Writing About: A Tsunami

When I set out to write this post, a million things flooded my brain, and then my mind went blank. I’ve come to the conclusion that this post is the most difficult one I’ve EVER had to write in the three years I’ve done this Writing About feature on my blog. Because of that, I’m abandoning my normal format of 5-10 pointers with detailed descriptions for each. Instead, I’ve constructed a list of things to remember.

Keep in mind this is for a devastating tsunami:

-       Flocks of birds fly away from the shore (away from the wave).

-       A rumbling sound in the air and all around.

-       A blast of wind and mist.

-       The wave approaches like a massive (40-50 foot) wave on the shore but with impeccable speed and surprising force.

-       People caught in the wave are twisted round and round.

-       Objects hit them in the water.

-       They struggle to reach the surface and keep their head above the water.

-       It’s almost impossible to hold their breath.

-       If they survive the initial impact and don’t drown, many try to grab onto something. Anything.

-       The water rushes them inland (most can travel for one mile).

-       The wave is so strong that it can lift vehicles, toss boats, tear apart houses, and even uproot trees.

-       There’s usually more than one wave in a tsunami and the first isn’t even the biggest.

-       After sometime, the movement slows, stops, and then reverses. This is when people and debris get carried out to sea.

-       Debris will be everywhere. The ground will be muddy and flooded in some places.

-       Survivors will have injuries (bruises, cuts, deep gashes, broken bones, etc.)

-       Some survivors are either naked or missing articles of clothing because the water ripped it off their bodies.

-       Getting to safety and higher ground is the #1 goal along with finding loved ones they may never see again.

-       When aid arrives, helicopters will be flying over, people will be searching for survivors and the dead, and supplies will be coming in, such as food, water, and blankets.

-       Most people will go to shelters and the hospital for treatment and to search for loved ones.

-       It takes many years for places hit by a massive tsunami to get back to normal, and even then it will never be like it once was. Same can be said for the survivors.

I recommend watching The Impossible about the tsunami that hit Thailand in 2004 and reading true accounts from tsunami survivors. But also to do a lot of research about tsunamis and the setting of your story to understand what would happen if a tsunami struck that specific location.

QUESTION: Have you see the movie THE IMPOSSIBLE? What do you think about the disaster for Book 3 being a tsunami?