The Tsunami Incident by Jordan Griffin
Dr. Bridges
So, Jordan? What is your purpose in coming to counseling?
Jordan Griffin
Well, I'm here because I want to discuss with you my devastating experience in my home state.
(Flashback)
12th grader, Jordan Griffin, had written a short statement on what resilience means for his Social Skills class. The essay reflects on how he lost his family in a tsunami that struck his home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. At first, he was afraid of speaking about the event because it traumatized him for at least 3 weeks. However, after he had spoken to his teacher about his experience, he grew a lot of confidence to share his experience in the auditorium.
Jordan Griffin
Resilience is a word that stood by me ever since I was growing up in South Carolina. The word can mean two different things: The capacity of overcoming adversaries in everyday life and developing a sense of awareness of your surroundings. I tend to avoid passing judgment on other people because I don't want my voice to become misguided. I want to speak about my issue by finding my voice, instead of letting others try to tell me the real answer. The event that I'm sharing with everyone is how I survived a tsunami in Myrtle Beach.
When I was at the beach with my father, I began to hear intense shaking in the ground. People who witnessed the quaking started to panic uncontrollably to the point where one of the children, who has asthma, began to breathe uncontrollably. The mother started to rummage through her child's bag to find his inhaler. As the mother uses the inhaler to help her child breathe, I began to panic because a tidal wave is occurring at full speed. My family also begin to grow worried because we didn't know what to do in a situation like this. As we were attempting to run away from the impact, a young man began to grab me saying that I need to evacuate in a safe environment because the tsunami is coming to create colossal damage to the city. I was scared because I was worried about my family's safety. In my head, my brain was thinking "Jordan? Maybe you should check on your family to see if they're alright." However, at the same time, I didn't want to because I was afraid of seeing my family dead.
Because of this, I begin to cry because my family died trying to escape from the impact. I felt my heart racing due to how big the wave was. I didn't know what to do during this vivid moment. This is why I came here to ask you for advice on how to overcome my experience.
Dr. Bridges
I'm sorry about your loss. I'm also sorry about your situation. But, try and think to yourself, how did you overcome the tsunami incident? What were strategies did you taught yourself?
Jordan Griffin
Well, the strategies that I taught myself during the tsunami were the following:
How to Overcome a Tsunami?
Tsunamis are large ocean waves generated by major earthquakes beneath the ocean floor or major landslides into the ocean. Rising to several feet or higher, they can strike the coast with devastating force. People on beaches or in low coastal areas, such as estuaries and rivers, need to be aware that a tsunami could arrive within minutes of a severe earthquake – and the danger period can continue for many hours. Tsunamis can occur at any time of year, day, or night.
Top Tips
To escape a tsunami, go as high and as far as you can – ideally to a spot 100 feet above sea level or 2 miles away. Every foot inland or upward may make a difference! If you can see the wave, you are too close for safety
If You Feel a Strong Coastal Earthquake
• Drop, cover, and hold on to protect yourself from the.
• When the shaking stops, gather members of your household and review your evacuation plan. A tsunami may be coming within minutes.
• Use an NOAA Weather Radio or stay tuned to a Coast Guard emergency frequency station, or a local radio or television station for updated emergency information.
• Follow instructions issued by local authorities. Recommended evacuation routes may be different from the one you planned, or you may be advised to climb higher.
• If you hear an official tsunami warning or detect signs of a tsunami, evacuate at once. A tsunami warning is issued when authorities are certain that a tsunami threat exists, and there may be little time to get out.
• Take your supplies. Having supplies will make you more comfortable during the evacuation.
• If you evacuate, take your animals with you. If it is not safe for you, it is not safe for them.
• Get to higher ground as far inland as possible. Watching a tsunami from the beach or cliffs could put you in grave danger. If you can see the wave, you are too close to escape it.
• Avoid downed power lines and stay away from buildings and bridges from which heavy objects might fall during an aftershock.
• Stay away until local officials tell you it is safe. A tsunami is a series of waves that may continue for hours. Do not assume that after one wave the danger is over. The next wave may be larger than the first one.
�� If you evacuate, take your animals with you. If it is not safe for you, it is not safe for them.
• Get to higher ground as far inland as possible. Watching a tsunami from the beach or cliffs could put you in grave danger. If you can see the wave, you are too close to escape it.
• Avoid downed power lines and stay away from buildings and bridges from which heavy objects might fall during an aftershock.
• Stay away until local officials tell you it is safe. A tsunami is a series of waves that may continue for hours. Do not assume that after one wave the danger is over. The next wave may be larger than the first one.
Jordan Griffin
Those are the safety precautions that I taught myself.
Dr. Bridges
Thank you for sharing your experience with me Jordan.
Jordan Griffin
You're welcome.