The City of Spokane (Within the city limits) has a population of about 190,000 I can't imagine over half of those people dying in one single event. The after affects of this, the disease and the deaths associated with it are of such huge proportions I can't even get my mind around it to understand it.
Would you describe this as a disaster of "Biblical Proportions" whatever that means.
jesse clark

 

One part of this that makes me sooo sad is that US has only put up 34Mil in funds(people in the states win that amount in the lottery), yet we have spent 204Bil in Iraq. Watching the clips on the news are just unreal to even think about, the one where the guys wife gets swept away as he clings on to the rescurer. . . . I made sure to give me wife some extra attention this morning before we left to work. . .you just never know (knock on wood). I feel so bad for those poeple, while we are so lucky to live in the states (or for some of you in BC, the provinces). What a loss of life, what to do. . .it leaves me just feeling . . . . . . . about the world. . . .

 

I remain awestruck over this. I remember the Alaska quake. I have studied photos of the aftermath of the tsunami that struck Hilo, Hi. What a horrible thing to be taken by surprise by such a thing. A terrible tragedy for all those victims and their families. The relief effort will have to be huge.
News commentators quoted experts as saying that Westport and other coastal residents would have about 15 minutes to make it to high ground. I'm seriously thinking of moving, as I'm less than 10' above sea level, and the two dunes between my place and the Pacific wouldn't stop a big one.
The times of full and new moons are considered to be "seismic windows," and this happened during one (full moon this last Sunday).

Jimbo

 

You know what's really wierd about this is that there hasn't been one report of a Dead animal. Although I am sure a few house cats got it, I had heard it on the radio this morning. Very strange!

 

An event of this magnitude sure gets you to thinking, doesn't it? Geologic records along the Washington and Oregon coast indicate that these mega-waves are a fairly frequent occurance. Some have sheared the trees in coastal forest like a scythe cutting wheat for a significant distance inland. Much of the perceived value of coastal property worldwide is based on a calm and benign ocean that is a source of recreation rather than destruction. Many people will begin to rethink this proposition in the months to come and wonder just what their chances are should such an event strike their area. I can't help but think of Floridians who are already in the path of devastating hurricanes and what their chances would be in the face of a tidal wave. The highest point in the state is 345' above sea level! I have more elevation gain on my property than they have in the entire state!

Discoveries about the effect of this quake will probably be made for years to come as the scientific data begins to flow in from around the globe. As an armchair geologist this is fascinating event to watch unfold in terms of tectonic plates and earth movement on a grand scale.

But as a human being it is just horrible to behold in terms of the enormous human suffering it has incurred. I have been waking up at night and just agonizing over the loss of life, infrastructure and total devastation of culture. No one who lives through this will ever look out over the Pacific Ocean again and not see a monster lurking. Paradise Lost indeed. Ive

 

114,000!? The toll keeps rising. I think this is one event where our millitary could acaully be put to good use.

Peace,
Andy

 

This is the worst thing I've ever seen. I am haunted by the horrifying scenes I saw on the news last night, which continue this moment as I sit here in my comfy office sipping my vanilla latte. I think, I wish there was something I could do to help. And there is. All of us can.

You can go to any number of relief organization websites and pledge money. If you don't have one you trust, www.redcross.org is a good place to start. I gave this morning through World Vision at www.worldvision.org. You can't drop what you're doing and hop a plane to give vital assistance like many of the amazing doctors I've been reading about. But your money represents your time and your labor, and you can give it generously. I urge everyone on this site to give liberally and soon. Do it today and you'll get the 2004 deduction.

And to those who have expressed concern that our government hasn't pledged enough. Just wait. At the end of the day, the U.S. will be the largest contributer. Again. As we should be.

 

My wife and I have been just sick about this. I could not believe the footage of family’s literally being ripped from each others arms by rushing water. Seeing a mother and father in agony as they sat beside their dead little toddler son of 2 or 3yrs of age.... I just had to hold back the tears and held my own little sons a little closer...

There are many churches, charities, corporations, and private individuals who are organizing various ways to help out. Clothing, food, water, money, workers, etc. I felt a little warm spot in my heart as I drove home last night and passed a couple young boys standing in the cold rain on their street corner holding a sign that said "hot chocolate for tsunami relief effort".

 

The monetary implications of this disaster areimpossible to quantify or understand. I don't think there is enough money in the world to fix this problem. The many billions of dollars that will be needed just to stabilize the areas that were devastated wont begin to rebuild the dwellings and businesses that were lost. I believe the United States will again be the largest contributor to the relief effort, not only as a nation, but as individual contributors and personnell sent to the area to help. Unfortunately no matter how much we give or how much we help or how much we care, there will be people and nations that will think it is not enough. Fortunately that wont stop us from helping. The U.S. and its people as a whole really docare about the world community. I dd not say these things to spark a debate or expect a response it is just my ramblings.
jesse clark

 

A girl that works for me was in Indonesia at the time. I'm not sure where and I haven't been able to find out any info. yet. We're all hoping for the best!!!

 

My wife was sitting on the couch crying as we watched the tube last night. The only other time I've seen her doing that was after 9/11. We don't have a lot of money laying around, but some of it will certainly be going to help those folks. I hope the Federales feel the same way. Its our duty as citizens of the world to help in situations like this.
I cannot think of a better way to put the Abraham Lincoln to use than to send it over there to help in whatever way they can.
Terrible...terrible...

barbless

 

Wobbled the planet as most of you know. If it had happened in the sound, the death toll could be equally challenging for the mind to accept. I mean, people in Vancouver, B.C. would have died!

I've got three hundred feet of elevation under my belt here at home but I just don't even want to think about such a catasrophe here. 9.0. One hundred times times greater than a 8.0 which is one hundred times times worse than a seven and so on. A 5.0 would cause untold loss of human life and property were it to strike Seattle. (Special thanks to Chris, for setting me straight on this). This just in from the boss:
Well, I'm a little off....

The Richter scale is logarithmic, that is an increase of 1 magnitude unit represents a factor of ten times in amplitude. The seismic waves of a magnitude 6 earthquake are 10 times greater in amplitude than those of a magnitude 5 earthquake. However, in terms of energy release, a magnitude 6 earthquake is about 31 times greater than a magnitude 5.




I'm sending some bucks to the American Red Cross. Yes, I know what you are thinking--they are theives, bandits, and scoundrels. But maybe, even if you are right, at least a few dollars will get through to those who made it but have ruined lives ahead. I don't know what else to do.

I guess it's guilt that motivates me. I don't want to have been alive during the worst catastrophe in human history and have done nothing to help. I am so sorry that Bush missed such an opportunity to show the Islamic people that we care for them by not coming out right away with air force help and human aid. Sort of what I would have suspected; he slept while people screamed.

I don't hate Arab people in general. They are my brothers and sisters as well as you are. I would like to think that I would help you if you needed me. The dream of a world community that genuinely cares for others is years away. But it must come for any of us to know any happiness.

Peace on this day of such sorrow. bawling:

Thanks for taking the time to make this post, Mr. Buckner.

Bob

 

Gotta agree with Bright Rivers. (Can you believe it?) Donations to worthy NGOs are a good way to help. There's a good list in the Seattle Times today; was one in the New York Times yesterday. Took me all of two minutes to make a donation to Mercy Corps yesterday. As someone who once lived through a big earthquake (and lost most of my possessions in the process), I can tell you this can be a big help.

This quake boggles the mind in its power and devastation. I read yesterday that some scientist believes that it may have permanently affected the speed of the earth's rotation and caused some additional tilt in the earth's axis. Some islands in the area moved quite a bit. It is a sober reminder of nature's awesome power.

 

The death toll is 117,000 and rising at this hour. One of the things that bothers me is an article I read a couple days ago about the high cost of medical evacuations for relatively well-to-do Americans from the affected areas to better equipped hospitals in major population centers. Here's a quote from the article in Tuesday's Wall Street Journal:

"Mrs. North also called the U.S. embassy in Bangkok, which gave her the name of a company that airlifts people from hospitals, and she arranged for a $10,000 medical evacuation to get Libby [Mrs. North's daughter] to the hospital in Bangkok."

"Mrs. North is still trying get Libby out of Thailand. One Cleveland hospital she called offered to send a plane with two medical personnel for $160,000. Now she's headed there herself, but she is still concerned about how to get Libby back home safely. She wants to use an airlift service, but she isn't sure where she will get the money."

The notion of a medivac flight for the cost of an average home in Cleveland is quite troubling.

Read the entire article here:
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB110418779392210384-email,00.html

K

 

That does seem twisted. But then, if it were my son or daughter that needed urgent medical care - I might do all I can, blindly focusing my attention without realizing the actual selfishness at first. It is just hard to say without being in their shoes.

Also, I'm sure this is not just an 'american' thing, but a universal rich\poor thing...

 

First some definitons:

Islam: the religion of Muslims collectively which governs their civilization and way of life; the predominant religion of northern Africa, the Middle East, Pakistan and Indonesia

Muslim: a believer or follower of Islam

The % of muslims in affected countries as a % of population:

Indonesia: 85%, Sri Lanka: 7%, India: 10%, Thai: 5%, Malaysia: 70%

Now a fact: Indonesian, Sri Lankans, Indians, Thais, and Malaysians do not consider themselves "Arabs"

Arab: a member of a Semitic people originally from the Arabian peninsula and surrounding territories who speaks Arabic and who inhabits much of the Middle East and northern Africa

Arabian Tribes: Saracen,Bedouin,Beduin,Yemeni,Saudi; Saudi_Arabian, Qatari; Katari,Omani,Palestinian; Palestinian_Arab,Bahraini; Bahreini

THE PEOPLE WE ARE HELPING ARE: CHRISTIANS, BUDDHISTS, HINDUS, AND MUSLIMS.

Now an issue as a former soldier I hold close to my heart: The American Red
Cross. A previous post made many poor implications about this great organization that assisted my fellow soldiers and myself in times of need. Did you know that if you are oversees and a loved one dies, they pay to get you home? Did you know that last year they transfer over 1.4 million emergency messages for soldiers in need?

Some Red Cross Facts:

*Raised over $400 million dollars and provided 20,000 nurses during WWI
*Provided 104,000 nurses and sent 27 million care packages during WWII
*Provide over 50% of the blood supply in the United States
*Assists 175 Countries
*It formed what is know today as FEMA
*An early 2000 national survey by Yankelovich Partners showed that the American Red Cross was the most highly regarded of major U.S. charities, and Money magazine named the Red Cross one of the 10 best-managed charities in the country.
*The American Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to the victims of more than 63,000 disasters nationwide. It has been the primary supplier of lifesaving blood and blood products in the United States for more than 50 years. In 2000 alone the Red Cross collected 6.3 million units of blood.

I for one, am sick of the anti-government, anti-establishment, anti-American bantor from individuals on this site. I encourage all, before posting, to research your facts. Brash generalizing shows your ignorance!

P.S. When you start a sentence with, "I don't hate all Arab people in general", you risk sounding like a racist. It's no differerent than saying, "I don't hate all blacks in general." Both comment are equally as unaccepatble! When you call a charitable organization "thieves, scoundrel, and bandits" you sound like one of those anti-estabishment/government members living in the hills. Intended or not! It's almost 2005; a political correctness class is much needed! :beathead:

 

Gentlemen: Keep it civilized, respectful and keep strong personal comments between "Personal Messages".
Keep the topic on track please.

 

Jason.

First, you need to learn to read. I did not say anything bad that I personally felt toward the Red Cross. Yea, I am giving them money.
I pointed out that they have a bad reputation with many people and I wanted to demonstrate that I trust them well enough to forward some funds. If giving money is being critical, then I don't understand what is commendation. Have you sent any funds?

On the Arabs. I am fully aware that most people affected by this disaster have nothing to do with the Arabs except they share the same religion. But it is this generalized notion that all muslims are Arabs that I was trying to point out as incorrect. And that I don't hate them. I have issues with some, those that would kill me on sight, but these poor muslims in this disaster have never killed anyone.

Please save your defiinitions for a speech before a 7th grade class.

Bob, the Is it really racist to say that you don't hate a generalized noun standing for various ethinic groups?

 

I am so sorry that Bush missed such an opportunity to show the Islamic people that we care for them by not coming out right away with air force help and human aid. Sort of what I would have suspected; he slept while people screamed.

Bob

It's really sad to see people politicizing this tragedy! If you had bothered to check the news, you would have seen that we already had cargo planes flying in supplies and two ships with hospital facilities sailing towards the area the day after the event, even before the magnitude of this tragedy was fully known. That sounds like "right away" to me!

Over 100,000 people have died! Can't people put aside their hatred for President Bush for just a little while?

Thanks for the links, BR.

 

Jason.

First, you need to learn to read. I did not say anything bad that I personally felt toward the Red Cross. Yea, I am giving them money.
I pointed out that they have a bad reputation with many people and I wanted to demonstrate that I trust them well enough to forward some funds. If giving money is being critical, then I don't understand what is commendation. Have you sent any funds?

On the Arabs. I am fully aware that most people affected by this disaster have nothing to do with the Arabs except they share the same religion. But it is this generalized notion that all muslims are Arabs that I was trying to point out as incorrect. And that I don't hate them. I have issues with some, those that would kill me on sight, but these poor muslims in this disaster have never killed anyone.

Please save your defiinitions for a speech before a 7th grade class.

Bob, the Is it really racist to say that you don't hate a generalized noun standing for various ethinic groups?

Bob:

If you are happy with your response, I am as well.

You used the words "thieves, scoundrels, and bandits" in your post. This will of course raise some eyebrows. If you'd like to make a more subtle point, use some less inflamatory words. Most 7th graders could help you compose a better paragraph if you were truly trying to show you supported the Red Cross and the "Arabs". Secondarily, most of the people affected were not "Arabs", nor do they share the same religion as the "Arabs." I don't use generalized terms for groups of people when they are vastly different in beliefs, tradtions, and customs. My life experience has told me that it's a poor idea to lump people into groups. The people affected were of many religions and ethnicities. Let's pray for them all....

 

You know what's really wierd about this is that there hasn't been one report of a Dead animal. Although I am sure a few house cats got it, I had heard it on the radio this morning. Very strange!

Yeah

This is from an email from a women in Padang.
Padang wasn't directly impacted by the wave, but interesting nonetheless:

>The river our hotel sits on went nearly dry, water was sucked out at high
>speed, then came rushing back. I think the rivers are the only thing that
>saved Padang from coastal flooding. Easily, in 3 minutes, at least 1 ?
>meters of water rushed out of the river, then for 5 minutes stopped moving,
>then in 5 minutes, it had filled up again. It was a sight to see. All day
>and all night it continued like this. There were squid swimming in our
>river... never seen that before. Dogs were howling and barking all day and
>night, cockroaches were leaving the fishing boats by the hundreds via ropes
>tied to the land, leeches were climbing the banks to get away from the salt
>water. I actually saw flying fish... in our river.

That is amazing that the cockroaches knew what was up and decided to abandon ship.

I think it's a sixth sense that humans once had and lost through our
'domestication.' I think it may still be present in modern hunter gatherers
and people that still have an initmate connection to nature.

coornad

 

. . . most of the people affected were not "Arabs", nor do they share the same religion as the "Arabs." . . . they are vastly different in beliefs, tradtions, and customs.

I think ol' Bob was just trying to say we should help these poor people. And he's right. If he made a mistake in lumping all the victims into a group, I made a similar mistake a couple days ago.

My wife says, "Honey, I just heard this heartbreaking story about a mother in Somalia who lost her whole family in the tsunami."

"Sweetie," I say (that's the term of affection I use when I'm about to be condescending), "I think you mean Indonesia."

"No, Somalia. Where the tsunami hit," she says.

"Dear," I say, "the tsunami hit Indonesia and Thailand. Somalia isn't even on the same corner of the globe. It's on a completely different continent. Africa, in fact."

My fetching wife (having learned more than a decade ago what you people have suspected for mere months), knowing that I'm right about 40% of the time (making me 10% dumber than two bits), stuck to her guns and exlained what I would later learn from a map on CNN. That this disasterous wave had crossed two oceans and killed scores of people from Thailand to India to Sri Lanka to Somalia and Kenya. The scope of the carnage is literally mind boggling. I'm not sure there has ever in history been a catastrophe that has affected so many diverse people over such a large area.

The world itself is in crisis.

 

Good words, Bright Rivers. What with the war in Iraq and the fear of Iran as a nuclear power and the North African immigration into Southern France and Germany with riots in the Netherlands, we would be fools to pretend that the Arab world is not in crsis with the U.S. and Europe. It would be more clear to differentiate between Arabs and Muslims, though they both share the same religious values. In a way that was my point, however poorly stated.

My hope is that this ongoing cultural clash between Christains and Islam will not impede relief efforts. That people will see people as just that-people- and not a religious or cultural group which they dislike is at the seat of understanding and the furtherance of tolerance and an end to prejudice.

Bob, the I worked my whole life helping minorities of one sort or another in the ghettto school where I taught. To be called a racist does just rattle my cage a bit.

 

I think that one of the things that I find most admirable in these times is that in these times of "me" how people will bend over backwards to help other people. Not just governments but regular ole people.

It's true that we pay much less than other countries in terms of taxes. Consequently, there are some things that other countries have that we don't (i.e. socialized medicine). One of the things that it does allow us is the decision of where to spend our individual money. If you want the new fly rod, you can save your pennies and get it. If you want to give to the charity, you can do that too. The point is that it's your choice. I made the choice between a new vise and giving to the relief effort and feel pretty good about the decision.

In addition to government, a great number of private companies are donating monetary and other aid for the victims. I read a great article about some of the big multinationals giving millions. My company is giving $700K plus matching any employee donations up to $350US for each employee. I think that's pretty cool.

I truly empathize with with the folks in that neck of the woods, but it does warm my heart to see the tremendous outpouring from the entire world including organizations large and small.

T

 

Doctors Without Borders has a handy form that you can print out and mail in a check.

http://www.doctorswithoutborders-usa.org/donate/

IMHO, we as American citizens must give generously if our government is only going to cough up a measly $35M. That was the number I heard yesterday -- I hope it has since increased to $35B.