2005/03/31

TSUNAMI SAFETY RULES

What to do?

1. All earthquakes do not cause tsunamis, but many do. When you hear that an earthquake has occurred, stand by for a tsunami emergency

2. An earthquake in your area is a natural tsunami warning. Do not stay in low-lying coastal areas after a strong earthquake has been felt.

3. A tsunami is not a single wave, but a series of waves. Stay out of danger areas until an "all-clear" is issued by competent authority.

4. Approaching tsunamis are sometimes preceded by a noticeable rise or fall of coastal water. This is nature's tsunami warning and should be heeded.

5. Small tsunami at one point on the shore can be extremely large a few miles away. Don't let the modest size of one make you lose respect for all.

6. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center does not issue false alarms. When a Warning is issued, a tsunami exists. The tsunami of May 1960 killed 61 people in Hilo, Hawaii, and they thought it was "just another false alarm."

7. All tsunamis like hurricanes are potentially dangerous, even though they may not damage every coastline they strike.

8. Never go down to the shore to watch for a tsunami. When you can see the wave you are too close to escape it. Never try to surf a tsunami; tsunamis do not curl or break like surfing waves.
9. Sooner or later, tsunamis visit every coastline in the Pacific. Warnings apply to you if you live in any Pacific coastal area.

10. During a tsunami emergency, your local civil defense, police, and other emergency organizations will try to save your life. Give them your fullest cooperation.

advice from:
International Tsunami Information Center

又再震……

3月29日,午夜12時的鐘聲響起9分鐘後,檳城和大馬半島各地又陷入另一場恐慌,這場來自蘇門答臘半島西岸的震波,把許多酣睡中的人“震”醒了。

不是吧,又再一次海嘯?

但願這一次會受到老天爺的眷顧,全球人民不必再為無辜的人命犧性哀悼吧?

時間慢慢地過去了,南亞和東南亞各國已發出海嘯警報,在現場播報的電視螢幕上,可以見到震央地區的災民迅速地遠離海邊,這是一場災難性的逃亡,因為大家都擔心震波引起的海嘯,把他們一一淹沒了。

這邊廂,離開震央超過500公里的檳城,民眾也紛紛全家人擠上轎車,大家的心裡都在想,能夠遠離岸邊越遠越好,1226的那場悲劇太可怕了。

凌晨3時,在檳州政府設立的行動中心裡,致電詢問的民眾源源不絕,接線員忙得不可開交,領導檳州政府的許子根正在不斷地接收和發送來自各地的簡訊,他偶而拿起電話撥打,臉上十分冷靜,我相信他的心裡是十分焦慮。

震波結束4小時了,震央附近地區沒有傳來任何惡訊,大家的心情才恢復平靜。可是,這一次的“震撼”所引起的警慌非我們所能料及,尤其在短短3個月內,兩次的震波構成的影響完全不一樣,第一次,大家毫無戒備,第二次,大家卻如世界末日來臨般逃難。

看來,我們都不希望再一次的“震撼”,它所造成的反應太可怕了。

2005/03/28

重新出發

最近,忙著上課讀書,已經很久沒有為自己的BLOG更新了,實在很慚愧。

身邊的一些朋友也似乎忙著自己的工作,各別的BLOG也死氣沉沉的,好像忘記了還有一個小小的“無病呻呤”空間。

以前不珍惜讀書的日子,年紀輕輕就到社會工作,做了11年的新聞工作之後,發覺自己還沒有學到任何東西,毅然之下決定重拾書本,做回一個學生。

上了兩門課之後,原來真的對新聞工作(大眾傳播比較恰當)一竅不通,這一次總算走對了道路。

其實,很久以前已打算做回學生,但兜兜轉轉了十多年,機會才出現在眼前,倘若不趁目前仍然單身又沒有女朋友的時候讀書,我知道以後會更辛苦。

老實說,做回學生的感覺真好,休假一個星期,不需要面對工作壓力,可以專心地讀書。加上下月一日開始即將脫離已跑了11年的突發新聞路線,心情終於感到輕鬆無比。

對我來說,這一切都是新的開始……