Evelyn Mielke's story

Evelyn Mielke, along with 50-100 other Palmerites watched girls’ intramural basketball in the now Borough Gym Friday night. When the quake began, kids, parents, coaches, and referees all felt the first shakes. It stopped briefly and they all paused and looked at one another. Suddenly everyone began to exit the building. “The gym’s wooden floor looked like water flowing in waves. Lights fell down. The shaking went on and on and on. It seemed like forever.” Many folks went outside; some stood in the doorways. Outside electric poles moved up and down. Cars shook and rolled back and forth. When the shaking finally stopped, the families all got in their cars and left.

When she arrived at her home two miles down the Palmer-Wasilla highway, Mielke found her husband and daughter outside. A long fluorescent light without the house came loose from it’s mounting and hung from electrical wires. Blocks in their chimney broke and were later replaced.

Later they listened to Jeanne Chant on the radio warn of a possible Tsunami up the Knik River. “We didn’t believe that!“ exclaimed Mielke. “We just stayed put. We weathered the storm pretty well.”