TsunamiPage

I've been listening to the news about the tsunami over the last few days. It's overwhelming.

One of the areas that's been hit hard is Chennai on the southeast coast of India. It's far far away, but it has affected our little AYE tribe: Rajesh has family there.

Has anyone heard from Rajesh? Is his family okay? Is he okay?

Esther 12.28.04

I've heard from Rajesh - his family was not affected. ED

We are doing fine. There are no warning systems in the Indian Ocean region. Slight tremors were felt at 6:30 AM and the Tsunami hit Chennai at around 9 AM. It is sad that we were not able to save lives with whatever technology we have.

Rajesh Babu 12.28.04

I'm glad to hear Rajesh' family is fine. I feel sorrow for all those lost and the effort needed to restore life for those that survived. I too want to beat the waves like Xerxes. Though I'm not sure that early warning would have accomplished much. Rajesh notes two and a half hours between tremors and arrival. How many people would have gotten the word in that short time? Reasonable earthquake prediction on the other hand could expand that time immeasurably and not just for tsunami victims. Perhaps we need to spend more on seismology to backup improved efforts to sound the alarm.

MikeMelendez 2004.12.31

I found this link in the Swiftwater Rescue yahoo group.

Technology we have. Money to spread information to the necessary area? That's another issue. DonGray 2004.12.31

And the human reactions to getting such information will be chaotic in the short term. Here, that's all they would have.

One of my commonly visited websites has comparative satellite imagery of some of the locations affected:

MikeMelendez 2005.01.03

Unbelievable, but believable, pictures. Perhaps we needed a reminder. We are but fleas on an elephant.- JerryWeinberg 2005.01.03

Whilst the immediate problems resulting from the Tsunami are upper most in your minds.

There are 30,000 (yes, thirty thousand) people dying needlessly every day because they are poor. That is one person, most probably a child, that has died in the time it has taken you to read this posting.

PhilStubbington 2005.01.06

Updated: Thursday, January 6, 2005