Volcano Alert!

In case you are not following the latest in seismic/volcanic news, Indonesia's Mt. Kelud is threatening to blow up. It's last major eruption was in the 1990's, and there were considerable fatalities. Unfortunately villagers in the impact zone are ignoring warnings to leave, so there is a strong chance that this could be a disaster, too.

At what point do you stop feeling sorry for someone who is the victim of a natural disaster?

Don't build in an area that floods every year. Don't build a city below sea level in hurricane country. Don't build on the side of a recently active volcano.

But if you do any of these things, fine, there is something to be said for maximizing resources, even the ones that are temporary. However, when the warnings for evacuation come, and one doesn't evacuate in a timely manner, you just have to scratch your head.

I read about a young man who was not going to leave his new house in the face of Southern California's firestorm. His girlfriend was not going to leave him. The police were to busy to enforce mandatory evacuation rules. I don't know what happened to them. I am sure that since the house was new, and, according to the article, financed, that it was insured. This was not some peasant who had to stay on the land or face starvation, nor was this some old person who was determined to die in his house of several decades, but a young couple in a typical modern development sort of house.

I just don't get it. When the authorities tell me that the fire is on the way, we are going to go. Sure we might pack some photos or even a few books or that sort of thing, but there will be no delays from us.

But, enough of that. My main interest in volcanoes is geological, and, even though this eruption could run towards tragedy, the geological phenomena should still be quite interesting.

Speaking of things seismic, the other night the house shook. Our house is a two story house with a fir frame, so when someone walks down the stairs,one can generally feel it. But this was something bigger, but it was still basically a one-bump and then stop sort of deal. Melanie commented that Amalia must have jumped off something and landed in just the right spot to make the house shake.

Later that night we found out that it was a 5.8 earthquake. There are benefits to living on a stone plug. In some parts of the Bay Area people thought that it was what we so ominously call The Big One. We mistook it for the typical energy of a six year old.

Anyway, earthquakes were a normal part of life in Santa Cruz after the Loma Prieta earthquake. I can't say that you really get used to them, but they do lose their edge after awhile. I suppose they must, or no one would live in Hollister.

My worst personal experience with an earthquake was a few years ago in Redding. An earthquake hit on Thanksgiving when we were up visiting my inlaws. It hit while I was in the shower. I think the last thing you want to be when a major earthquake comes is naked, wet, and soapy. Fortunately the shaking stopped even before I had to deal with being in the aforementioned state, and so I did not actually get to scamble into my clothes so that I wouldn't be naked when the rescue workers dug me out. There is something extra pathetic about a naked corpse in the wake of a natural disaster.

Anyway, I will post more updates on the volcano as I get them.

Posted by erik at November 5, 2007 8:06 AM