Natural Disasters: What Are Your Experiences?
Many people never experience the raw power of nature. They go through their daily lives in a semi-hum-drum manner like a drone, humming. Their greatest wake up call is maybe witnessing birth, death, the shock of job loss, the shock of deadly disease, the rush of bungi cord jumping.
Others, like myself, experience the power of nature. In my case, it has been the many earthquakes while living in California near SF. The 1989 quake was brief yet horrifying. So strong, the Golden Gate swayed, other bridges spanning the bay collapsed or closed for damage. At that moment, I was standing in my condo about to make a phone call. At first, I felt weird, dizzy, or so I thought. I wobbled, yet I knew I was health-wise, fine. I tried to shake it off but then I looked around, pictures moved and the large fish tank on counter swished its water back and forth. The shaking got stronger. I screamed to the others on the top floor, "Earthquake! Get out!". Within seconds, the others flew down the stairs and we all gather outside aways from any tall buildings. The earth shook and there was nothing but panic and fear on all residents just standing around. Then it stopped. But, the fear and aftershocks would continue for several days. Many could not sleep that night, I had problems, myself. with communications cut, except for radio, news reports were heard that the Golden Gate Bridge had collapsed or it had suffered damage. The World Series in SF that night, was cancelled. Parts of overpasses and highways did collapse crippling traffic. In the harder hit areas, panic ensued and looting did occur
What happened in Japan is on a scale that is so much larger, I cannot begin to imagine what it must be like for those surviving. They suffered three major disasters: a 9.0 quake, a 30 ft. wall tsunami slamming and wiping out Northern Japan, and nuclear meltdowns. They will be lucky if the death doll remains under 10,000, as not everyone there reacted quick enough, if at all.
What are your personal experiences with disaster?
