wfn.org | United Methodist officials assess damage from quake

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

March 1, 2001  News media contact: Tim Tanton·(615)742-5470·Nashville, Tenn.
10-71B{106}

By United Methodist News Service

Bishop Elias Galvan and other United Methodist officials were in a meeting
when their Seattle office building began shaking.

The Rev. Dan Smith, director of the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference's
council on ministries, was among the 13 people in the room when the
earthquake hit. They were on the fourth floor of the building that houses
the conference offices. It was five minutes before 11 a.m., Feb. 28.

"We immediately ended up together under the table," Smith said. "It seemed
to us like it lasted forever."

 From under the table, he could hear a lot of rattling, he said. "The floor
very difficult time standing up.
in the whole building was moving to the extent that you would have had a

"You had the feeling, when is this going to stop? Is this going to stop? Is
the floor above us going to come down on us? It was frightening."

Galvan's presence was reassuring for others in the room, Smith said. "The
bishop, being from California and the Mexico City area, was the calmest one
in the group because he had been through this more than the rest of us."

"I've been through earthquakes, so I was not extremely concerned," Galvan
said. "I was looking for signs as to whether the ceiling was falling and
whether any windows were broken. ... But the building held very well." 
 
No one was injured and the building wasn't damaged.

The 6.8-magnitude quake was felt as far away as Oregon and Canada, according
to news reports. Though it caused at least 250 injuries and much property
damage, it resulted in no known fatalities. A woman in her 60s suffered a
fatal heart attack at the time, but it was unclear whether that was
attributable to the quake.

When the quake was over, United Methodist officials began checking with
churches in the conference to assess damages and the possible impact on
church members.

"We're confident that there were no personal injuries," Galvan said. "We are
now assessing the structural damage to our buildings, and I'm sure it will
take some time to really assess that carefully."

Seven churches are known to have had some damage, he said. For the most
part, the damage seems to consist of minor cracks, stress fractures and a
warped sidewalk, he said.

However, Sumner (Wash.) United Methodist Church has closed while its
condition is evaluated, the bishop said. Its bell tower and chimneys were
damaged, and the church has major cracks that must be inspected, he said.
"They are making arrangements to find a place to meet for Sunday services."

Sumner Church, southeast of Tacoma, is an old building and close to the
earthquake's epicenter, said Bruce Galvin, assistant treasurer and benefits
officer for the annual conference. Galvin handles the conference's
insurance, and he said that earthquake coverage was added to the policy last
year.

Seattle's First United Methodist Church, founded in 1853 and described on
its Web site as the city's first church, also was damaged. The Rev. Kathlyn
James, senior pastor, said the sanctuary has been cordoned off while the
damage is assessed. In the meantime, worship will be held in another part of
the church, she said. "Our mission and ministry will continue."

The United Methodist Committee on Relief has been in touch with the
conference office. Bishop Galvan said his office has corresponded by e-mail
with UMCOR and will get back in touch with the relief agency as soon as more
information is available.

Seattle was helped by the fact that the earthquake started 33 miles
underground, according to scientists. If it had been closer to the surface,
it would have caused more devastation. The temblor was centered about 35
miles southwest of Seattle, according to news reports. An aftershock with a
magnitude of 3.4 on the Richter scale was felt Thursday morning.

In recent years, the city and county have spent a significant amount of
money retrofitting buildings and overpasses. If that had not been done, "we
would have had substantially greater damage," Smith said.

A number of buildings in the city were evacuated and remained closed on
March 1.
# # #

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org