Seattle repeals the seismic standards after owners protest the cost.

In July, California requires jurisdictions in high-risk seismic zones to identify all unreinforced-masonry buildings and come up with a plan to reduce their hazards.

In September, Washington's new Seismic Safety Council warns of a potentially catastrophic earthquake and flags the risk to unreinforced-masonry buildings, among others.

An M6.9 earthquake strikes Loma Prieta, and eight people die due to bricks falling from unreinforced-masonry buildings.

304 jurisdictions have complete inventories of unreinforced-masonry buildings, and 61 percent have complied with the law.

Washington's Seismic Safety Advisory Committee again warns the Legislature that unreinforced-masonry buildings "present the greatest risk" in an earthquake. It calls for local governments to require seismic retrofits.

Seattle begins trying to identify unreinforced-masonry buildings.

84% of California cities have complied with the unreinforced-masonry law.

The M6.8 Nisqually quake strikes Seattle. Of the 31 buildings deemed too dangerous to enter, 20 were unreinforced masonry.

359 jurisdictions have complete inventories of unreinforced-masonry buildings, and 98% have complied with the law. Of these, 134 jurisdictions have mandatory retrofit ordinances.

Seattle conducts another count of unreinforced masonry buildings, bringing the total to 575. A consultant estimates the city has 850 to 1,000 such structures.

Seattle does another count of unreinforced masonry buildings.

A Seattle committee proposes a retrofit standard for unreinforced-masonry buildings, modeled after San Francisco's.

Seattle counts again, bringing the total to 819.

A Seattle policy committee publishes recommendations for an unreinforced-masonry retrofit policy.

Los Angeles requires retrofits for other seismically vulnerable buildings, including old concrete structures and buildings with open ground floors.

On April 20, Seattle discloses its latest count of unreinforced masonry buildings after The Seattle Times requested it.