tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285944574753141681.post4982733440326175135..comments2023-09-20T10:20:51.181+02:00Comments on La Vie Cevenole/Leven in Amsterdam.: Of DOM-TOM past and present.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285944574753141681.post-13224649565130005562010-01-21T03:02:20.446+01:002010-01-21T03:02:20.446+01:00It is sad when houses are being built where it mig...It is sad when houses are being built where it might not be safe. People build on the hills of Malibu, LA county... and every year or so, fires come through and burn everything. We have earthquake faults all over California, but millions of people live there. We don't get rain very often, but when we do, houses are flooded if they were built in flood zones... It is what it is.<br />Earthquakes are very scary. In a second you can lose everything you own, even lives. No amount of safety can prevent the wrath of "mother nature".Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06031276247743743680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285944574753141681.post-31391096543521374272010-01-21T02:14:02.101+01:002010-01-21T02:14:02.101+01:00Nadege, that sounds...unsettling. I have never be...Nadege, that sounds...unsettling. I have never been in an earthquake, it must be unnerving. Aren't the building codes and technology in place to minimize the impact? Or is the "big one" predicted to be so massive that it won't matter? <br /><br />In some ways it is frustrating because there is so much need out there, and I know that as much-needed funds are directed to this disaster in Haiti, other vulnerable, impoverished zones may get fewer funds. But the images are so affecting, and at some point you just have to step up and respond to another human being's desperation in any way possible, even if it seems small in the grand scheme of things. And you hope others join in.<br /><br />We have significant flooding periodically in this part of France, and a few years ago it was really catastrophic, with water levels rising to second stories, a car floating in a supermarket, deaths, etc. Children came to school mute with shock. But the thing is, people had built on areas that historically flood every 50 years or so. The housing demand was irresistible. It almost seems as though they were hoping it wouldn't happen this time. But it did. In some places, you still see the marks on the landscape. The highwater marks are notched on the buildings in Sommieres.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03437876558716264896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285944574753141681.post-23657390351076829612010-01-20T15:38:28.370+01:002010-01-20T15:38:28.370+01:00Unfortunately, I can imagine this same disaster ha...Unfortunately, I can imagine this same disaster happening to Los Angeles. We had an aftershock last week from one of last year's earthquake. Scientists have been saying for years to beware of the "big one". We all know it will happen but here we are, staying put and hoping it won't happen in our lifetime. It is not denial, it's that we have nowhere else to go to. Our jobs are here... so we stay.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06031276247743743680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285944574753141681.post-31372814043399268162010-01-19T18:23:40.317+01:002010-01-19T18:23:40.317+01:00Great news! You made my evening, after a long slo...Great news! You made my evening, after a long slog of a day. Let's hope others will join in. Can you imagine that scale of disaster happening to your neighborhood and family? <br /><br />I really hope you are right about that comparison to Europe...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03437876558716264896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285944574753141681.post-61540083123355999592010-01-19T17:17:39.452+01:002010-01-19T17:17:39.452+01:00I've sent $100 to Partners in Health. So many ...I've sent $100 to Partners in Health. So many people have been touched by this tragedy, a new chapter is opening for them.<br />Europe was rebuilt after WWII, I think there is a very good chance it will also happen to Haiti.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06031276247743743680noreply@blogger.com