Who would have anticipated that on December 26, 2004, one of the rarest natural disasters would occur and affect so many people? An earthquake deep within the Indian Ocean ruptured a 600-mile stretch of the seafloor, displacing millions of tons of water. The tsunami hit the Sumatra province 15 minutes later.
As I continue to try to understand the magnitude of devastation, questions remain unanswered. A warning system exists in some places to predict and warn of the possibility of significant ocean-spanning tsunamis. Over the past 56 years, 5 significant tsunamis have been identified, and 15 warnings were issued that were false alarms. But even given the information and advanced warning, would people heed it? Human nature is more resistant to change than either technology or bureaucracy. Would they trust the technology available or their inner alarms?
Although I cannot validate the following story, it is worth repeating. A school-aged child watched the tide recede minutes before the tsunami came ashore. The low tide exposed hundreds of feet of coral and sea life. Many people, especially children, were awestruck and mesmerized and ventured out onto the seabed. The child had studied this recently in school and recognized the danger. She warned as many as possible to head for higher ground. She saved a significant number of people but could not save them all.
The above analogy could easily occur in the transport environment. If dangers are present, do we recognize the warning signs or listen to our inner voice? Can we communicate our concerns effectively and concisely? We always address the need to make safety our #1 priority. This goal is paramount, but shouldn't communication be at the top of the list? To quote a dear friend and expert in communication, Michelle North, “Communicate quickly, concisely, and often.” She placed as much emphasis on recognizing the inner voice. “You know, the one that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up or your stomach sink. The point is to listen to both. Our lives may depend on it.”
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