Earthquake cancels normal day for 833rd transporters - "Rattle in Seattle" - Brief Article

Translog: Journal of Military Transportation Management, May-June, 2001 by Judi Warren

It all started as a rather ordinary morning at the 833rd Transportation Battalion in Seattle.

A coordination meeting for the Cobra Gold exercise had just ended. Unit members started setting up tables for a farewell luncheon for three departing unit members.

What came next Feb. 28 was what CBS newscaster Dan Rather later labeled the "Rattle in Seattle."

As several employees finished smoothing the tablecloths and sprinkling four-leaf-clover confetti on the banquet tables, the ground began moving--and it kept moving. As one person, said Budget Assistant Jackie Rial, members moved to the security of the doorway of the office's pantry and waited for the shaking to stop.

The earthquake, measuring 6.8 magnitude on the Richter Scale, struck the battalion's office at Federal Center South at 10:54 a.m. Pacific time.

"It just went on and on and on," said Rial. "That 30-second quake seemed much longer than 30 seconds. It seemed like an eternity."

Computer Specialist Tuffy Sheets was on the telephone with Deployment Support Command System Integration Specialist Kristen Hicks.

"I'm moving to a doorway; we're having an earthquake," Sheets told Hicks.

"This is better than CNN because I can give you the report live!"

But as the fire sprinkler covers began dropping from the ceiling, Sheets stated:

"I gotta go."

Lt. Col. Carol Butts, Commander, was in a meeting with Richard Carlyle, Chief, Operations Division.

"Dick, is that the train going by or what?" asked Butts, who had never experienced an earthquake before.

Carlyle quickly responded, "It's an earthquake--get under the table."

That is exactly where they went until the shaking stopped.

Other 833rd employees responded the same--getting under tables or standing in doorways to maximize their safety.

Minutes later, the transporters evacuated the building. Later, they were briefly allowed back inside for keys and other immediate needs.

"Get the food while you're in there!" a hungry 833rd staffer yelled.

Soon, the unit's luncheon event did take place--albeit on a smaller scale than originally planned--on a picnic table in front of the building

Small groups from other activities wandered by and quipped, "You guys are crazy!"

Regardless, the camaraderie and companionship of the 833rd coworkers proved calming as everyone awaited word on the status of the building's structural safety and the condition of neighboring bridges and streets.

Cellular telephones were not working, and the condition of many bridges in the immediate vicinity was a concern to those considering departing to check on their families and homes.

Our Building Manager, Mark Tiernan, announced the building would be closed for the day, and that he would contact agencies in the evening when more information was available.

Later, we found the 833rd's office space had suffered some cracked walls, shattered ceiling tiles, and displaced lighting fixtures and water sprinkler heads.

However, the building waslater declared structurally safe, and employees were notified to report for work the following day.

There was good news on the home front, too. A survey of employees indicated that, other than dislodged pictures and broken knick-knacks, no major damage was discovered in their homes.