the devastation

[low_delta]

What blows me away about the tsunami is not the sheer number of people killed, but how widespread the devastation is. It's like, any land within half a mile of the entire Indian ocean - wiped out.

Comments

[heartwork.livejournal.com]

it is so unbelievable, too much to comprehend.

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

The old adage, "don't mess with mother nature" stands true. What I find terrible in the entire thing is that no one seemed to know that it was coming, that there was no warning. From what I understand a tsunami is the result of an earthquake under the ocean at a key point to affect the waves. We seem to be able to predict earthquakes before hand, perhaps not within hours, but certainly within days, at least they seem to be able to predict "the big ones" that are going to hit California..so why didn't ANYONE know that this thing was going to hit.. AND AND AND, it takes several hours for a tsunami (if I am remembering correctly) to develop from the time of earthquake.. and they have seismic activity from around the world recorded (you linked to that map) so why didn't they know this wall of water was at least possible?

These are the things I don't understand, and that I focus on. I feel for the people who lost love ones...but nothing can bring them back. My concern is why it happened with no warning and how can we keep it from happening again?

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

There was 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 hours between the quake and many of the areas dcevastated by the waves. I read a few accounts of people calling north to tell them they were hit and to stay inland, but those warnings were apparently few and didn't travel far. There were many Sri Lankans killed when they went down to the seaside to see the big waves, so apparently they got the wrong sort of warning.

[waning-estrogen.livejournal.com]

the news today said that the sea level in Hawaii had risen by two inches,
and in san diego something like 6 or 8 inches, and there was a six-foot surge
at manzanilla (or something like that--a place with cliffs) in mexico,
all results of the tsunami.
hawaii is what? like 360° around from the originating point?

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Well, it's mostly ocean between there and Hawaii, but there is the big island of Sumatra in between.

It's just amazing what this planet can do.

I was reading about a big earthquake just off the coast of Chile, once, that caused tsunami that killed people in Japan.

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

Now that IS sad. I suppose not every country has a developed warning system to let people know what is up. The pertinent information.

[vlinker.livejournal.com]

i know of people that are still headed to vacation on the northeast side of sumatra.......

[vlinker.livejournal.com]

for a little better understanding

http://wcatwc.gov/main.htm

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Why? That's in the earthquake zone.

[vlinker.livejournal.com]

because they "have plans".......*RME*

supposedly, they have been in contact with their hotel and things are good on that side of the island.....i dunno....seems strange to me

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Tell them to take clothing, first aid supplies and food with them, for the homeless.

*rolls eyes*

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[vlinker.livejournal.com]

i'm told the area they are going to is unaffected......

it's their business to pack what they want......

[vlinker.livejournal.com]

you are welcome......

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

I spent three years of my youth in the interior of Alaska. My father was stationed at Ft. Greely, and I graduated high school in Delta Junction in 1976. I just dropped by your journal and read the Sitka references. My memories of Sitka are of sand, water, a few wooden onion domed buildings and lots and lots of birds. I like to remember those things once and a while.

[vlinker.livejournal.com]

well, greely is booming now.......the missile defense system is being installed there.....there's quite a bit more to sitka, also......you may have to take a trip to re-acquaint yourself with alaska

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

One day I would like to do that. We used to take off to parts unknown every weekend in the camper during the summer months.. and there are so many places I would like to revisit.. just to see if they are as spectacular in current real life as they are in my mind.

I can't believe Greely is growing. Last I heard.. admittedly several years.. decade(s) ago, Delta Junction had just about died out. I hated to hear that, with a resurgence in Greely however, it should be coming back as well.

[vlinker.livejournal.com]

greely had been closed.....mothballed.....and then, reopened for the missile system

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

ah... ok, that makes sense then on why Delta evaporated. My sources for that information were civilian friends that tried to live there, and had to move on. No mention was made of greely closing.. but then they might not think that was .. pertinent information.

[vlinker.livejournal.com]

it was common knowledge.......LOL

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

My friends appear to be.. uncommon. *grin* They may not have found it remarkable enough to pass along to me. How long was it closed? It was an interesting place to be a teenager.

[vlinker.livejournal.com]

i think it was only closed down for a few years.....military budget cuts, etc.....who needs a cold weather test and training area?

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

My dad was in charge of the testing portion when he was up there, and the thought came to me that the buffalo herd up there might be doing a lot better without the threat of having tanks and equipment dropped out of the winter sky on them with it closed. *grin*

[vlinker.livejournal.com]

the excitement might have been the only thing to keep the buffalo warm during the winter!