Whether you have been on this island for a while or just arrived, you’ve probably experienced an earthquake, one of the perks of living with active volcanoes.
Kilauea and Mauna Loa always seem poised to burst into action, and the tremors are warnings from Pele to get ready. We never know exactly when she will make a grand entrance, but I think of ’quakes as a way of shaking herself awake to prepare for another award-winning performance.
When I was in elementary school in Hilo, we had earthquake as well as fire drills. Get under the desk! Stand in the doorway!
Decades later, the official website for the U.S. government, www.ready.gov, warns us to not step in the doorway because those in modern houses are not strong enough to withstand earthquakes. Looking at old plantation-style island homes with a dozen stairs up to the main floor, lucky we’re still alive.
Earthquakes in Hawaii are frequent, but in Seattle? No, except on Feb. 28, 2001, when a really big one caught us off-guard, measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale. It was named Nisqually for its epicenter in south Puget Sound near the river and tribal lands.
It struck at 10:54 a.m. (mahalo, Wikipedia) while I was preparing for class in my office at the college. Sirens went off, but we ignored them because of regular false alarms, pulled by pranksters who didn’t want to take a test or turn in an assignment. Someday, when there’s a real fire, faculty will be found sitting at their computer, burnt to a crisp.
Accustomed as I am to earthquakes, I didn’t think much of it until I noticed folks near my office window, frantically racing around like chickens on the lam. When I realized what was happening, I opened the door and saw security people everywhere yelling, “Out! Out!”
Uh … wait. Shouldn’t I be crawling under my desk? But who has time to make calm decisions when the building was swaying and books were falling, so I joined in the fracas. And since our college is a five-story brick building, perhaps hovering together outside on the sidewalk was less dangerous.
Here’s some earthquake advice from the indomitable web: if we are in the shower and a ’quake hits, we are advised to “stay in the stall or tub if you’re mid-lather to avoid falling objects.”
Hmmmm … but if we are “mid- lather,” are we not ourselves in danger of becoming the falling object? And what if I haven’t soaped up yet?
Since I’m not supposed to stand in any doorway, do I wrap a towel around my birthday suit, or do I run out buck-naked and scare the cats? Needless to say, I found this advice hilarious but not helpful.
Useful information can occasionally be detected on the internet, and here’s some.
In the event of an earthquake:
— Drop down and take cover under a desk or table;
— Stay inside until the shaking stops and it’s safe to exit;
— Stay away from bookcases and other furniture that can fall on you;
— Stay away from windows and light fixtures;
— If you’re in bed, hold on and stay there;
— But if you’re in the shower, you’re on your own (I added this one).
Earthquakes are like newborn babies, arriving at all hours of the day or night. Here on Hawaii Island, we can always expect them and should make a plan to be ready for the next big one.
And I’ll let you know when I figure out what to do in a lather.
Rochelle delaCruz was born in Hilo, graduated from Hilo High School, then left to go to college. After teaching for 30 years in Seattle, Wash., she retired and returned home to Hawaii. She welcomes your comments at rainysideview@gmail.com. Her column appears every other Monday.