Politicians like to talk about setting priorities.
In the event of a major earthquake when emergency medical treatment would be crucial, the trauma center might be in ruins. Harborview is the only Level 1 trauma center in four states. But King County's Harborview, parts of which date back to 1931, is seismically unsound, hospital officials report. A major earthquake would cause initial damage and deaths at the facility and would cripple its ability to handle the expected scores of serious injuries. The balance would come from the hospital through operating expenses, parking revenue and bond interest income.