Natural Disasters (non-fiction) - by Anne Shier (a.k.a. "Annie")

(Based on information obtained from Albert Campbell C.I.’s Geography dept. about Canada)

Natural disasters are a fact of life (and death) in Canada and, particularly, in the rest of the world.  Where you live in the world has a great deal to do with the frequency and intensity of the occurrence of natural disasters like: floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, snow avalanches, and tornadoes.  Of these kinds of disasters, floods and earthquakes tend to occur, by far, more frequently in Canada than other kinds of disasters.  It is an important aspect of human existence that people (like those living in Canada) who are more fortunate are both willing and able to help those who are less fortunate, homeless, starving, injured or living in diseased areas.  Natural disasters have a way of equalizing the human population of the world in a very horrific way.  They have a drastic effect on everyone and, thus, life can never be taken for granted.

Catastrophes, like floods for example, can very easily wipe out the lives of individuals, families, communities, and even whole generations.  So, of course, they can affect our lives greatly.  Flooding is the # 1 natural disaster in Canada in terms of both property damage, as well as, lives lost.  They can occur in any region:  in the countryside or in cities, at virtually any time of the year.  They have affected hundreds of thousands of Canadians.  No Canadian is safe from the ravages of flood waters at any time.

Most flooding occurs when the flow of water in a river or stream exceeds its channel (path).  Floods can also occur along the shorelines of lakes and oceans when water rises after very high runoff, storm surge, or the hammering of waves against the shoreline.  Floods have been recorded since 1983 (and before that).  In January 1983, in Newfoundland, a major flood caused $42 million in property damage.  A rainstorm, a snowmelt and a rapid ice break-up led to severe flooding in the Exploits and Gander River basins.  Damage included the partial destruction of the dam and powerhouse at Bishop’s Falls.  In May 1985, in the North West Territories, a large financial compensation was made to the native people for the spring runoff and ice jams, which flooded the west channel area of the Hay River.  Residents were paid $741,000 of which $496,000 came from the federal government.  And, in July 1986, in Edmonton, Alberta, a flood there was the highest since 1915 and resulted in almost $4 million in damage claims.  Rural and urban flood damages were estimated at $34 million of which $9 million was paid by the federal government.

Catastrophes, like earthquakes, have occurred at 4 different times during the 1700’s:  8 in total from 1663 to 1989.  On September 5, 1663, an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale happened in the Charlesvoix-Kamouraska region in Quebec.  There were reports of vast landslides in the St. Lawrence, Batiscan, and St. Maurice Valleys as a result.  On January 26, 1700, an earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale happened in the underwater Cascadian (subduction) zone, off the shores of Vancouver Island, Washington and Oregon.  This event was widely recorded in oral native accounts and by geographical evidence.  A large tsunami (a.k.a. huge tidal wave) was caused by this earthquake and recorded along the outer coast.  The true extent of the damage was unknown.  In addition, other earthquakes happened on December 6, 1791 near Montreal, and again, on October 17, 1860 in the Charlesvoix-Kamaraska region of Quebec.  Between 1985 and 1989, earthquakes measuring 6.0 to 6.9 on the Richter scale were also recorded.  One happened in the Nahanni region of the North West Territories and was widely felt in Alberta and British Columbia on December 23, 1985.  On November 25, 1988, an earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale hit the Saguenay region in Quebec and was felt in a 1,000-km radius from its epicentre.  And, on Christmas Day in 1989, an earthquake that measured 6.3 on the Richter scale hit the Ungava Peninsula in the east.  Clearly, earthquakes, though few and far between, have occurred from time to time in Canada over the last 200-300 years.  However, in other remote parts of the world (eastern Asia), where earthquakes regularly occur, they can have truly horrific effects.

For example, this year, on March 11, 2011, Japan unfortunately suffered an earthquake that registered 8.9 on the Richter scale.  In the wake of the seismic activity (of the earthquake), a tremendous tsunami that generated 30 foot waves crashed onto Japan’s Pacific coastal shores and devoured much of the country.  On top of dealing with many displaced citizens, Japan was also scrambling to contain a nuclear disaster in Fukushima that was the result of the tsunami’s destructive powers.  Since there are about 60 nuclear power plants in Japan, this kind of disaster could have an even more catastrophic effect, such as, massive radioactivity in the environment.  At the time of reporting, the number of dead from both the earthquake and resulting tsunami was at 8,000 and was expected to climb.  Many other people were missing or injured.  Some people may never be found, since it is thought that their bodies were washed back into the ocean.

In this critical time of need, we, the Campbell community, wanted very much to join the international effort to aid Japan.  We could not stay idle while some of our loved ones and friends were suffering overseas.  This is why the SAC (Student Administrative Council) at Campbell presented “the Home Form Coin Drive”.  Students and staff were encouraged to donate spare change or any amount they felt comfortable donating.  The money collected was to be placed in the envelope given to the home forms by the SAC.  On April 1, 2011, ONE CHOSEN, RESPONSIBLE representative from each home form was appointed to bring the collected money down to the SAC office during their lunch period.  An SAC member who has office hours would be there to collect the money.  After that, the funds that Campbell contributed would be sent to the Canadian Red Cross to help Japan in their recovery efforts.

Other catastrophes, like landslides and snow avalanches, happened starting in 1841 in Quebec.  A rockslide landed unto several houses on Champlain Street and 32 people died as a result.  And, in 1991, in the Purcell Mountains in British Columbia, 9 people died when a snow avalanche struck a helicopter skiing party in the mountains.

Tornadoes are also catastrophes that occur about as often as landslides and snow avalanches in Canada, but they have happened.  On May 31, 1985, a tornado tore its way from Hopeville to Barrie, Ontario, leaving in its wake, 12 people dead and 155 people injured.  It also caused extensive property damage:  1,000 buildings were destroyed at a cost of $100 million.  On July 31, 1987, a tornado tore its way through Edmonton, Alberta.  It left 27 people dead in its wake and 300 people injured.  Thousands were left homeless; there was $300 million in damage caused by the tornado as a result.

Realistically, there is very little that can be done to prevent natural disasters.  All anyone can do is to try to predict when and where they will occur, hopefully getting as much advance notice as possible.  But, the truth is that no one ever really knows when or where something disastrous is going to happen and whose lives it’s going to affect.  As a matter of interest, I’ve compiled these statistics to show that no one is ever really safe from these kinds of natural events.  The best we can do is live our lives as if today is going to be the last day of our lives.  In other words, you can’t count on being here tomorrow, so you should make the most of your life here on Earth today.  That’s what I try to do myself, each and every day.  In my dreams, I fervently hope I get to see the fruits of all my labours.  At the time of writing this, I’d love to live long enough to see my first (and subsequent) books become a great success and my handsome young grandson grow up to be a fine young adult – if that is at all possible.

copyright 2014, Anne Shier.  All rights reserved.