ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES.
If.....you become a reporter and stay one for any length of time? Well you are going to be out there reporting on most natural disaster phenomena known to man. I've missed a few. Let's see....
Lightning? Been to lightning caused fires, been to stories where lightning has taken lives. Been to stories of miraculous survivals from lightning strikes. Stood within 200 ft. of lightning strikes.
Forest fires? Too many to count living here in the Rockies. You always remember the pained expressions of those who've lost homes or loved ones.
Blizzards? Almost too many to count. People buried alive in snow drifts. Seen ranchers entire live stock herds wiped out. Landed in military chopper, and then traveled a quarter of mile in 5 to 10 foot snow drifts to rescue hunters.
Tornadoes? Chased them, ran from them, witnessed them, but mostly reported on the impressive aftermaths. Seen entire communities leveled. Hard to believe there could be that much force in the universe.
Floods? Can't remember how many trailer parks I've seen wiped out by flooding....how many lives taken by high water. Why do they let them build those parks in flood planes?
Hurricanes? Not been in one or reported on one. But Peggy and I were in Cozumel a week after one there. I'd call the damage moderate. And on that trip we spent a night in New Orleans just before Katrina hit. Just the thoughts of our timing leaves an impression.
Tsunamis? Only seen the results of them along the Pacific Northwest coast. If you are paying attention along Highway 1 and 101 north of San Francisco all the way to Alaska you'll see all these markers showing you escape routes if one hits.
Ironically there is one natural disaster I've clearly never reported on.
Want to avoid lightning? Stay inside. Don't climb mountains above tree line after noon.
Forest fires? Clear growth around your property. Pay attention to fire warnings. Know an escape route.
Blizzard. You'll know its coming. Get inside or underground or break the speed limit getting to grandma's house. Have provisions around.
Tornadoes? React to warnings Go underground or as last resort into a gully. If you are going to out run them (in a motor vehicle) make sure you're going the opposite direction.
Hurricanes? Inland.
Floods and Tsunamis? Higher ground.
How about EARTHQUAKES? Know what to do when an EARTHQUAKE HITS? Me neither.
And the irony is I grew in California. I know all about slip faults ( The San Andreas Fault is a slip fault.) I know all about thrust faults. (Those are the ones they always portray in movies because the land moving up and down is more dramatic than moving back and forth.)
I've been through the "rolling earthquakes", the "shakers", watched the dishes fly out of the cupboard, seen the watter slosh up out of the pool. But ask me what to do when an EARTHQUAKE HITS?
NOTHING! I HAVE NO IDEA. It is the only experience in my life that has given me TOTAL HUMILITY.
It is a sensation you will never forget. As I've said to many people in and outside EARTHQUAKE territory? Please forgive me, but I MISS THEM.
