22 Years After the Nisqually Earthquake
Today marks the 22nd anniversary of the Nisqually earthquake.
Two years ago, Magnolia Community Council planned community activities to honor our lifeline connection to the city. COVID shut down those plans, but time marches on. A full generation has passed since the earthquake damaged our bridge. Let's catch up on what's happened since.
This all happened in the past 22 years:
2001: September 11 attack, Human genome mapped (completed 2003), iPod introduced. 2002: Seahawks Stadium opens. 2003: US invades Iraq, first unmanned mission to Mars. 2004: Central Library opens. 2005: Seattle Popular Monorail Project dissolves. 2007: iPhone introduced, Kindle introduced, I-35W bridge collapses in Minneapolis. 2008: Sonics leave Seattle, Seattle P-I ceases print edition, new I-35W bridge opens. 2009: Link Light Rail to SeaTac opens. 2010: Two-way Mercer project starts, South Park Bridge closes for rebuild. 2011: Another mission to Mars. 2012: US Rover on Mars sends a selfie. 2013: Big Bertha begins digging, gets stuck. 2014: Seahawks win Super Bowl, new South Park Bridge opens. 2015: First Living Building opens in Seattle, water found on Mars. 2016: New SR-520 Floating Bridge completed. 2018: Amazon Spheres open. 2019: SR-99 tunnel opens, Alaska Way Viaduct demolished. 2020: COVID-19 comes to Seattle, collaborative effort creates vaccines, another mission to Mars, George Floyd dies, SDOT suddenly closes West Seattle Bridge. 2021: Insurrection, Impeachment #2, Kraken wins first game in NHL, Roosevelt and Northgate Light Rail Stations open, Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill passes through Congress. 2022: Fern Hollow Bridge collapses in Pittsburgh, Russia invades Ukraine, West Seattle Bridge Project receives $38M in federal funds, is repaired and reopened. Read all about it here.
There continue to be many slowly moving parts that feel like inertia. Discussions about the upcoming Move Seattle Levy renewal are starting quietly. It is never too soon for neighbors to commence regular contact (emails, calls, visits) with our elected officials. Our Legislature is in session now. City Council and SDOT will need regular contact. is We expect to host SDOT Director Spotts at our next MCC Board of Trustees meeting on March 21st. Magnolia Community Council is committed to guiding the neighborhood toward effective advocacy to produce an in-kind replacement for our Magnolia Bridge…. Stay tuned.
EMERGENCY PLANNING BUILD A KIT AT HOME
If 2020 has taught us anything, it's that the unexpected can happen, and that it's critical to be prepared. Spend a little time - make it a family activity - to build an emergency kit.
Helpful links are here and here.
Email us a photo of your kit, so we'll know that Magnolia is prepared!
