09-30-2009, 12:09 PM
I was taking a class yesterday at IPIF- PSW Research Center. Many of the accounts of the events in Tonga & The Samoas were just coming in.
Some of the Institute staff members had many friends & colleagues on these islands. The Park service may have been the hardest hit, with a number of the unaccounted in the Park Service.
It really is a wake up call to all of us, no matter how high up the mountains we may live, almost all of us spend some time in the Tsunami areas. A really good wake up is to visit the tsunami coconut tree on Coconut Island - Moku'ola. You realize that this can, and has happened here.
It is prudent for each of us to take the time to find out where & what you should do if you feel an earthquake or hear the sirens... many visiting Hilo's wonderful beach parks may not realize that the airport is the evacuation route... if there is a short warning, you may need to adapt the plan, as the gates may not be unlocked..
Some of the Institute staff members had many friends & colleagues on these islands. The Park service may have been the hardest hit, with a number of the unaccounted in the Park Service.
It really is a wake up call to all of us, no matter how high up the mountains we may live, almost all of us spend some time in the Tsunami areas. A really good wake up is to visit the tsunami coconut tree on Coconut Island - Moku'ola. You realize that this can, and has happened here.
It is prudent for each of us to take the time to find out where & what you should do if you feel an earthquake or hear the sirens... many visiting Hilo's wonderful beach parks may not realize that the airport is the evacuation route... if there is a short warning, you may need to adapt the plan, as the gates may not be unlocked..