Once again the world is rocked by a disaster such that anybody who hears about it or sees the photographs is horrified and instantly concerned for the people who live where it has happened. This time it is Japan who was hit by a natural disaster of the sort nobody can predict. We can know earthquakes will happen but not when nor how bad they will be when they come.
It is frightening for the lack of control since humans like to think they have a grasp on everything. Not only do we not have a grasp on nature but we can't even really control human interactions. We can though as humans send whatever help we can to the people who have suffered the latest example of the power of nature. In the end, we just live on this planet and if we forget that, frequent reminders come along to let us know the real situation.
When we were at the beach last week-end, we were staying in a house in the tsunami zone. Oregon has these signs to let you know all the way along the coastline. I wondered what the horn would sound like if we were to be there and get the warning. I had earlier read an article about the quake that the Oregon coast expects which could be the same magnitude as that which hit Japan. The writer said you have half an hour from the time of the quake to get to higher ground. If any is anywhere nearby, you are better off running for it than trying to drive as the roads are likely to become clogged and nobody gets out that way. I did look to see where that ground would be... just in case.
Wherever we are, whether we live where we have warnings or not, we need to be alert, pay attention to signals, and live each day fully because we really do never know.
Photo from last week-end, by farm boss, our last evening at the beach for the family trip. It is looking out at the Pacific Ocean where the vastness always awes one, the power, the majesty and the devastation it can wreak when it turns on us. I generally like to wade in it at least once when I am down there. I never turn my back on it for long or take it for granted. We should keep that in mind about all of nature.
Yes I am looking around my house at all the torpedoes hanging onmy walls and standing around. Maybe I should buy a heavy dining room table. It is important to think of such things
ReplyDeleteEvery time something like this happens, we get a reminder in the Pacific Northwest that it will come here and it'll be very bad when it does; so then I go around getting bookcases secured to walls, etc etc... then time passes and I forget about it again. Definitely it will happen though and we are actually overdue.
ReplyDeleteTime for me to get serious about building a disaster relief kit -- something small and portable AND something in a rolling garbage can that can hold water and canned food. What a mess.
ReplyDeleteEarthquakes are as scary as any phenomenon in nature.
ReplyDeleteI spent much of my youth and many years after in Japan. This is just heartbreaking,
ReplyDeleteGorgeous sunset photos, Rain. Glad you didn't hear the tsunami warning.
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