11 replies to this topic

[Chris Miller]

I know some talked to her earlier, but how about recently? I emailed, but haven't heard back. Tried calling, but no answer.

Hoping everything is OK.

[jimknecht]

She evacuated, as her home is pretty close to the beach, but went back home last night (our time, not hers).

They are considering it a dry run, for when the real deal comes.

[3Koi Maui]

I'm here! Thank you for the concern and kind thoughts.

On Saturday all low-lying areas of the Hawaiian islands were evacuated to high grounds, after the quake in Chile produced a tsunami wave that was headed our way. As we learned, there is only one sensor buoy between Chile and Hawaii, and that buoy recorded waves at around 8'. Tahiti did get those waves, and so the safest course of action was to expect the same here and get people out of harm's way.

Waves travel at 500mph, at people travel at 2mph walking or 5-20 in congested traffic, so it's best to start early to relieve as much of that last minute crowding.

Word first started circulating at 4am, with notice that the warning sirens would sound at 6am, and the waves would be expected at 11am. My visiting guest & I took off just before 6am, thinking that we didn't want to be among any confused fools when the siren sounded. We had a full truck, packed with everything (we thought) we would need, and we headed upcountry to watch from above.

We ended up tailgating in a Longs Drugs parking lot with a couple of hundred other calm happy Mauians. The store handled everything to perfection, including moving key supplies (water, propane, TP) into the aisles in several locations so there wouldn't be any store gridlock, and stocking the two bathroom stalls with a case of TP. Turns out they have an emergency plan, had trained the staff, and executed it well.

The radio stations had learned well from a strong quake a couple years ago, which took out the power for a few days, unfortunately disabling both the emergency sirens and the radio equipment. This time they combined 6 stations into one broadcast from a secure bunker, and took calls and text messages from listeners as well as updates from the authorities. We were well-informed, unlike the quake event when everything went off the air and I had to text my brother in California for updates. Our cell phones were clogged and we couldn't call out, but we could text and email.

Some services were great about calling in updates to the radio station for broadcast. For example, Hawaiian Airlines notified the public that all flights were still on, with the exception of Hilo airport which was closed. People could take their planned flights, or they could reschedule for up to 14 days later with no change fees. All other airlines were quiet on the matter.

We all sat around on chairs or blankets, ate, drank, and chatted. I had everything we would have needed for an extended camp out, plus laptop and backup drives, but forgot my big camera and solar phone charger.

By 11am we did get some water withdrawing, and surging back in, but no large tsunami waves, and by 2ish we had packed back up to head home. By the time we reached the lowlands, the Maui PD had just reopened the roads and we were able to get home. As expected, it called for grilling burgers and hanging out with the neighbors talking about the experience.

We were definitely blessed - no one was hurt, no damage, and the day was bright and clear, making everything easy. Today it's raining, so I thank God for holding back both the waves and the downpour yesterday.

We expect to see t-shirts on sale today, with the appropriate art to mark the event.

My big thanks to Ben Baker, who checked in and relayed messages to my guest's husband in Canada.

What I learned, or re-learned:
1. Communication is always key
2. Make lists, in BIG print, to remember which items to grab that are not stored with the emergency supplies
3. Better packing means less rummaging
4. Make a wallet card of a few key numbers, in case your cell phone dies and you can't auto-dial or remember a phone number. This happened all around us.
5. Expect a party, so bring the fun stuff too

Yup, a good dry run (yes pun), and I lovingly advise you all to check and update your emergency kits and plans.

[royhill]

Good to hear all is well!

[robinr21]

Isa, glad you are okay! And thanks for sharing your evacuation tips. Living in Florida, I should know already.....but the mind gets rusty without recent practice.

[DBeavers]

[quote name='3Koi Maui']I'm here! Thank you for the concern and kind thoughts.


4. Make a wallet card of a few key numbers, in case your cell phone dies and you can't auto-dial or remember a phone number. This happened all around us.
quote]

Isa,

Glad to hear all is well. A bit of extra adventure for you and your guest.

You might want to order some self-promo Magnetic Phone Indexes from TagMaster to get some mileage out of tip #4.

They weren't selling very well in my area - Until Hurricanes, Katrina and Rita demonstrated how useful dead cell phones aren't. Nothing more than a paperweight until re-charged.

I had more people take and use the phone indexes after the storms, and even wrote a couple orders off my PSA.

Dennis

[plantia]

Isa, so glad to hear you and your friend did well!

Dennis, great idea!

[rosec]

Thought of you as the reports of the warnings were going out. So happy that your paradise was spared.

Rose

[epicemb]

Isa - happy to hear that you were spared. My wife and I were in southern Chile at the time and were due to fly to Santiago later that morning. All in our group were watching CNN for news and were happy that Hawaii and just about every other place was spared the tsunami - the towns that were hit by it in Chile were just ravaged by it.

[3Koi Maui]

Hi Steve,
I am so glad you were not in the quake or wave zone! What good fortune for both of us, and how awful for those who were impacted.

Thank you all so very much for your kind thoughts and good wishes. I am thankful to have met such good people here. It's amazing, isn't it, how we can come to know each other, and care, yet may never meet in person?

Thanks again Chris, for creating DT!

[jimknecht]

3Koi Maui said:

Thank you all so very much for your kind thoughts and good wishes. I am thankful to have met such good people here. It's amazing, isn't it, how we can come to know each other, and care, yet may never meet in person?

Thanks again Chris, for creating DT!

Bah! Humbug! :)

Edited by jimknecht, 04 March 2010 - 11:35 AM.

[3Koi Maui]

Yeah well, there are always exceptions. :D