The earthquake in Somoa and America Somoa this morning got me
thinking about what I would do if caught in that worst case scenario, and what
I would do if I was on my boat.
Not to dwell on the tragic,
but when discussing natural disasters, it can’t be avoided. The December 26th,
2004 Indian Ocean quake caused a tsunami that washed away nearly 230,000 lives,
according to UN statistics, and impressed our collective memory—we all know
where we were when we first heard of the catastrophe. 9.0 Richter scale
earthquakes and subsequent tsunami strikes are rare, (the strongest one prior
to 2004 was the devastating 1964 quake that’s epicenter was in Prince Williams
Sound, Alaska), but it doesn’t have to be earth shattering to damage your
vessel or take your life. And it doesn’t have to be rooted in deep-sea shifts
in the tectonic plates; meteors (think the dinosaurs) and landslides (like the
controversial theory about a large chunk of La Palma in the Canary Islands
dropping into the sea, creating an iminami,
Japanese for “wave of purification”), are also tsunami catalysts.
A few years ago, I was in
Bermuda when a tsunami scare spread across the 12-mile island, and although no
waves actually hit (the news agencies still don’t know if it was a hoax or if,
rather, the reef break coupled with low-lying clouds caused a few people to
panic) it showed how unprepared many people on the island, including natives,
were for this type of natural disaster. Some went toward the 249-foot Town Hill,
others tried to verify the facts with a smatter of phone calls to other
confused islanders, many kept on working along the waterfront, and most just
paused, waiting for a definitive signal as to whether the waves were
approaching or not.
Now, it’s common knowledge
that when you’re on land, you generally follow evacuation routes to the highest
point, but if you’re on a vessel, you’ve got a myriad of other options to
weigh. Can you make it to shore in time to reach high ground? Do you have time
to get outside of a bay or inlet? What are the sea conditions outside? What do
you do if the droves of flotsam left by the receding wave disable your
propulsion? Is the proper survival equipment onboard?
Remember in the open ocean a
tsunami wave is imperceptible and may only measure a few inches, so while there
is a disaster on land, just a bit offshore you may not even notice the
imbroglio. In the blog Tsunami at Sea, laden with story’s from survivors who were on the
water for the 2004 Tsunami, most found that being at sea was the right choice: “We didn’t realize that a
tsunami just had passed us with us hardly noticing anything….On the way back,
the captain informed us that there was something going on, something about big
waves (8-10m) coming our way from Phuket….and we should stay away from land.”
In shallower water,
especially bays and inlets, the effects of the waves are more prominent, as
this blogger noted:
“The
ocean was acting like water in large bowl being tipped from side to side, like
the ocean was moving back and forth between continents. Passing a bay called
‘Au Nang’ we watched as large tracts of water washed from one side to the other
and back again - smashing the coast with every arrival. Some of the sets in the
aftermath were about 8-10 feet high. They were the small ones.”
Juxtaposed
against the first quote, it makes you aware of the need for deep water.
Once a Tsunami warning has been issued, the most critical element
is time. According to NOAA, “If
there is time to move your boat or ship from port to deep water you should weigh
the following considerations:
“·Most large harbors and ports are under the control of a harbor
authority and/or a vessel traffic system. These authorities direct operations
during periods of increased readiness (should a tsunami be expected), including
the forced movement of vessels if deemed necessary. Keep in contact with the
authorities should a forced movement of vessel be directed.
·Smaller ports may not be under the control of a harbor authority.
If you are aware there is a tsunami warning and you have time to move your
vessel to deep water, then you may want to do so in an orderly manner, in
consideration of other vessels. Owners of small boats may find it safest to
leave their boat at the pier and physically move to higher ground, particularly
in the event of a locally-generated tsunami. Concurrent severe weather
conditions (rough seas outside of safe harbor) could present a greater
hazardous situation to small boats, so physically moving yourself to higher
ground may be the only option.
·Damaging wave activity and unpredictable currents can effect
harbors for a period of time following the initial tsunami impact on the coast.
Contact the harbor authority before returning to port making sure to verify
that conditions in the harbor are safe for navigation and berthing.”
To
expound, you must be aware of your vessel’s speed and her ability to make way
through currents that may be both strong and unpredictable. Once you’re clear, remember to wait
until the warning has been retracted and an “all clear” is declared; a second
wave or set of waves is common.
Since
these events are so rare, there is no need to fret; but by now you should have
a contingency plan forming in your head. If you have any suggestion, questions,
or comments, including Tsunami stories of your own, feel free to post them
below.
*For
the Survivor’s Blog see: http://tsunamiatsea.blogspot.com/2005/02/boat-stories.html