We knew that a tsunami was possible at 8:30 PM yesterday. By midnight – it was pretty clear that something would happen. The local TV station went into 24 news mode. And we were told that the sirens would go off at 6AM. Civilized.
By morning, they said 6-12 foot tsunami might happen. We are on about the 4th floor up from the ocean. So, we moved the car to higher ground and then decided to stay. It was OK with the hotel. So, they locked up our part of the building – we could get out but no one could come in – and we had most of the hotel to ourselves. We hung out by our private pool for a while. And when the appointed hour for the tsunami arrival we when and sat on the deck over looking the ocean. It was an understated tsunami. It came at low tide. Then the ocean set up into having the tide come in and the tide go out on a ten minute cycle – not a normal 10 hour cycle. We measured it by the tires that are used as bumpers on the the pier. About a 2 foot swing – which a sort of our average hi/lo tide swing. All in all – a non-event.
The hotel sent everyone away at 8AM on buses to the evac center – they came back at about 3PM. I am real glad we didn’t go.
And, we were not totally irresponsible. If it looked dangerous – we had already moved the car to safety and packed backpacks with essentials. Right out back of our hotel is a really steep hill – so, we had an exit strategy. Grab a pack and start running. And, we kept our shoes on. Which definitely facilitates running!
One problem, we had almost no food. Because we are leaving on Tuesday. But, for lunch – I made Mac and Cheese. Yakisoba Noodles, the end of the mayo, the end of the sour cream, the end of the cheese. And the last avocado.
Fortunately, the emergency was cancelled – so I made it up the hill to the grocery and got some fish and rice for dinner. And a apple for our veggie choice.
