Well, it did! After the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11, we had our own tsunami warnings here in Humboldt County. As a whole, it turned out to be absolutely NOTHING compared to what Japan is suffering, but frightening nonetheless, for residents up and down California's coast.
Crescent City, about 60 miles north of us in Del Norte County, experienced the worst property damage in our area, along with one lost life, which was the result of failing to follow orders issued to keep folks off the beaches and ocean-emptied waterways. Crescent City Harbor lost 11 boats and saw additional boats damaged, many beyond repair. The docks there are no more.
Here, in northern Humboldt County, the surge was just a few feet, with very little damage. Check out this video!
It amazes me that there were folks there, with their children, watching the surge----surge height was expected to be over 6 feet. Although I'm sure it was an awesome thing to behold, from afar, I'm quite sure it wasn't worth the risk had the water height been as predicted. However, I do appreciate being able to see it, if only from the lens of someone else's video camera.
When we got the intitial information on Friday morning, we immediately pulled up the National Weather Service online and called the boys. Ryan was already on "stand-by" with the National Guard, but both he and Matthew decided to drive up to McKinleyville and wait it out with us. Shortly after they left their apartment, the local police requested a non-mandatory (suggested) evacuation of several apartment complexes since they were in a low-lying area. We waited it out most of the day here at home, listening to the local news and checking weather updates off and on, until the warning was lifted in the early evening. Much of neighboring Eureka, which is at sea level, was shut down on the perimeter and inland about a mile until late afternoon. With the exception of just a few, all schools in the entire county, even those not directly in a tsunami zone, were closed for the day. The "tsunami sirens" in Samoa sounded----at least we know they work!
Although I was concerned, I was not as worried as my husband was, who had us gathering water and establishing evacuation plans for ourselves and our pets. It was my sincere belief that we would not have it nearly as bad as was being predicted, and although I was right, it could have been much, much worse (like the 1964 tsunami that was spawned by a 9.2 earthquake in Alaska) had the surge been what was originally expected. We were lucky that day!
Japan, however, was not to experience that same kind of luck. My heart aches for that nation as they deal with the aftermath of the quake and tsunami. I feel helpless, really. I can pray and send my love and warm thoughts, but that is all. With the world joining together to support our Japanese brothers and sisters, maybe it will be enough to help lift them into a place of recovery, of healing. Healing goes so far beyond the re-building of a home or even a city. For most, it will require the re-building of a life and learning to go on, somehow, after the loss of loved ones.
It is sad, on many levels, that it often takes a disaster of massive proportions to bring people together in a real and tangible way, rather than only paying lip-service to the idea that we are all, regardless of our national or ethnic allegiance, fellow travelers on this earth, bound together by our humanity. We all love and laugh and cry--we all endure hardship and sorrow--we all feel pain--we all rejoice in our triumphs. Now it is time to embrace a nation who is suffering in ways that most of us never will, in whatever way we are able.
If you feel led to donate, please contact the organizations below. They offer help and aid all over the world, with no strings attached. I believe in their mission.
http://www.ifrc.org/ OR http://www.icrc.org/eng/index.jsp
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/
"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the
whole earth." ~Bahá'u'lláh
Posts
Hi
ReplyDeleteI just discovered your blog through the Down to Earth Forums. I have enjoyed reading it very much, please keep going with your blog. The photos of Oregon are beautiful!!
Cheers
Colleen
http://ourgangof7.blogspot.com/
Patti,
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post! I, like you, am just heart broken over this disaster. I just keep doing the only thing I know I can do, which is prey. I prey for relief, comfort, faith, strength, and healing.
Thank you for sharing your family's experience and for posting the links for people to donate if they feel in on their hearts. Donations can also be made via TEXT. People can text the word REDCROSS to 90999 and donate $10. That $10 donation will appear on their cell phone bills. :)
I'm so glad that while you had an experience to share with us, that it wasn't a bad one! :)
Again, great post!
Kat