Much a do…

I’ve always held fast to my belief in an old adage… the origins of which are unknown and probably out of context, but I refer to it as,
“The Umbrella Theory”…
Better to have one and not need it…
Then to need one and not have it.

It would seem, the devastating 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Chile on February 27, 2010 in the wee hours of the morning; prompting a Tsunami Warning across the entire Pacific Ocean would be a good example of the application of this theory.

Chile is prone to earthquakes, due to the “Ring of Fire” and the subduction activities of the South American and the Nazca plates into the Peru-Chile Trench.
Because of the almost regularity of earthquakes in Chile, that country has spent almost half a century [Since its last massive 9.5 quake in 1960] training its citizens and re-designing infrastructure in preparation for this inevitable event.
They had an umbrella!

As the rescue operations continue and the recovery and rebuilding begins, the number of casualties remains low. This is not to imply that any loss of life is acceptable, but rather a reminder that without provisions in place, the number of casualties might have been far greater.

So too with the Tsunami…
Images from 2004’s tsunami event still clearly in our minds.
Yet another reminder that science has come a long way, but an equal or greater distance of learning still lies ahead for this phenomenon.
Almost a third of the planet was put on a Tsunami Warning after Chile’s earthquake!
An over reaction? I think not.
Better to have an umbrella and not need it?

Like most people, I kept my ear trained on the news throughout the day as I have dear friends living in Hawaii and that state seems to be impacted by most tsunami events.
I will also admit to a sigh of relief and a slight chuckle as I watched the on going CNN coverage from Hawaii, as “Zero Hour” arrived and little or nothing happened.
Actually, something big did happen!
More data was collected.

As a sidebar to the tsunami data gathered…
in the margins it should be noted…
That no matter how much training and instructions are provided, based on the “Live” video feeds from Waikiki beach … you’re still going to have a few idiots walking along the beach or frolicking in the water!

I’m guessing that CNN thought this tsunami was somehow scripted by Hollywood and water levels would respond on cue, as one would see in most disaster movies. That wasn’t going to happen… There was no music in the background building to a crescendo.

My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Chile as they continue their “in-place” rescue and recovery efforts.
Yet another Phoenix rising from the ashes of Mother Nature’s quirky little habits!
I’m also relieved that the tsunami was milder then anticipated, although I’m still waiting for a confirmation email from those friends in Hawaii.

But wait!
Speaking of Mother Nature and her quirky little habits…
Yet another event preceded Chile’s earthquake by 24-hours on our little global express through the cosmos…
An iceberg, the size of Luxembourg [965 square miles] has broken off a glacier in Antarctica!

Would that be considered an “Ice-Quake”?
Actually, probably not, as it’s fracture was caused by the collision of another iceberg. Sort of like tectonic plates of ice colliding...

People in the mid-west and the northeast are familiar with the loud sound associated with snow melting and sliding off their roofs in big chunks…
Could one begin to imagine the horrific sound or shaking tremblers associated with an ice mass that large, colliding and separating from another ice mass?
Yes we’ve come a long way in learning and understanding, but we still can’t see the horizon.

It’s raining again today here in my little area of Arizona… and I have an umbrella!