firetender
Community Leader Emeritus
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I live on the island of Maui, Hawaii. The state is the most isolated location on the planet, at least 2,300 miles from the nearest land mass (San Francisco). The island consists of two volcanoes connected by an alluvial flood plain. I live "upcountry", on the slopes of Haleakala, the larger of the two volcanoes.
I'll guess around 100,000 live along the coast. The largest population lives around Kahului, a harbor. This morning, at 5:30 a.m. I was going down the four-lane highway to work in Kahului and I see car lights coming UP the volcano, as if it were rush hour. I went on to work to find about 10 cars at every pump of every gas station in town. At work I was told I wouldn't be working today. I drive the road to Hana (I'm a tour guide, not a medic). There was a tsunami warning.
I probably should have filled up while I was in town because by the time I got to Pukalani, the closest town above the lowlands on Haleakala, traffic was bumper to bumper and 20 to 30 deep cars on line for gas. I knew what I needed to do.
I took every back road I knew to my place, got things a little organized, It took me a half hour to travel a mile. I filled a barrel with water. So I think I'll spend some time writing here, snug at home, listening to the radio while I witness my fellow islanders freak out.
Now, a guy on the radio called in to ask, "Does this mean they won't be delivering Pizzas?" The D.J. answered, "I think it depends. Upcountry is probably okay."
There is a major run on all the stores on the island. There are roads being closed. They are asking us to not use water because they are going to have to disable the water treatment plants; expecting electrical damage. There's a guy selling hot dogs off a stand in Pukalani getting rich. And the Police are gathering in Kihei (south shore loaded with condos and hotels on the shore), getting ready for evacuation. All the boats in Maaleaea Bay (a marina) have pulled out of the harbor to sea at at least a recommended depth of 600 fathoms.
The report is of a 8.5 earthquake that occurred in Chile early this a.m. We're anticipating being "hit" about 11:20 a.m. There was a report of an earthquake originating in Japan, as well. The tsunami sirens have been going off periodically island wide. Gas stations are running out of gas. So far, the biggest waves reported have been six feet, at Tahiti, about 2,700 miles south. A Chileno called in. His family lives in Santiago and they report few deaths, much building damage though.
Tsunamis are a series of waves and you really don't know. I'm not hearing any official break-ins to local radio programming, but I'll cruise a little
The thing is, no evacuation orders have been issued and everybody on their own are flooding Upcountry. I noted no tension a couple hours ago, but now hear of gridlock up in Makawao (my town) and Pukalani. This is pretty fascinating!
I'd love to hear from someone in Honolulu. Betcha a buck it's a freak show!
I just heard that there is only ONE TSUNAMI MEASURING BUOY BETWEEN US AND SOUTH AMERICA. Most vulnerable areas Hilo, Big Island (Hawaii) Kahului here on Maui.
I'll guess around 100,000 live along the coast. The largest population lives around Kahului, a harbor. This morning, at 5:30 a.m. I was going down the four-lane highway to work in Kahului and I see car lights coming UP the volcano, as if it were rush hour. I went on to work to find about 10 cars at every pump of every gas station in town. At work I was told I wouldn't be working today. I drive the road to Hana (I'm a tour guide, not a medic). There was a tsunami warning.
I probably should have filled up while I was in town because by the time I got to Pukalani, the closest town above the lowlands on Haleakala, traffic was bumper to bumper and 20 to 30 deep cars on line for gas. I knew what I needed to do.
I took every back road I knew to my place, got things a little organized, It took me a half hour to travel a mile. I filled a barrel with water. So I think I'll spend some time writing here, snug at home, listening to the radio while I witness my fellow islanders freak out.
Now, a guy on the radio called in to ask, "Does this mean they won't be delivering Pizzas?" The D.J. answered, "I think it depends. Upcountry is probably okay."
There is a major run on all the stores on the island. There are roads being closed. They are asking us to not use water because they are going to have to disable the water treatment plants; expecting electrical damage. There's a guy selling hot dogs off a stand in Pukalani getting rich. And the Police are gathering in Kihei (south shore loaded with condos and hotels on the shore), getting ready for evacuation. All the boats in Maaleaea Bay (a marina) have pulled out of the harbor to sea at at least a recommended depth of 600 fathoms.
The report is of a 8.5 earthquake that occurred in Chile early this a.m. We're anticipating being "hit" about 11:20 a.m. There was a report of an earthquake originating in Japan, as well. The tsunami sirens have been going off periodically island wide. Gas stations are running out of gas. So far, the biggest waves reported have been six feet, at Tahiti, about 2,700 miles south. A Chileno called in. His family lives in Santiago and they report few deaths, much building damage though.
Tsunamis are a series of waves and you really don't know. I'm not hearing any official break-ins to local radio programming, but I'll cruise a little
The thing is, no evacuation orders have been issued and everybody on their own are flooding Upcountry. I noted no tension a couple hours ago, but now hear of gridlock up in Makawao (my town) and Pukalani. This is pretty fascinating!
I'd love to hear from someone in Honolulu. Betcha a buck it's a freak show!
I just heard that there is only ONE TSUNAMI MEASURING BUOY BETWEEN US AND SOUTH AMERICA. Most vulnerable areas Hilo, Big Island (Hawaii) Kahului here on Maui.
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