... said one of my colleagues in between our conversation about the recent tsunami that took away more than 40 lives in the northern part of the country. Isn't it scary - the so-called prosperous, harmonious, malapetaka-less Malaysia can be hit by a tsunami!
Actually, after Greg (remember the tropical storm that hit Sabah a few years ago?) I was already aware that the world climate is no longer the same. As I type this sentence a whirlpool of images imported from my memories, courtesy of Deep Impact and The Day After Tomorrow, is swirling in my head.
Right now there are still no report concerning the second/follow-up tremors and its ripple effects that experts say would come our way - yet orders to keep clear from the beaches and reminders on safety practices are still being broadcasted.
Unfortunately, Malaysia, all these while thinking we're quite safe from such bencana alams, is lacking of a good warning system - perhaps our weather guys are already giving us their best, given that our country has not got the experience in handling such disasters. I suppose we now have to look at other countries like Japan and US who have experienced tsunamis and see how they prepare against it.
I'd like to do my part (yes, more, besides separating the glass from the paper and plastic as well as do a bit of funding) and paste a bit of a survival guide which I borrowed from http://www.wsspc.org/tsunami/CA/CA_survive.html:
WHAT IS A TSUNAMI (SOONAHMEE)?
A tsunami is a series of sea waves most commonly caused by an earthquake beneath the sea floor. In the open ocean, tsunami waves travel at speeds of up to 600 miles per hour. As the waves enter shallow water, they may rise rapidly. The waves can kill and injure people and cause great property damage where they come ashore. The first wave is often not the largest; successive waves may be spaced many minutes apart and continue arriving for a number of hours.
IF YOU FEEL A STRONG EARTHQUAKE WHEN YOU ARE ON THE COAST:
1. Drop and cover. If possible, get under a sturdy object and hold on. Watch for falling objects.
2. As soon as the shaking is over, move to higher ground or inland. A tsunami may be coming. Go on foot immediately. Do not wait for an additional warning.
3. Stay away from the coast. Waves may continue to arrive for hours.
4. Listen to your radio for an official "all clear" before returning to the coastal area.
WHAT IS A LOW-LYING AREA AND HOW HIGH IS HIGH GROUND?
Typical peak wave heights from large tsunamis in the Pacific Ocean over the last 80 years have been between 21 and 45 feet at the shoreline. A few waves, however, have been higher locally- as much as 100 feet in a few isolated locations.
The best general advice available today is to:
- Go to an area 100 feet above sea level, if possible, or go up to 2 miles inland. If you can not get this high or far, go as high and far as you can. Every foot inland or upwards may make a difference.
- Go on foot if at all possible because of traffic, damage to roads, downed power lines, and other earthquake debris.
HOW DO I KNOW WHEN TO EVACUATE?
A major tsunami-producing earthquake will likely shake the ground strongly for at least 20 seconds. Get into the habit of counting how long the earthquake shaking lasts. If you count 20 seconds of strong ground shaking, evacuate as soon as it is safe to do so.
If evacuation is impossible, the third floor or higher of a reinforced concrete building may offer protection, but such a building should be used only as a last resort.
WHAT CAN I DO AHEAD OF TIME?
1. Make disaster plans now. Talk to the people you live with about what may happen during a strong earthquake. If you live or work in a low-lying coastal area, know where to go to survive a tsunami. Hold earthquake/tsunami drills at home or at work.
2. Assemble a portable disaster supply kit. Have a kit available in your car, at home and at work. Your kit should include a portable radio with fresh batteries, water, first aid supplies, flashlight, and extra clothes or a blanket. Put your kit in a backpack and leave it in a convenient place.
3. Contact local emergency officials. Find out what areas are most vulnerable to tsunami hazards, which areas are safe, and which routes are best for evacuation.
4. Take a first aid class. Learn survival skills, talk with your family, friends and neighbors. Knowledge is your greatest defense against any potential disaster.
5. Join a neighborhood emergency response team. Contact your local Office of Emergency Services to learn whether there is such a program in your city or county. Or start one in your own neighborhood.
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