Seattle — Mayor Paul Schell ducked under caution tape, explored rubble-strewn buildings and reassured business owners and residents Sunday that the city would help them recover from last week's 6.8 earthquake.
"The buildings are all treasures," Schell said as he stopped to talk with business owners in historic Pioneer Square, and those whose homes were damaged by the largest earthquake to shake the area in 52 years.
So far, the city has inspected more than 400 buildings, deeming 26 uninhabitable and 161 requiring "supervised entry." Initial estimates of damage in Seattle topped $40 million, said Rick Krochalis, director of the city's Department of Design, Construction and Land Use.
Damage around the region is estimated at $2 billion. Scientists credit the quake's 33-mile depth for preventing worse damage. Some 400 people suffered injuries, most minor.
Boeing spokesman Tom Ryan said an engineering building at the Renton plant, south of Seattle, was the only place shut down and all employees were to return today.
Ryan said planes had begun flying out of Boeing Field, where scientists were surprised to find areas where the runway had essentially liquefied during the quake, leaving large cracks. Runways, taxiways and the terminal were damaged at the airport in south Seattle.
Meanwhile, the Department of General Administration announced the Legislative building at the Capitol in Olympia would be closed for at least another week.
Members of the Legislature and their staff were allowed to enter in shifts to collect computers and important files. They were to return to work today in nearby buildings.
Crews were working to stabilize blocks that had fallen from a support column with bracing, beams, metal bands and netting, said Andy Stepelton, senior property manager for the state Department of General Administration.
"It's going to look ugly," he warned.
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