Tsunami

On Sunday morning I woke up a little after nine.  I just made my coffee and was shuffling out to the patio to finish waking up with it and a smoke when there was a knock at the door.  Wondering who could be knocking at such an hour on a lazy Sunday, I answered it to find a 40ish guy with a rather longish steel beard and an anxious face who turned out to be the neighbor who lives behind us. I remember our landlord mentioning him, a writer of some success since he managed to make a living at it named Phillip. He told me that there was a tsunami warning issued by Civil Defense. This was rather hard to digest for my sleep addled mind. Tsunami, yes I knew what that was, so of course there was a confused alarm. At the same time, it was beautiful and peaceful outside, so it was hard to grasp for a moment. But he explained that the Civil Defense had issued a warning that a tsunami was coming, waves about 1-3 meters high with me thinking ...how high is a meter?!?  Phillip, it turns out though, is a kind soul, because not only had he come over to warn us about it before making  his own escape into the hills, he offered up the key to his spare car. So after rattling off all sorts of rather hard to digest information, he left to head to higher ground leaving me standing in the doorway with a car key in hand and lots of confusion.  What a way to start the day.

Since I was standing there in the doorway after he left, I look around. It was a peaceful and beautiful day. Not only that, but there were people about. Not panicked people fleeing the beach side, but people out walking, jogging, pushing strollers, walking dogs. The entire view from my front door was the same as it is any morning here.  So I tried the TV to get more information, which my totally befuddled mind could not get to work.  I was starting to wonder if the kindly neighbor was putting me on. I mean if there is a disaster coming, why are all these people acting so normal? Then I woke Greg and Celia, because it’s better to treat it real then be sorry, especially since Phillip said it was suppose to hit the coast shortly which brought to mind visions of killer mile high waves crashing over the dunes and washing us all away. Greg, immediately into action, orders Celia to get dressed and to start throwing together a getaway bag while he and I went outside to get more information.

We stopped a woman outside of our house obviously heading to the beach and ask her about the tsunami, explain how the neighbor woke us up and then fled. She thought this was pretty humorous in a kind way, particularly since she was on her way to the beach to check out these so called tsunami waves, but she explained that if there was a real immediate threat, there would be sirens and police and emergency personal all up and down our street evacuating people. She dis confirm the tsunami warning, explaining that it has generated from an earthquake in Chili, but that the wave height was minor and reassures again that if there is a need to flee the government has plans for such things and will send buses to evacuate those in need. Well, that’s good then. So still rather stunned and a bit panicked, we go back inside and make plans. Celia and I head out immediately to the store to get water and supplies while Greg stays behind packing up getaway bags.  Near the store we encounter a makeshift Tsunami information center put up by the New Brighton community center. There we get pamphlets on their emergency plan, which confirms much of what the women told us. The guy staffing the info booth told us that high tide at 3pm was what they were most concerned about. It was about 10:30 am, so that was bit of a relief. We got water and small portable non-perishable food stuffs at the store and headed back to the house. Greg had gotten the TV going and by going across the road to the life guard station to speak with city workers sent to monitor the activity, learned we can get radio on our satellite TV receiver as well, so when we return he had it turned to the news.  It seems that an 8.8 earthquake hit Chile in the early morning hours which they had thought isolated to them until hours later it was apparent that it had disturbed the sea floor, prompting Hawaii and other coastal place such as ourselves to issue Tsunami warnings as they monitor the sea activity. In a about two hours we had showered, equipped ourselves with supplies and packed our essentials to evacuate if needed. Not the greatest response time, but we used the time given wisely and from that point there was just waiting, gathering information, and observing.

And observe we did, taking a curious contradiction between media news and reality.  Civil defense issued warnings, told everyone to stay clear of the beaches and seek higher ground just to be on the safe side while waiting to see if full scale evacuation was needed. This is broadcasted on news and radio in between normal programming and of course sounds rather scary. But then there was the observable reality of things. Kiwis all going about their daily business as usual were everywhere. Tons of people flowed back and forth from the coastlines just to check out what was happening. Surfers were thrilled at the waves and out taking full advantage of the great rides they provided.  Old people and women with baby strollers were out for their walks just like normal.  People were out with dogs, which was even more telling as the dogs were not upset or acting out of sorts at all. I’ve heard that animals are generally the first to react to a pending danger, but the gulls were still hanging about as always, just business as usual for them just like the Kiwi people.  While some, like our neighbor, took off for the day, most seemed undisturbed by it all, and many seemed to react by going down to gawk at the waves.  Nothing it seems will disturb the laid back vibe of the Kiwi.

We decided being prepared and watchful but not panicking was the best route to take, so we spent a good part of the day with our bags packed by the door, monitoring news and occasionally wandering across the street to check out what information the government people might have.  Sometime in the afternoon it became apparent that the waves generated from the Chile earthquake were not going to be much of a threat as it was feared they would be and many of the personnel across the street left.  We decided it was probably safe for me and Celia to venture to the library a few blocks up the street, though directly on the coast, to use the internet. 

At the library it was business as usual too, lots of people around.  Another observation which I find peculiar is about libraries.  In the US as small children we are taught it is acceptable to be somewhat loud outside, but always quiet in the library. Here it is strangely exact opposite. Here they are fairly quiet on the streets but the library is ridiculously loud. Celia named it accurately when she observed that the library here was more like a community center then a library. Yes, there are books and the normal assortment of magazines and newspapers. But they also have TVs, a huge computer access room generally dominated by teens, and video games.  Not just the games to take out of the library, but stations with bean bag chairs and TVs where you can play Playstation or Xbox and the like. And it is loud. I was sitting checking my emails when a kid comes by, flops down to lay across the window seat cushion beside me and promptly starts playing music on his phone at full blast.  A rather disgusted look from me chased him off, but it was perfectly acceptable behavior as no one reprimanded him or the other kids playing tag through the limited stacks.

By evening the warning had been dropped down to an advisory and the threat of evacuation had passed though they still observed the water activities through the night. The life guards even removed the no-swimming/danger signs, which really didn’t deter anyone as there were people swimming, including people with small children, at the beach when the life guard came by to pull the sign.  Around ten in the evening, Greg and I wandered down to the water to see what it was like under a particularly bright full moon. Under the silvery light, the water was severely receded causing the shoreline to be four to six times its usual width.  It was lovely and disturbing all at the same time.
 
Overall it was a rather peculiar day. Though I do have to say that I hope no real disaster ever hits this lovely peaceful place, because I somehow doubt the laid back populace would react fast enough to save them selves if it did. But for us, being Americans, we remember Katrina and New Orleans. We remember those who didn't heed warnings and the tragic results of not being prepared and taking action when needed. We're grateful though that this time nature was kind.