Hi all
Well we have been rather quiet in the last week which has been because of hard work and late nights working with the international scientists who are currently visiting Samoa to investigate and research the Tsunami. Adam has just written the following which we will share for now until we have a moment to write you more about our experience. I should get back to the report for Governement I am meant to be finishing right now!!
We have both been flat out working with a team of international scientists studying the tsunami. UNESCO had assembled the team, which had people from all around the world - NZ, Australia, USA, Japan. Italy, Brazil. They were being hosted at USP and there were a few USP professors from other campuses involved. Anyway, we heard about this and turned up to their first meeting to find out what they would be doing and a couple of hours later I was out in the field with them! We both ended up working with them all of last week and through the weekend. My part of the team flew out on Monday night, so I am back to normal work now but Angela's team is still here and desperately trying to deliver their report by the end of the day!
I joined up with a team that was measuring how far and how high the tsunami had travelled as well as maximum water depths where this could be found. We were also surveying building damage, recording the extent and nature of damage to various building types. We had some long days in the field, but collected a lot of good data and have already produced a report with our preliminary findings.
Angela got involved with the 'Social Impacts' group. They have been interviewing the survivors to record their experiences - what they felt and saw, how they survived, how they reacted, what are their future plans etc. She ended up working with a guy from Hawaii who videos these stories and they use them at the tsunami museum. They also take these stories and use them in some of the 'how to survive a tsunami' education materials that are produced. She enjoyed it, but found some of it quite hard. After a few long days in the field and listening to some heartbreaking stories she was pretty drained, but has bounced back now. Now she just needs to get her group to deliver their report and she can relax!
That's all for now folks but will be back in touch soon.
Showing posts with label Samoa Tsunami. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Samoa Tsunami. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Friday, October 2, 2009
In the Bubble....
I write to you from the bubble that is Apia. The bubble that has escaped all the devastation that surrounds us. It is like a roller coaster ride of emotions here. On one hand things are continuing in reletive normality, on the other there is the news paper, TV, emails, texts, internet and radio reports and peoples stories that bring the harsh reality back to us.
We are very very lucky to be on the side of the island that was not hit. Our house is close to the sea so it does not bear thinking about if the wave came from the opposite direction. I can tell you I will never be blase again about earthquakes and tsunami sirens. You will see my dust if there is even a hint of a problem. I will not wait for any warnings or stop to pick up my cup of tea. I will be out of here. All the places we love here in Samoa are wiped out. This is nothing compared to the people who have lost their homes and loved ones. It is a devastating and saddening time that breaks our hearts.
We are off to volunteer for the Red Cross over the weekend to see what we can do to help although I have just heard from a friend who is over there today who says they will not let her do anything. Times of disaster like this are no time to put people on pedastals or try and protect the palagis.
We are living in a bubble at the moment but hear daily stories of great tragedy. Fellow Librarians who I work with have lost family members. One reports they just found their 2 year old yesterday in the rubble. You cannot even imagine what people are going through. I am in pain and it must be 100 times worse for them.
Seeing the other side of the island will give us perspective on this disaster. We will report back again next week.
Just before I sign off I want to again thank you all for the messages, texts and calls. Your support and caring has meant so much to us and we are so grateful to firstly be alive and secondly have you all as our friends and family.
Faafetai lava
We are very very lucky to be on the side of the island that was not hit. Our house is close to the sea so it does not bear thinking about if the wave came from the opposite direction. I can tell you I will never be blase again about earthquakes and tsunami sirens. You will see my dust if there is even a hint of a problem. I will not wait for any warnings or stop to pick up my cup of tea. I will be out of here. All the places we love here in Samoa are wiped out. This is nothing compared to the people who have lost their homes and loved ones. It is a devastating and saddening time that breaks our hearts.
We are off to volunteer for the Red Cross over the weekend to see what we can do to help although I have just heard from a friend who is over there today who says they will not let her do anything. Times of disaster like this are no time to put people on pedastals or try and protect the palagis.
We are living in a bubble at the moment but hear daily stories of great tragedy. Fellow Librarians who I work with have lost family members. One reports they just found their 2 year old yesterday in the rubble. You cannot even imagine what people are going through. I am in pain and it must be 100 times worse for them.
Seeing the other side of the island will give us perspective on this disaster. We will report back again next week.
Just before I sign off I want to again thank you all for the messages, texts and calls. Your support and caring has meant so much to us and we are so grateful to firstly be alive and secondly have you all as our friends and family.
Faafetai lava
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)