Natural disasters

[happy daze john in oz]

No doubt at some time all of us have been involved in a natural disater of one kind or another, apart from the mad skippers, bosuns and second stewards we came across during our time.
Lou may well appreciate this one.
Last night at about 2100 hours the state of Victoria here in Oz was hit with a 5.4 magnitude earthquake. It was at a depth of about 5 kilometers and centered in the Gippsland area. The effect varied across the state with thankfully no major damage. Though that part of Victoria often has smaller ones it is the biggest since the mid 1970's. We had the experience of feeling as if the house was sliding, whilst some were very much shaken by it. with pictures flying off the walls. This is the third time I have experienced such an event. Boxing Day 2010 in Christchurch and in 1987 in Newcastle NSW here in Oz.
For those who have not experienced it, this earth movement must not be confused with the type associated with the Horizontal Waltz.
Apart from storms, what other natural weather or physical disaster have any of you experienced?
Mike you would have seen Seven oaks become five oaks?

[Frederick Lacey]

Hi John I presume you are refering to the storm of 1987 and the Oak trees blown down in Seven Oaks Kent. Info Wikepedia.

During the Great Storm of 1987 Six of those trees were blown down. Their replacements, planted in a ceremony involving well known people from Television Shows

such as Blue Peter and including locals Gloria Hunniford and Carol Keating were vandalised, leaving only one standing.

There are now Nine Trees on the site, of varying ages.

Fred.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Natural disasters

Does marriage qualify ?

[Lou Barron]

Earth quake in Melbourne well John seeing that Australia send a lot of there dirty weather over to NZ we thought a Earth quake would be a fair exchange

[Neil Morton]

When it occurred my wife thought the possums had donned hobnailed boots to run across our roof.

[j.sabourn]

Back to shipping again, could be classed as a near disaster, definetly an embarrassing moment. Going back again to ancient times, was 2nd. Mate on ship and were discharging part cargo of grain at I believe Salford ? (up the Manchester Ship Canal) This particular Master used to get the 2nd. Mate to do all the paperwork signing off and on, subs, advance notes , pay off slips etc. etc. He took me up to the Shipping Office (It would have been the nearest one to where we were, may have been Manchester???) He told me the crew requirements so many ABs, SOS and JOSs. Deck Boys, Catering staff etc etc. etc. and left me to it, where I was for the next 3 days in the Shipping office from 0900 hrs each morning. Just before sailing I was checking and found we were 3 seamen short and panicked, told the old man, he said sort it out. I phoned up the federation and told them the situation and they immediately sent down 3 replacements, and we sailed. As we were outward bound for Cuba going shorthanded would have been a catastrophe. However going through the last set of locks into the Mersey, the 3 original seamen jumped back on board and now we had 3 extra men which would have been even worse and the company would have been getting rid of some of us that is sure. So we sailed, with a dejected feeling I told the Master the situation and was surprised, he just said thats ok I'll pay the 3 of them off. I had forgotten that we dropped the Pilot off at Point Lynas. Whenever anyone mentions the old pilot satation at point Lynas I always say a Hail Mary, and thank God it was there. Cheers John Sabourn

[happy daze john in oz]

Hi John I presume you are refering to the storm of 1987 and the Oak trees blown down in Seven Oaks Kent. Info Wikepedia.

During the Great Storm of 1987 Six of those trees were blown down. Their replacements, planted in a ceremony involving well known people from Television Shows

such as Blue Peter and including locals Gloria Hunniford and Carol Keating were vandalised, leaving only one standing.

There are now Nine Trees on the site, of varying ages.

Fred.

Never knew that many blew down, but I do recall family over there saying they had no warning from the weather people that the storm was coming.