Let’s be careful; watch the rising waters

STEVE SMITH

The officials in Newport estimated that an 8.5 earthquake would

result in approximately 5,000 lives lost and about $12.6 million in

property damage. The good news, if there was any, was that these

figures are far below the numbers of lives lost and the extent of

damage from the tsunami in South Asia.

One member of the city’s Safety Policy Advisory Committee pointed

out, however, that these numbers did not include damages from an

accom- panying tsunami.

A Newport resident wondered if there were enough warning signs and

whether the ones that did exist were of any use.

He said that one sign that reads “Leaving Tsunami Hazard Zone” was

placed in a spot that made it all but useless.

Another tsunami sign in another part of Newport reads “Tsunami

Evacuation Route” but there are no additional signs to direct people

or drivers to the proper evacuation assembly area.

And still another sign reads “Entering Tsunami Hazard Zone,” but

it is also misplaced.

According to a local paper, “The Federal Emergency Management

Agency (FEMA) is working on guidelines to mitigate the effects of a

tsunami. They include construction of ‘safe havens’ designed to

survive a tsunami, equipping port facilities with automatic shut-off

valves to reduce fuel leaks, and landscaping designed to break up a

tsunami’s force. Taking down sand dunes (or dune vegetation) to

improve a view achieves the opposite, FEMA says.”

But too much sand in front of some beachfront homes has been an

issue in the past. Now, in light of the FEMA information, the

disappearance of the dunes discovered a month ago should be treated

as a serious criminal offense if it is found that they were removed

by residents.

Sharp readers will recognize the fact that Newport Beach does not

have any tsunami signs such as the ones I’ve indicated. Those signs

appear in another Newport -- Newport, Ore.

The earthquake fatality and property figures, too, were from

Newport, Ore., as is the Safety Policy Advisory Committee. The local

newspaper in this case is the Newport News. The point of this was to

remind folks that we are not living in a vacuum. Other communities

have had the same tsunami warning challenges we’ve had, and resolving

them should not mean reinventing the wheel.

It’s strictly a matter of using, as a businessperson would, the

“best practices” of other towns, whether it’s sirens, drills, signage

or education.

We cannot completely protect ourselves from all harm. One of these

days, a very big earthquake is going to rock our world. And if it

doesn’t, we’ll have a flood or fire ants or some other natural

disaster. That’s part of life on Earth.

But it seems to me that a more effective tsunami warning system is

needed.

Still, I’m having trouble figuring out why, in the middle of one

of their meetings, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District board of

trustees, located on the high ground of Baker and Bear, decided to

cancel its meeting when the warning hit.

I can’t think of any school or school facility that was in danger

of being damaged by a tsunami.

I’m hoping it was not because that night, they were hearing that a

group of parents actually had something seriously negative to say

about the job they were doing.

***

Three days ago, actress Jamie Lee Curtis spoke to a group of about

400 people at the Balboa Bay Club & Resort.

That day, Curtis told the crowd that it is never too late to make

life changes.

I agree.

Anything worth pursuing often has sacrifices attached. It has

people telling you it can’t or shouldn’t be done. Most of those

people will not understand your passion for doing something that you

know is your destiny.

But when you become successful at your passion (note: that’s

“when,” not “if.”), that success is sweeter.

I encourage you to follow your passion. Trust your instincts, even

when others are telling you in so many words that you are foolish.

Most of all, try your best every day. As my father used to say, “Keep

your feet moving.”Who knows, perhaps you will develop the world’s

best tsunami warning system.

* STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and a freelance writer.