Grandpa Hutchins had felt the earthquake and was just curious about how it had been for us. I told him…

       “Gramps, it was centered just off shore from here. We had to evacuate 42 planes and helicopters from the airport. The whole place was flooded up to 9 feet, and we are all exhausted already.”

       “Oh my gosh! That sounds much worse than I thought.”

       “It is. It looks like we won't be able to get trucks to you anytime soon, or even fly out, there's so much to do.”

       “I understand Sonny… I'll let you get back to work like you always do. You are in my thoughts at times like this.”

       Hung up without allowing me to say goodbye.

       It wasn't until the day after, amid frequent aftershocks, that Mayor Joan Roberts was able to call a meeting at the Medical Center auditorium, mostly via videoconference because so many of the populace were isolated and unable to come to the auditorium in person, including those of us who were trying to restore our lives at LAX.

       As soon as we arrived back at the airport, we joined the other helicopter pilots and passengers in trying to get the runways free of debris as soon as possible. It was already about noon and we had a lot of work to do if everyone was going to get back before dark. Thanks to the abundance of electric pushback tugs, we dragged most of the debris off the runway we were using very quickly. But some of the larger things like whole boats required multiple tugs and even the use of helicopters to get them out of the way/lifted all the way to the water again.

       With debris lining the runway, it wasn't exactly safe in case any of the unexperienced pilots didn't stay on the runway on their landing, but the families at the Ontario airport were all anxious to see how their homes survived and couldn't stay very long at that airport because there were no facilities working… Not even fresh water available except in the emergency packs everyone had, bottled. No food beyond what they had, either.

       One by one, planes started coming back–all of them, except two that veered off the runway and hit debris without any injuries, fortunately, landed safely. Only to find that aftershocks made chills run up and down our spines every time they occurred thinking the worst thought… Is an even worse quake eminent? Should we camp out and not go back into our homes?

       We ended up taking in two families until their apartments could be repaired or rebuilt: the Pope family of four and the Alexander family of six, so we had four toddlers and three on the way. As I surveyed the scene and talked to Ginger and Drake, we had our work cut out for us in the coming weeks as the rains would get stronger every day. The worst time of the year to begin restoration of recently damaged housing here. Some of it would have to wait months. Our initial survey indicated that about 20% of the hangars and apartments would have to be demolished and rebuilt. The rest would have to be worked on from minor repairs like our hanger doors to major repairs and reconstruction. Rather than rebuilding the hangers, unless needed for planes, we planned to house those displaced in the main terminal if they didn't want to move into houses near the airport.

       The meeting was delayed until 9 am to give people more time to get there physically, or, if they couldn't, set up their viewing screens to connect and share with all the others. And, vote if necessary. Finally, Melody and I, along with the two families that shared our apartment, saw a harried looking Mayor Roberts pop onto the 8 foot wide screen and bring the meeting to order.

       “I want to thank you all for bearing with me for not getting to you until now. And, especially for all you have done from your good nature to help others in our community in our time of great need. We don't know how many have died, but the number of those with minor cuts and bruises to major crushing wounds coming into the medical center is growing as I speak.

       “As for those of us in City Hall, now destroyed, as soon as the tsunami warning blew, we evacuated to our planned evacuation storefront on higher ground and have been trying to get it operating ever since. Moving the police station and jail was the hardest. Sheriff Singh, can you fill us in on that?”

       Morgan, showing gray hair he didn't have before on his ample black beard, appeared on the screen.

       “First of all, we had our own emergency. So, responding to your many 911 calls will have to wait until we can marshal resources to do that. As soon as the tsunami warning went off, we had to move a lot of equipment, and most important, prisoners, to an alternate jail at the old police station in Gardenia. That site was vandalized and we are working to get it operating with the equipment we brought and gathering more.

       “Unfortunately, one of the vans we had hauling prisoners with a single deputy driver/guard, was overcome very close to our new destination by one or more of the five prisoners Deputy Chang was carrying and died.

       “Through a sensor we tracked the van to the middle of Watts where it was abandoned. The prisoners were some of the most violent that we had imprisoned rather than executing, because they hadn't gone to trial yet.

       “Fortunately, they are far from most of our population. Unfortunately, they may be on the prowl for water, food, clothes and weapons. Please give us a call if you see any of them–heavily tattooed or in orange clothing–do not approach them but give us a call on 911. We will respond as soon as we can under the circumstances caused by the earthquake and aftershocks.”

       There was a flurry of questions for the chief, but Joan interrupted and told everyone, “I'm sorry, but we can't take questions right now, I suggest that you send an email to the chief and he will decide which of your questions he will answer and whether your concerns are high priority or not, considering his staffing and the earthquake.”

       And then, she asked Captain Jensen to make a report from the Rambler, floating just off Santa Catalina Island. Conducting some rescues of the few survivors of the quake and tsunami there. Waves had reached 300 feet and nearly swamped the entire island. Destroying almost everything on it that was still intact after the earthquake and tore all of the buildings and infrastructural apart.

       “We were docked at the port when the earthquake threw me out of my bed as the Rambler whipped from side to side by the earthquake. There was no time for me to dress, so I slipped on my pants and ran barefoot to the bridge to get the engines started just as the tsunami warning started blaring.

       “Some of our residents were running out the gangway to the dock and heading for higher ground. Fortunately, the men we had assigned to release the mooring lines were with them to be in place just-in-time. I put slack in the lines so they could be lifted off their bollards. Once that was done, I revved the engines full forward and retrieved the lines as we left the dock and lifted the gangway as we went with people scrambling off are back into the ship. Those men on the dock ran for higher ground without getting back on board.

       “Our engines are very powerful, but it takes a bit to get this huge ship underway so we lost precious time as we gained speed and when we reached our maximum 30 kn the Rambler is capable of, faster than I'd ever run her, I could feel the sea falling out from under us as we followed it down going top speed and more until there wasn't enough water to support us and we came close to running aground, starting to list to the right. I was afraid we were going to tip over when there appeared ahead a massive wave building in front of us and it was at least 50 feet tall when it hit the bow and we were thrust upward near vertical as water reached the bridge with huge force.        

       “Those of us on the bridge fell backward and some were injured hitting the back wall, being hit by falling objects or cut by broken glass. Throughout the Rambler we had people falling wherever they were. In state rooms, people were crushed by their beds. In larger rooms like our dining rooms, people fell great distances, some to their death. And then, to be hit by tables and chairs causing lots of injury and death. On the decks, those that were unable to hang on or in the path of the wave were swept overboard. 

       “I was at the wheel and managed to hang onto it. Then, keep the ship into the wave as we climbed up over it onto the top of the wave in the manner of couple of minutes that seemed like an eternity. The second wave resulted from another drop in the Pacific around us but was only about 20 feet and we rose over that with little damage or injury. I understand that the 3rd wave on the shore was the greatest but it was only about a foot by the time it reached where we were, about 15 nautical miles offshore and free from any more waves, aftershocks or greater earthquakes that would follow.

       “We have lots of damage caused by flying objects like tables in the dining room and other larger pieces that weren't tied down. There's lots of broken windows and glass everywhere.  

       “Our infirmary was badly damaged, but is very busy with broken bones, cuts and bruises. We have left the dead where they are for a mass funeral and burial at sea tomorrow. I will forward a list of those who died and who were injured as soon as I can get it done. The whole ship is a bloody mess!” 

       The good captain had to pause and openly cry. A few moments later, after drying his tears with a handkerchief, he continued…

       “For the rest of the ship that is able, everyone is cleaning up all they can. Our food storage areas are a real mess. Everything was stored for rough seas, but not the type of jolting, gravity driven experience that I never had in my life and hope I never have again. 

       “We are worried about Dani's pregnancy since she fell about 10 feet against the back wall and we are not sure without operating ultrasound, whether her fetus, at 8 months, will make it. She has broken ribs that are very painful.

       “We are anchored off Santa Catalina for as long as it takes to see if we can find a dock that will be able to take us. I understand our dock at the port was destroyed and will need to be rebuilt. For now, we will repair and wait. But we don't have enough fuel to do any rescues or relocate people up and down the coast.” He stopped talking and started crying again.

       Mayor Roberts interrupted, “Thank you for that report. We are all stunned by the loss of life and the damage you describe. I don't know what it would’ve been like if we had lost the Rambler that has been such a mainstay for us since the pandemic. Are there any fishing boats out there that can tell us anything about the fleet?”

       Quoc Nguyen with his father, Van, behind him appeared on the screen… 

       “We were offshore of Santa Barbara when our sonar detected the quake and we heard shoreline tsunami alarms going off. By radio, we have learned that most of the fishing fleet was out to sea like us in the Laughing Minnow and weren’t caught by the tsunami waves. 

       “But those that were docked or close offshore fishing and didn’t have enough time to get to calmer waters were either swamped, carried far inland or dragged out to sea–helping some survive. But we fear lots of loss of life and injury–lost fishing boats–perhaps ten.”

       I heard the mayor say, “Drake, can you tell us about the airport situation and your plans for reconstruction?”

       Still shaken by what I heard from the others, I wasn't prepared to answer. I came to my senses and answered.

       “Ginger and I have surveyed. We believe that about 20% of the hangers converted to housing have been destroyed and will need to be rebuilt. Our plan is to house the displaced occupants in the main terminal until we can rebuild or relocate them. About 10% of the rest of the hangers are livable, but have major damage and about 70%, like ours, have minor damage that can be fixed rather quickly.”

       “In the hangers that sustained little damage like two of our jammed hanger doors, most of the airplanes and helicopters that remained may need cleaning or minor repairs from the flooding that occurred throughout the whole airport complex to about 6 feet at the highest wave. Most of the 42 pilots that flew to Ontario International have returned with their passengers because there’s no water or food at that terminal.  Unfortunately, two of the smaller planes crashed when they veered off the runway we had cleared while landing and hit debris. No one was injured but both of those planes are out of commission. All in all, we fared better than I thought we would.

       “Unfortunately, I’m faced with a priority problem with all the debris removal, demolition, renovation and construction ahead. While Ginger and I might be able to do all the planning, we lack manpower to do it. 

       “So, we will have to send you our priority list when we get it finished after reading all the damage reports on the ground and seeing the images from the air. I understand that the dock for the Rambler will have to be rebuilt, but I don’t think it would be wise to rebuild the hotel. 

       “We probably should rebuild/relocate the fish market and access to it for fishing boats, while trying to protect it from future tsunamis if that is possible. Infrastructure will take high priority as well as clearing roadways. It's a massive task that will require everyone’s help to get done.”

       The task I had exhausted me just to describe it and I wasn't sure that I was up to what we would have to do to bring us back where we were just a week ago. I stopped to shed my own tears for what we all needed. 

       Would it ever stop, this punishment? I didn't know. 

       And then, the phone rang just after the meeting was over… It was Daphne!

       As Ginger, Harlan, Melody and the Popes and Alexanders who were staying with us looked on the screen, Daphne told us…

       “It was terrible! Like everybody else, we were thrown from our beds and scrambled for clothes and something to hang onto. There was a terrible roar just outside. And, as it got lighter, I walked out on the front verandah very carefully because it had partially fallen away to see that everything on the west side of the street facing the ocean had fallen away! Drake's house, Martha's house, your house and all the rest. 

       “Even the street was cracked and damaged, making it difficult to leave here for fear of aftershocks and losing more of that street. Those that live on the east side lost parts of their backyards and were mightily shaken like we all were. Can you come to rescue us?” She pleaded.

       “You know, I'm up to my ears in alligators, but we've got to see that damage ourselves. I'll see if Drake and Wondah can come along, and we'll drop everything to take the helicopter up there. We will evacuate anyone who needs to leave. We are already full here, but will make room for those that have to leave.”

       I shook my head in disbelief and said, “I'm sure glad that Marsha is no longer alive to hear what happened. We'd better get going…”

Copyright 2024 © Ronald W. Hull

4/24/24