Charlie+G

__ **My Sleeping Bag Suit** __ For our unit of inquiry about natural disasters, I designed and made a sleeping bag suit that is used not to withstand a tsunami, but to help people after the event. My sleeping bag suit is designed so that at night it is a sleeping bag and then by unzipping and rolling up the bottom of the bag it turns in to a nice, warm jumper/dress and there is also a detachable hod to keep you warm.



__** Tsunamis **__ Tsunamis are a series of waves, of up to 65m high, which kill thousands of people a year. Tsunamis happen many more times than you see on the news, but they are normally so small you cannot see them. But the thing is, that as well as small tsunamis, there are big tsunamis and they kill millions.

Tsunamis don’t just appear, there is a cause, and that cause is earthquakes. Earthquakes occur when two or more tectonic plates (huge plates of rock under the earth’s crust) get pushed together by the currents in the molten rock underneath. The impact of the plates creates a shock wave that travels up through the earth’s crust to the surface, whilst violently shaking the area. A tsunami appears when there is an earthquake under the sea, which pushes the water to form waves. These waves hit the land at very high speeds and the force (and some of the water) from the waves keep on going, knocking down things such as buildings.

Tsunamis don’t only kill; the impact of a tsunami can affect the whole world. First of all the tsunamis destroy buildings, sometimes even towns and the government is expected to pay to rebuild, which can cause arguments in parliament. Secondly, tsunamis completely water log soil, which destroys crops, so local food is reduced. Finally, if the country exports and the goods have been damaged, the exports will stop and they won’t earn as much money to pay for the rebuilding.

Tsunamis didn’t start happening last week; there have been many waves all through history. Below are listed some big tsunamis from 1908-1998: Italian coastal cities || Dec 25 1908 || 120,000 ||
 * Place || Date || Estimated Deaths ||
 * Messina in Sicily &
 * Sagami Bay, Kanto Plain, Atami and Nebukawa, Japan || Sep 11 1923 || 145,000 ||
 * Sanriku, Japan || Mar 3 1933 || 2,970 ||
 * Chile || May 1960 || 2,300 ||
 * Mindanao, Philippines || Aug 17 1976 || 8,000 ||
 * Flores Island & Babi Island || Dec 12 1992 || 1690 (Flores)

263 (Babi) ||
 * Papua - New Guinea || July 17, 1998 || 3,000 ||

Now you know what a tsunami is, you should know how to prepare for one. First of all, you have to have a look for warnings on the television and radio. If there is a tsunami coming, get away from the sea and on to high ground. Make sure you have a ‘Go-Kit’ that includes: - Food (long life) - Water - Medication - Change of Clothes - First Aid Supplies - Copies of Important Documents - Pet Care Items (if you have pet) - Baby Care Items (if you have a baby)

Finally, make sure your ‘Go-Kit’ is in an easy to access place for quick get a ways.