Tsunami Survived!

All is well in Saipan!  We are safe and sound on our precious, little island.  Thank you to the many who called, sent texts, emails, facebook messages, and sent up prayers and good thoughts.  We felt you and have a much better appreciation for the distance we are away from our families and friends. 

What an experience!  Joey was at soccer practice, and I was at school (one of the many benefits of having one car!).  I was told at 4:30pm that a tsunami warning was in effect for the island (it was slated to come ashore at 6:53pm), and we were to evacuate the school ASAP (we're located right across from the beach!).   I tried to call Joey, but our one and only cell phone was dead.  Isn't it always in situations when you really need it?!  So, I patiently waited for him at school.  He arrived around 6:00pm, and we headed home.  He or his players had no idea we were under a tsunami warning! 

Everyone, and I mean everyone, on island was on the roads heading to higher land--mass exodus.  Gas stations had cars lined ten deep; stores near the beach had their storm windows shuttered; and the convenient stores near our home were packed with people getting necessary supplies...not bread and milk, mind you, but beer. (This is Saipan, after all!)  We arrived home around 6:30pm and braced ourselves...

Nothing.  Absolutely nothing. 

To be honest, we oscillated between taking the warning seriously or not.  Obviously, we did and were prepared for the worst.  However, our house is on very high ground, so it would have to be an enormous tsunami to actually reach us.  We have heard rumors that there was an uncharacteristic three-foot wave that came ashore during the time the tsunami was to hit on the northern part of the island, although none of our news agencies have confirmed that.  Saipan is lucky in its geography for situations like this.  The Marianas Trench and our coral reef that encircles the island are natural barriers for tsunamis.  In fact, we've asked a lot of locals, and they can't remember a time when a tsunami ever hit.  (Typhoons, a very different story.)

So, all in all, it was a normal night.  We liken it to when everyone in Georgia freaks out when snow flurries are in the air and heads to the Wal-Mart for the "necessities."  Why do we always buy bread and milk in situations like that?!  Anyway, it was an experience nonetheless, and we are glad it is behind us.

Unfortunately, this is not the case for the Japanese.  One of my students and Joey's soccer players cannot get a hold of his uncle in Japan who lives in the area where the earthquake and tsunami hit.  Please keep him as well as the hundreds of thousands that have been impacted by these events in your thoughts and prayers.