Enormous loss of Life

[cfdavid]

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not to be scientifically morbid, but how big was this tsunami? I read 20 feet high...how could it possibly cause so much damage? Was it moving at a incredibly fast rate or something? How can a 20 or even 40 foot wave be so damaging? wouldn't it just run after hitting the beach?

If you've ever been white water rafting, you'd know how powerfull water can be. I've experienced class 5 rapids (the highest is 6 and you can't do that commercially), and they're crazy fast and powerfull.

We dumped once right in the middle of a class 5 and it was super scary. The water literally throws you around like a rag doll. I swear I was going to inhale water, but then at the last minute it spit me back up (keep in mind, I had a life jacket on, but it didn't matter) I can't imagine what it was like a few days ago for those people.

The big thing now will be keeping disease at bay, but I'm not sure if that will be possible.

 

[MedicineBird]

If you've ever been white water rafting, you'd know how powerfull water can be. I've experienced class 5 rapids (the highest is 6 and you can't do that commercially), and they're crazy fast and powerfull.

We dumped once right in the middle of a class 5 and it was super scary. The water literally throws you around like a rag doll. I swear I was going to inhale water, but then at the last minute it spit me back up (keep in mind, I had a life jacket on, but it didn't matter) I can't imagine what it was like a few days ago for those people.

The big thing now will be keeping disease at bay, but I'm not sure if that will be possible.

They are saying the waves reached 10 miles inland. You are so right about the power of water. 1 foot of moving water can move a car. As for disease-I think they need to burn everything that doesn't move. Malaria is already breaking out.

 

[Ypo.]

with all due respect to the victims, i don't buy this at all. guess what, if you live on an island or other extended shoreline, water can be dangerous! tsunamis, hurricanes, etc. happen on a regular basis all around the world. its the same with the people who live in the part of america called 'tornado alley' who get caught in tornados. it happens. maybe they didn't have scientists forecasting the disaster on digital satellite tv. that's just the way it is.

How would you like it if a tornado hit your house and then someone said you should have known better for living in such an obvious place for tornadoes? Try living through a natural disaster. I bet once you felt the shock of the situation, you would feel a little differently.

Not to mention that many of the people killed by this tsunami were poor and didn't have a choice of where to live.

 

[akpete]

I have heard it said that events like this and diseases like AIDS are part of a sort of planetary immune system. Thoughts?

I've thought of this too, as I've heard the ideas about AIDS and the destruction of the earth and whatnot. It was one of the first things I thought of, though, when I saw the news. But the very first thing I thought of was my roommate, who is originally from Sri Lanka. He hasn't said a word about it, and we're too afraid to ask... He just acts normal, like nothing happened. 😕

 

[Eyecon82]

What kills me the most is that these poor people have never had a fair chance at life. They live in tents and when it floods, they are the one's affected first. Not the middle, upper class. And now these tsunami waves have taken everything they own...even if it's just a few rags. Donate as much as you can. $1 american dollar can buy an unimaginable amount of food and supplies.

 

[superdevil]

How would you like it if a tornado hit your house and then someone said you should have known better for living in such an obvious place for tornadoes? Try living through a natural disaster. I bet once you felt the shock of the situation, you would feel a little differently.

Not to mention that many of the people killed by this tsunami were poor and didn't have a choice of where to live.

enough with the self-righteous indignation--you misunderstood my post. i was not saying that those who died were at fault or anything, it was merely a reply to another post that said the residents had no warning of such a natural disaster. i tried using reason instead of hand-waving, effusive emotion (which is never well received on SDN, it seems) to illustrate that such horrific events are bound to happen (their regularity not being an issue, here) in certain circumstances (namely, tornadoes in 'tornado alley', tidal waves in coastal lands, etc.). it was not commentary on the event itself--merely on another person's post. jeeeeeeez.

i can't believe the people on SDN are so consistently sanctimonious and judgemental. anyone here who knows me well knows that i'm harmless and friendly.

i would like to end this post by quoting sacrament:

Originally Posted by sacrament
This thread would be an excellent way for adcoms to determine who should be a doctor or not. If anybody shows anything less than complete clothes-tearing horror and an immediate willingness to hop the next flight, then they clearly shouldn't be practicing medicine.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

I am talking to my friend from Thailand on AIM right now; I'm soo relieved and happy she's ok. She told me she almost went to phuket for the holidays but all the hotels were booked so she went to a different beach. She tells me of the devastation first hand...how absolutely awful. 🙁

 

[MedicineBird]

I am talking to my friend from Thailand on AIM right now; I'm soo relieved and happy she's ok. She told me she almost went to phuket for the holidays but all the hotels were booked so she went to a different beach. She tells me of the devastation first hand...how absolutely awful. 🙁

how wonderful that you got a hold of her.

 

[akpete]

anyone here who knows me well knows that i'm harmless and friendly.

I know you're harmless SD!! But I've gotta admit, your post did come across like you just don't care, which I know isn't true. That's the problem with computers, like someone else said. The emotion behind a statement isn't there, and it takes on the emotion of the reader.

 

[gujuDoc]

with all due respect to the victims, i don't buy this at all. guess what, if you live on an island or other extended shoreline, water can be dangerous! tsunamis, hurricanes, etc. happen on a regular basis all around the world. its the same with the people who live in the part of america called 'tornado alley' who get caught in tornados. it happens. maybe they didn't have scientists forecasting the disaster on digital satellite tv. that's just the way it is.

True to an extent. However, I don't know if you heard this on the news but parts of where this tsunami hit in Tamil Nadu, India were tribal villages with no electricity, some areas with very low running water, etc.

So not everywhere had the technology or medical advances to deal with such a crisis.

We in America take for granted all that is given to us because its soooooo much easier to get access to things, even the poor have a better chance here than if they were in some tribal unit in Africa or India, unless you are talking about Native Americans.

So my point is, not everywhere had the technological advances and things that we have to be warned of what may have been coming their way.

 

[MedicineBird]

True to an extent. However, I don't know if you heard this on the news but parts of where this tsunami hit in Tamil Nadu, India were tribal villages with no electricity, some areas with very low running water, etc.

So not everywhere had the technology or medical advances to deal with such a crisis.

We in America take for granted all that is given to us because its soooooo much easier to get access to things, even the poor have a better chance here than if they were in some tribal unit in Africa or India, unless you are talking about Native Americans.

So my point is, not everywhere had the technological advances and things that we have to be warned of what may have been coming their way.

some of the small islands closest to the epicenter of the quake would have had no time to act even if they had technology. The wave hit minutes after the quake. No support teams have reached these islands yet but are expecting that most if not all of the inhabitants were swept away.

 

[Ypo.]

enough with the self-righteous indignation--you misunderstood my post. i was not saying that those who died were at fault or anything, it was merely a reply to another post that said the residents had no warning of such a natural disaster.

🙄

Believe me, I wasn't being self-righteous.


The realization that a natural disaster can happen anytime and anywhere is not adequate forewarning. There is no way that anyone can possibly be prepared for everything that 'might' happen. You really didn't make a very pertinent or relevant comment.

And yes, your post did sound pretty insensitive. I don't mind logic, in fact I prefer it to blind emotion, but I didn't see much logic in your post.

 

[superdevil]

The realization that a natural disaster can happen anytime and anywhere is not adequate forewarning. There is no way that anyone can possibly be prepared for everything that 'might' happen. You really didn't make a very pertinent or relevant comment.

And yes, your post did sound pretty insensitive. I don't mind logic, in fact I prefer it to blind emotion, but I didn't see much logic in your post.

please, for the love of god, stop quoting me. you're just kicking a dead horse by piling on top of me after one poorly received (and poorly worded) comment. i don't see what continuous, unsolicited scolding will accomplish, other than to make you feel like you're a better person than me. i've been a bad boy. i apologize.

just for the record, you still missed the idea: i never said or implied that "a natural disaster can happen anytime and anywhere"...that was the OPPOSITE OF MY POINT. i was just saying...awww nevermind, why should i keep being SDN's pinata??? you're all better than me. i understand now.

anyone else wanna look morally superior to me and kick me while i'm down? 😉

its late, i'm cranky, and i'm sick of total strangers lecturing me after they misunderstand me.

 

[superdevil]

I know you're harmless SD!! But I've gotta admit, your post did come across like you just don't care, which I know isn't true. That's the problem with computers, like someone else said. The emotion behind a statement isn't there, and it takes on the emotion of the reader.

thanks for the understanding, but i'm already the villain, here. 😉 maybe i should just retire from pre-allo. 🙄

 

[MedicineBird]

please, for the love of god, stop quoting me. you're just kicking a dead horse by piling on top of me after one poorly received (and poorly worded) comment. i don't see what continuous, unsolicited scolding will accomplish, other than to make you feel like you're a better person than me. i've been a bad boy. i apologize.

just for the record, you still missed the idea: i never said or implied that "a natural disaster can happen anytime and anywhere"...that was the OPPOSITE OF MY POINT. i was just saying...awww nevermind, why should i keep being SDN's pinata??? you're all better than me. i understand now.

anyone else wanna look morally superior to me and kick me while i'm down? 😉

its late, i'm cranky, and i'm sick of total strangers lecturing me after they misunderstand me.

we HAVE to kick you, SD! We want to get ALL of the candy out of the pinata! 😍

 

[superdevil]

we HAVE to kick you, SD! We want to get ALL of the candy out of the pinata! 😍

i think the last sucker just fell out. i'm friggin' done... 😉

 

[MedicineBird]

i think the last sucker just fell out. i'm friggin' done... 😉

we might still have to rip you to pieces just to make cartain there's nothing wedged in one of your extremeties. OOOOHHHH looks like a pixie stick tore open in here. There's sugary tarty goodness in here everywhere!!! lick lick slurp mmmmm piiiiiixxxiiieee stiiiick. 😀

 

[constructor]

it was a pretty callous post and i don't think computers had anything to do with it.

 

[superdevil]

it was a pretty callous post and i don't think computers had anything to do with it.

i already apologized. thanks for making a cameo and piling on.

 

[evajaclynn]

http://www.toddbinder.com/Toll.aspx

Donate Funds!!!!

 

[Ypo.]

please, for the love of god, stop quoting me. you're just kicking a dead horse by piling on top of me after one poorly received (and poorly worded) comment. i don't see what continuous, unsolicited scolding will accomplish, other than to make you feel like you're a better person than me. i've been a bad boy. i apologize.

just for the record, you still missed the idea: i never said or implied that "a natural disaster can happen anytime and anywhere"...that was the OPPOSITE OF MY POINT. i was just saying...awww nevermind, why should i keep being SDN's pinata??? you're all better than me. i understand now.

anyone else wanna look morally superior to me and kick me while i'm down? 😉

its late, i'm cranky, and i'm sick of total strangers lecturing me after they misunderstand me.

Dude, lighten up... no one missed your point-

It was something like this- "the foolish man built his house upon the sand, the foolish man built his house upon the mud, the wise man built his house upon the rock, and the house on the rock stayed firm."
🙄

You must be from the midwest, because you have an irrational fear of the ocean, my man.

 

[CrystalLamae]

Oh my God! I heard another story about someone who had his baby in his arms as he was escaping the waves, only to discover once he reached safety that the baby had slipped through his arms and he was only holding the baby's clothes. There are countless stories just like that one.
🙁

I read a story where it said that a mother had to choose between her 2 kids. She could only hold on to one. So she let go of her 5 year old. Now as a mother myself, I couldn't imagine having to pick between my daughter or my son. The thought kills me.

 

[Blake]

I read a story where it said that a mother had to choose between her 2 kids. She could only hold on to one. So she let go of her 5 year old. Now as a mother myself, I couldn't imagine having to pick between my daughter or my son. The thought kills me.

But she saved both her kids by doing so.

 

[CrystalLamae]

But she saved both her kids by doing so.

REALLY????? That is awesome!!! I had no idea! That is a huge relief!