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Rain stopped, death toll increases...

Bummer! I wrote a really long post this morning and the site timed out trying to post it... Sucks...

Anyway, I caught up on a bunch of news relating the earthquake in Asia. There have been some pretty good reports from other news agencies outside of the US (go figure!). All in all, I don't think we will ever know the devastation first hand. Our US news has a flare for the "hardest hit, most populated, etc." where other news agencies usually report more factual information as opposed to the most dramatic. I would rather get first or second or third had accounts from those which witnesses it. So, here is a little round up of some news if you are interested:

Message on the Mentawai's:
"To give everyone the best update possible - the northern area of the Mentawai Islands off the south end of Siberut did not experience any dramatic problems. I spoke with a good friend of mine who is living on an island over there and he told me firsthand, where he was, the water level got extremely high, then low, high, then low in the course of an hour but that was the extent of it. He didn't know how other areas fared but Padang and its surrounding area including all of the surf charter boats harbored there were not impacted at all.

As far as Bali goes, it's nowhere near the epicenter and was not in harms way for this. I have heard that the north tip of Nias suffered some flooding but if you've been to this area of the world you know how close the people live in proximity to the ocean and when something like this occurs it can be disastrous."

Surf Aid Site Message:
"SurfAid International would like to express our deepest condolences and heartfelt wishes for everyone affected by this tragedy. Initial reports have stated that the Mentawai Islands were not directly impacted by the full brunt of the tsunami that hit other areas throughout SE Asia and that everything appears to be fine overall. News from Padang is equally optimistic with no reports of damaging tides or extreme tidal influences affecting the city or local harbors."

Sumatra:
Allegedly, the quake shoved the entire island of Sumatra about 100 feet to the southwest. - Crazy shit! Mother Nature has a way of sending a pretty strong message.

Reports of over 50,000 casulties thus far. Can only imagine what the final number will be....

In local news, our rains have stopped for the time being. Winds have shifted overnight and now are running NE/E today. The swell has also composed itself and if you just looked at the bouys and the wind, we should be getting some seriously good surf. But, the storm mucked things. I am sure the discharge/runoff was pretty heavy yesterday and into last night. All the OB monitoring stations had the beach posted from yesterday morning. All San Mateo beaches haven't been updated since 12/22 so be careful if you paddle out down there. I will keep ya posted on the comments side if I see any different. I might head out later if my back feels good and the water isn't too smelly.....


Posted by: Kaiser at December 28, 2004 11:08 AM

Quote from someone:

"Good to see a more acurate report of the quake,we live on Simeulue Island(next to the epicentre) and run the surf camp there,luckily for my family ,we were in Australia at the time,but we don't know of the outcome of the people on Simeulue at the time,we have been trying for 2 days to contact the island but phone lines are down,i have flown to Medan,Sumatra today and we will go to the island by boat to access the situation,take as many supplies as we can to help the people there and see if we still have a house.
The Hinako Islands were badly affected,aswell as Nias and i suppose other neighbouring islands.Sibolga and Padang were not badly effected,don't know about Mentawai's.
The surf charter boats from Mentawai that are in Phuket at the time of the Tsunami all seem to be ok.
We'll keep you updated,take care. "

Posted by: Kaiser at December 28, 2004 11:09 AM

Another quote:

"The areas in Acheh or the Spice Islands were not big surf destination due to Christian/Muslim violence. Death Toll in that area will be in the tens of thousands. The Andaman Islands featured in the opening of Thicker than Water were obliterated. Some islands have had survival rates of 30% or less. Sadly, some of these islands were home to some of the most isolated and well preserved indigenous cultures on the planet. Sri Lanka has the highest reported death toll thus far and there are parts of the Maldives that have yet to be contacted. There are many people who have opened up their homes and communities to surfers from all over the world who lost their life in this tragedy. My thoughts and well wishes go out to all of the people who have been devestated by this tragic event."

Posted by: Kaiser at December 28, 2004 11:10 AM

Young man dies while apparently surfing near Montara State Beach

Monday, December 27, 2004
(12-27) 21:27 PST SAN MATEO, Calif. (AP) --

A young man who was apparently surfing near Montara State Beach died in the stormy waters Monday.

The body of a young man wearing a wet suit washed up on shore shortly after being spotted in the water by a witness at 3 p.m. Monday, according to Lt. Lisa Williams of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.

Emergency medical aid was attempted but the unidentified man died at the scene. Police are investigating the death but said no foul play was suspected at this time.

"It appears to be a drowning and it appears to be someone who was in the surf, but we have to eliminate everything else as we go along," Lt. Steve Shively told the San Jose Mercury News. "It's better to be safe than sorry."

Police believe the man had been surfing although no surf board was found. A winter storm that battered California helped contribute to 10-to-12 foot waves at the beach Monday.

"It's really rough out there," said Paul Cole, a battalion chief from the Half Moon Bay Fire Department. "You get into trouble really quick."

Posted by: Ian at December 28, 2004 11:45 AM

blakstah and scr; heading out - christmas eve, 2004.

more x-mas eve


Posted by: seth s. at December 28, 2004 12:24 PM

cool shit seth.

Posted by: bbr at December 28, 2004 12:41 PM

Anybody going out today?? Looks o.k. cept for the floating poo. Would like some company. Funny 'bout all the crowd worries - It hasn't been a problem for days/weeks. What up with dat.

Posted by: Da Grinch at December 28, 2004 12:58 PM

Da Grinch, I think I am going to brave the poo and see what is out there.

Posted by: Kaiser at December 28, 2004 01:12 PM

what's out there. have fun in the poocific.

Posted by: j at December 28, 2004 02:03 PM

I will look for ya!! That's what I'm talkin about. Somebody is stoked to be west of the great highway today..
Ps There are some sweet ones out there. Ask Sharkbait, she will shed some sunlight on the scene.

Posted by: Da grinch at December 28, 2004 02:05 PM

*sunlight* Yes! There were some reaaallly fun looking ones. MUCH warblier now with potential sweet spots. I'd be out there in a second at any time today. But woe! I cannot abide the poo water. 40 minute paddles, yes. Drilling closeouts, yes. Wind, rain, havoc, yes. But not the poo! Anything but the poo!!! I bet Hanky the Christmas poo is bobbing at the peak nearest my street, waiting to scare me with his squeeky voiced greeting. In fact I can see him through my binoculars.

Exercise consisted of pacing up and down the highway, looking misty eyed at the sea and wondering just HOW posted does posted mean, anyway? Tortuous! Discovered the REAL grinch is whoever stole this guy's car keys while he was surfing. Car still there, stuff possibly not. Poo water for the thief, waves for the rest of us!

Cheers for all you Iron Stomach types, kowabunga....

Posted by: s.s. sharkbait at December 28, 2004 04:30 PM

Hidey ho, rain surfers!

Posted by: Nate at December 28, 2004 05:48 PM

oh my lord

Posted by: s.s. sharkbait at December 28, 2004 09:38 PM

Anyone find any vids of the tsunami?

Some interesting vids of "river surfing":
http://www.surfxchange.net/index_video.html

Posted by: wrybread at December 29, 2004 12:35 AM

Seasons greetings to the Niceness Family

With love from Tub Girl:
http://www.redcoat.net/pics/tubgirl.jpg

Posted by: blakestah at December 29, 2004 08:20 AM

ohhhh myyyy gawwwddd i feel ill

Posted by: bbr at December 29, 2004 10:01 AM

Wow Blakestah, I'm not easily grossed out, but you got me on that one. Go Tube Girl.

Posted by: Mexcohen at December 29, 2004 10:09 AM

Posted by: at December 29, 2004 10:29 AM

Here is a link to 6 tsunami videos (more appear as received by the webmaster).

http://www.waxy.org/

Posted by: traut at December 29, 2004 11:10 AM

a visual to help understand the death toll THUS FAR. insane.

a full pacbell park

PLUS

a full candlestick

Posted by: j at December 29, 2004 01:32 PM

werd j

Posted by: pez at December 29, 2004 02:15 PM

FWIW, I just got back from Tahoe (nice powder) and had nothing to do with the tubgirl URL above...I'm pretty sure we all know who posted as me...

Posted by: blakestah at December 29, 2004 02:25 PM

blakestah - how was it, where'd you ski/ride?

Posted by: j at December 29, 2004 03:15 PM

kirkwood, was snowing pretty good, deep powder, too wet...sluggish. Still had fun, be a lot cooler if the powder was lighter.

Posted by: blakestah at December 29, 2004 05:25 PM

Surfable tsunami, but you'd better kick out.

Posted by: wrybread at December 29, 2004 06:41 PM

Taking a look at the looped FNMOC model shows some pretty large stuff at the end of the simulation...hitting Vacnouver. Decriminalized weed and potentially 20s+. I have little faith in the power of five day forceasts, but it has potential.

Posted by: Andrew on 57th at December 29, 2004 06:56 PM

somebody asked how posted is posted. Check out the actual test results - with the exception of earlier in the month, most locations were "compliant" (i.e., green), especially for enteroccocus, the best poo in salt water indicator. By the way, the waves were fun as hell. Small, but caught so many my arms were falling off. Next time.

Posted by: banjo at December 29, 2004 08:56 PM

ob surf video:

http://www.deafsurf.org/movies.html

Posted by: wrybread at December 29, 2004 09:40 PM

hey Bonzer fans...make sure you try to check out the "Off The Wall" Triple Crown episodes on Fox Sports. One of em has a nice little vignette with Duncan Campbell and their new 5 fin setup. Very interesting.

cheers and happy new year to all...

Posted by: jdz at December 29, 2004 09:57 PM

At OB beaches are usually posted after a combined sewer overflow.

In SF, we are lucky. All runoff and sewage is treated and then released, almost always. We have some of the least polluted water in California.

However, on hard rains, the runoff overwhelms the system, and they open the floodgates and pour it all into mother ocean and post the beaches. Usually it stays dirty for 2-3 tide changes.

They will wait until a "clean" test result to take down the postings. They will also post it as dirty after a positive test result. That means that the postings triggered by testing are at least 24 hours delayed from the actual water quality. Which means in winter at OB they aren't worth much. Just call the hotline after a hard rain, don't surf immediately after an overflow, use your head.

And yes, it is poo bacteria that they test for.

Posted by: blakestah at December 29, 2004 10:30 PM

Also, the 5 fin bonzer set-up came out in 1990, 14 years ago. It is nothing new.

Posted by: blakestah at December 29, 2004 10:30 PM

Posted by: at December 30, 2004 04:30 AM

Do we have any local experts on agriculural run-off? I think I know how to mitigate exposure to human/horse/cattle poo. But my thoughts on agricultural run-off is that after a week of rain 1) farmers have not been applying anything new 2) the stuff they had on there that would have washed off already has.

Is my logic totally flawed?

Here's a story I found. New term for the day: FIB - Fecal Indicator Bacteria. They're not testing for poo, they're testing for FIB.

Poo Dispersion

Posted by: Andrew on 57th at December 30, 2004 09:24 AM

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