Safe Over Sorry

Hawaii has suffered property damage, mostly to piers and boats, from the tsunami. No injuries or deaths have been reported. [Update: the Honolulu mayor has issued an all-clear statement.] [Sodden thought: I've seen too many movies where the worst happens after the politician or general says the danger has passed!]

The gauge at Nawiliwili Harbor showed a 2.1 foot surge; Haleiwa recorded a 3.6 foot surge; and Hanalei recorded 2.8 feet. The weather service says a gauge at Hilo Harbor showed a 2-foot surge. Kawaihae saw a 2.8 foot increase.

The videos of the destruction in Japan spooked nearly everyone who could have been in the tsunami's path. Last night (of course living in earthquake country we should have done this long time ago) we packed our bug out bags and reviewed our bug out lists. Fortunately, we didn't have to see whether our plans were going to work.

The news this morning showed that the damage in California paralleled that in Hawaii. Marine assets have been heavily damaged in Crescent City and Santa Cruz, but no persons have been hurt. [Update: a man who tried to photograph the waves near Crescent City has likely been killed.]

So what's with all the civil defense sirens, evacuations, and school closures--were they precautionary overkill? Perhaps this time. But one of these days we are going to have to implement those plans, and we have the suffering people of Japan to thank for reminding us do them.