buildings, and many chimneys have missing sections and significant cracks, Friddle said.

"It is important that residents who notice a crack or other damage call and ask for a free inspection," Friddle said. "My fear is that it may not look like a big crack to the homeowner, but the ground is still settling and the shifting or a strong wind could topple the chimney."

Friddle said falling chimneys and chimney parts could be dangerous to neighbors and home occupants.

Houses identified with visible damage are given a green tag with a written scope of work to be done, Friddle said.

Although a green tag means the building can be occupied, Friddle says, the homeowners -- and in some instances their neighbors -- are advised of the dangers, and told which areas of the home to avoid.

Homeowners are advised to have repairs done by a licensed, bonded contractor to assure that the work is done properly.

"That way the contractor is on the hook, and responsible for getting permits and making sure the work is done correctly for the long term," Friddle said.

FEMA inspections

This week, Federal Emergency Management Agency inspectors also will be visiting damaged properties in Thurston, Mason, Lewis, Pierce, King and Kitsap counties.

FEMA schedules inspections to verify loss within seven to 10 days after an emergency.

Since the earthquake struck, FEMA has received 802 requests for housing assistance.

For those who have submitted completed loan applications, loss verifiers are being sent by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

In addition to local building and safety inspectors, the American Red Cross sends inspectors to meet with disaster survivors, said FEMA official Bill Lokey.

Because more than one inspector may come to look at a damaged property, property owners should ask for identification from everyone saying they are damage inspectors, Lokey said.

All inspectors and verifiers are required to carry official photo identification.

"If an inspector is not wearing an identification card or badge, ask to see it," Lokey said.

While city of Olympia building inspectors were out inspecting sites Sunday, some city officials spent the day correcting errors on the Saturday list of yellow- and red- tagged buildings.

The errors, which were all clerical, have been corrected, said Cathie Butler, Olympia communications manager.

"A few of the buildings that were green-tagged didn't get updated on the list right away," Butler said. "But, it was understandable. The people here have been working awfully hard."

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

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