Nicole's+Story



=== It was 5:00 in the morning, in Hawaii when I was awoken by the shaking of the hotel I was staying in. I immediately got up, because I was extremely confused. I thought it was just my imagination so I went back to bed. Then, the ground shook again, and I got up. The shaking wasn't enough to wake a lot of people up, so I assumed nobody was running out yet. I turned on the TV and went to the news channel. There was a women announcing that there was a major earthquake coming, that would have many life-threatening aftershocks and would also cause a huge //tsunami.// At that point, I was shocked. I sat there watching the TV with a blank expression. They announced the //magnitude// was expected to be around 8.2. The estimated //epicenter// would be really close to the hotel I was staying at. I had learned at school what a //P wave// was and a S Wave was, and they're //seismic waves//. The Primary waves always came first, then the Secondary waves came second. I was really worried, I didn't know how hard the waves were going to hit. What if I didn't survive? I ran out of my room and my parents ran out quickly behind me. I was outside and there were people running around everywhere. I even saw my friend Zach running across the street screaming. I went to chase after him when another shake happened, and I didn't really know what to do. At this point, there were so many people that I couldn't find my parents. I was so freaked out that I went to follow anyone. At this point, there wasn't much hope though, because I figured if it wasn't the earthquake that would kill me it would be the aftershocks. I noticed the ground began rolling, making buildings roll along with it. The building tumbled to the ground, and I screamed loud. ===

=== I know what type of waves these were, they were surface waves, the most damaging of the waves. I quickly ran away, trying to find somewhere safe to run yet again. Before I know it, I started sinking into the ground. I screamed and tried to get people to help me but they continued to run. This was //liquefaction// and I couldn't believe nobody was helping me. Earthquakes can produce liquefaction which is quicksand. I tried to pull myself out of the sand and someone quickly came and pulled me out. I hoped my parents were okay. I was terrified, I really needed to get out of here. I wish we never went on vacation. I began to follow the person that helped me out of the sand, but the huge building that was right next to me swerved to the side, and crashed right on top of me. My eyes opened quickly, and I realized I was in my hotel room. It was really quiet, and I realized everything was okay, and there was no earthquake. It wasjust a dream. Just then, the hotel started shaking and I realized, here we go again. ===