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Tsunami Warning Was Stopped
Wizbang ^
| December 28, 2004
| The Nation
Posted on 12/29/2004 6:47:34 AM PST by Melpomene
Just minutes after the earthquake in the Indian Ocean on Sunday morning, Thailand's foremost meteorological experts were sitting together in a crisis meeting. But they decided not to warn about the tsunami "out of courtesy to the tourist industry", writes the Thailand daily newspaper The Nation.
The experts got the news around 8:00 am on Sunday morning local time.
An hour later, the first massive wave struck. But the experts started to discuss the economic impacts when they were discussing if a tsunami warning should be made. The main argument against such a warning was that there have not been any floods in 300 years. Also, the experts believed the Indonesian island Sumatra would be a "cushion" for the southern coast of Thailand. The experts also had bad information; they thought the tremor was 8.1. A similar earthquake occurred in the same area in 2002 with no flooding at all.
...We finally decided not to do anything because the tourist season was in full swing. The hotels were 100% booked full. What if we issued a warning, which would have led to an evacuation, and nothing had happened. What would be the outcome? The tourist industry would be immediately hurt. Our department would not be able to endure a lawsuit...
TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: sumatraquake; thailand; tsunami
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To: Melpomene
Would not want to be the meteorlogical experts who made that decision and live the rest of life with more than 60,000 deaths attached to it.
To: Melpomene
Sounds like the French rationale for letting the panzers drive down the Champs Ellise.
To: Melpomene
the experts started to discuss the economic impacts when they were discussing if a tsunami warning should be made.
That is typically the theme of every disaster movie Hollywood ever made. I always thought the premise was shallow; but I guess not. Reality meets Hollywood.
23
posted on
12/29/2004 6:56:31 AM PST
by
TomGuy
(America: Best friend or worst enemy. Choose wisely.)
To: Melpomene
Im finding all this more and more interesting.
Not only did people know of the possibilty of a tsunami at the USGS and not warn people, but Thailand also knew?
Something sounds really fishy about this whole thing. I mean since when did Thailand's meteorologists start moonlighting as volcanologists?
More on the the Frantic Tsunami Warnings that No One Heard
24
posted on
12/29/2004 6:57:46 AM PST
by
expatguy
(http://laotze.blogspot.com/)
To: jasoncann
Our department would not be able to endure a lawsuit...So they are blaming trial lawyers?
25
posted on
12/29/2004 6:57:47 AM PST
by
airborne
(Dear Lord, please be with my family in Iraq. Keep them close and safe.)
To: Brilliant
They could have at least gotten them off of the beaches and away from the coastline, or off of the ground floors of their hotels.
Comment #27 Removed by Moderator
To: Melpomene; isthisnickcool; HMFIC; Next_Time_NJ; Almab; jasoncann; bjcintennessee; Lancey Howard; ...
But they decided not to warn about the tsunami "out of courtesy to the tourist industry"Amity Island (Jaws) politics! (Don't tell them about the shark. Don't close the beaches....... it's the season.)
This is despicable.
28
posted on
12/29/2004 6:59:24 AM PST
by
beyond the sea
(A man who says he can see through women is missing a lot.)
Comment #29 Removed by Moderator
To: Brilliant
My guess is that there was not enough time to do anything anyway. Less than an hour is not much time to communicate info like that to such a wide area.
The waves went inland approximately 2 miles, per some reports. Had 'visitors' been given even 30 minutes of warning, they could have traveled to a much safer area in that amount of time.
Many of the deaths were families strolling along beaches and playing in the water. They were there on vacation.
30
posted on
12/29/2004 6:59:57 AM PST
by
TomGuy
(America: Best friend or worst enemy. Choose wisely.)
To: Melpomene
The hotels were 100% booked full. What if we issued a warning, which would have led to an evacuation, and nothing had happened. What would be the outcome? The tourist industry would be immediately hurt. Our department would not be able to endure a lawsuit...
Oh yeah people would have been saved.
News Flash
If they are dead they can't spend money.
Must all be economics majors.
(Nothing against economics majors.)
31
posted on
12/29/2004 7:00:12 AM PST
by
pennyfarmer
(A whole lotta people need some killin. (Not the babies))
To: expatguy
32
posted on
12/29/2004 7:01:31 AM PST
by
joesnuffy
(Moderate Islam Is For Dilettantes)
To: All
Death in Venice
33
posted on
12/29/2004 7:02:13 AM PST
by
dighton
To: Melpomene
Also, the experts believed the Indonesian island Sumatra would be a "cushion" for the southern coast of Thailand. How altruistic.
To: Brilliant; Melpomene
My guess is that there was not enough time to do anything anyway. Less than an hour is not much time to communicate info like that to such a wide area.I have to disagree. They could have easily gotten many people away from the rising waters in many resorts and other beach-side areas.
Of course there were many isolated islands, etc. that would never have gotten the word, but the word SHOULD have been spread! This was partially a man-made tragedy.
35
posted on
12/29/2004 7:04:09 AM PST
by
beyond the sea
(A man who says he can see through women is missing a lot.)
To: A Ruckus of Dogs
Not to get off topic but must be the same way the left believes Israel will be a cushion for terror.
36
posted on
12/29/2004 7:05:18 AM PST
by
pennyfarmer
(A whole lotta people need some killin. (Not the babies))
To: dfwgator
My first thought, exactly.Great minds.... ;-)
*****
I can still see the mayor trying to fluff off the bad news and Richard Dreyfuss fuming.
It is exactly the same thing, on a much bigger scale!
37
posted on
12/29/2004 7:06:45 AM PST
by
beyond the sea
(A man who says he can see through women is missing a lot.)
To: beyond the sea
If I can't save my Brother why save my Mother?????
38
posted on
12/29/2004 7:07:01 AM PST
by
pennyfarmer
(A whole lotta people need some killin. (Not the babies))
To: Melpomene
Our department would not be able to endure a lawsuit What makes them think that they wont be sued for NOT giving the warning and for a LOT more?
39
posted on
12/29/2004 7:07:04 AM PST
by
Dave S
To: Melpomene
And what if global warming turns out to be real? What if the worst-case scenarios about environmental destruction and species extinction are real? Aren't the arguments against protective measures totally economic?
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