Busy and Busier
So, as I have been sitting here there have been two more aftershocks...they really never end. it has been a week and one day since the 7.0 earthquake. They are not causing damage but they certainly get our attention. I need to remind myself they should be smaller and probably won't be dagerous. There have been thousands of aftershocks and we feel one every few hours now at least. I hope we don't have any more large earthquakes but it is hard to stop thinking about it.
It has been very nice to have a weekend day at home without being really sick, hosting a holiday and having a large, destructive and frightening earthquake to deal with. Last weekend we were still terrifed of another large earthquake and prepared to evacuate the building. I was exhausted from not getting sleep, trying to take care of pets and tenant's damage and our building and broken belongings.
The rest and relaxation are over however. Tomorrow we have to work on the rental building and I also have to go to my job. I have more to do than I can possibly get done so I stayed late at work last night and I have to go in on the weekend as well. It has been a perfect storm for me at work. First I had problems with my Outlook email at work which slowed me down. Then we had the earthquake on the day I had a lot to do. It is my busiest time of the year as well. I adjudicate water use for all the oil and gas companies in the state and this is their busy work season. They use water to build ice roads (which take a million gallons per mile) to protect the tundra. They are not allowed to build regular roads through the protected environment. They build ice roads which are used during the winter and melt away in the summer. There are many small lakes in the area but there may not be much liquid water available under the ice. If there are fish in the lakes only a certain amount of water may be taken depeding on the kind of fish and conditions. If there are sensitive fish or anadromous fish, there are more stringent guidelines as to how much water may be taken. I have to find bathymetry or use formulas to estimate the volume of these lakes, streams and rivers, determine if there are contaminated sites nearby, if there are other users on the sources, require water sharing agreements between users to make sure volumes are not exceeded, lay out water withdrawal reporting requirments etc. I need to juggle dozens of these authorizations at once this time of the year. Sometimes there are competing requests and not enough water to go around.
I also adjudicate water use from wells and mixed seawater near shore all around the state if the use if for oil and gas exploration or production.
I currently have authorizations from dozens of lakes as well as a river waiting for me at work and have many of these due next week.
I have never needed to go in on a weekend before and it is largely due to the earthquake that I do now. So, I can't really complain.
I can't believe it will be our 6 year anniversary this coming week and Christmas is coming too. I hope things settle down a bit so we can enjoy it.
Another aftershock now......the world never stops moving for us.
Onward and Upwards,
Jessica
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Well, I learned something new. I didn't realize that the ice roads were built to protect the tundra. Interesting! I know it's often easier to drive in winter because roads are ice instead of dust...and, no, you are right. The world just never stops moving, does it?
Glad to hear you are coming out the other side of the tunnel, at least a little bit.
Yes, it is a huge undertaking and takes a ton of water/and or snow and ice packed down to make them.
We had another large aftershock this morning of 4.8. It is pretty crazy.
Thanks!
When you are ready to look at them, I'll send you those pictures of my display at my booth in Juneau. I'll need an email address, though. Send via PM and I will send pics.
Thanks Fran. I am still super busy. The next two days will be crazy. I got two more authorizations done today but have 5 more to get out the next two days as well.
Hope you get through it all okay. The pictures will wait for you. Take your time on them. You have a plateful. Hope you get through your next two days okay.
Good Morning Jessica,
This has been a tremendous week for you, your husband and the pets. Let's hope those earthquakes stop now and your life gets back to normal. I am keeping my fingers crossed, all the best.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
Hi Taetske. We had a 4.8 this morning that felt very strong. I guess the aftershocks can continue for many months. This quake was on a subduction zone (where one techtonic plate subsides beneath another). This is where the Pacific Plate sinks down under the North American plate. So, there is pretty limitless potential for quakes I guess. They can keep going for a long time. I am happy as long as they are not destructive. I have never been scared of earthquakes since I am used to them but this last one was actually scary. When you realize any heavy items could fall down and injure you or your pets and your building can sustain so much damage there is no way we could afford to fix it, things start to get scary. I am fine with the small ones. If I knew they would go on like this (5.0 and smaller) forever I wouldn't care. The problem is that we never know when another big one (like the 1964 earthquake of 9.2) could hit again. It makes me wonder if I should move back to a less earthquake prone part of the state! In order to get away from them would be hard however. We are on the "Ring of Fire" where the Pacific plate is subsiding so that affects the entire southern coastline of Alaska and surrounding areas. Then there are other large faults through the middle of the state as well. We also have volcanoes that can produce earthquakes although I don't think those earthquakes usually get as large.
Everyone here is going to get sick of hearing about earthquakes from me!
Thanks for caring!
Jessica
Good Morning Jessica,
I am happy to hear you are safe. The worst I ever experienced was around 3.0 and for me quite an event as those things hardly ever happen here.
I hope you had time to clean the mess and it kind of looks normal in your place.
Sending you best wishes from the south of Spain, Taetske
A 3 is a baby quake here. Thank you Taetske. Things are picked up but it will be a long time before we can fix all the cracks etc. in the building.
Though I know this is a "business" website, I find it so interesting to learn about people from different parts of the country/world. Who knew there is a job out there to adjudicate water for ice roads?! Crazy man, but cool. I'm from Ohio and we deal with snow, earthquakes do happen here but they many only be once in a long while, I only remember about 4-5 in my lifetime, and they are very mild in comparison. It sounds like you've been faced with some impossible tasks, but you always seem to rise to the occasion. I'm hoping your future is a little less "moving" and a lot more restful. Best wishes...
Hello JoanMarie,
I love learning about other member's lives here too. It makes the platform feel more real and alive. There was another 4.8 here this morning...
I don't picture Ohio having earthquakes!
Thanks for the good wishes.
Jessica
Prayers for your safety! Hopefully you’ll get some needed rest soon!
Thanks for keeping us updated on your situation!
Cora
Hi Jessica,
I spent a lot of time wondering if I should move to the US, at one point, until I went on holiday to Greece and found myself waking one morning to the bed dancing along the floor. That brought me to my senses and I extended my holiday to help with some of the rescue attempts.
After that I found myself wondering how on earth anyone couls live under that kind of constant threat, and why on earth I would move to it willingly. So you have my utmost respect.
Rgds
Ade
Well the last two in recent years are the only ones I have been in that did any damage. I have lived here all my life so it isn't a normal event to have large earthquakes. I would not want to live somewhere with deadly hot temperatures, poisonous snakes or tornadoes. I guess we get used to whatever natural disasters are in our area.
Thanks!
Jessica
Very true, but I have gotten used to taking my excitement in moderation nowadays. LOL
Rgds
Ade
You have a lot to deal with Jessica! I hope the aftershocks stop soon, and you are able to get back to some sort of normality.
Your job sounds very interesting, coming from a warm climate we tend not to think about things like making roads from ice. Although, we do have to watch our water as we are at the other end of the scale with drought. Our farmers out west are doing it pretty tough at the moment.
I know you have a heap of work to do, but try to take a little time out to celebrate your anniversary and enjoy your Christmas.
All the best
Jenny
Well we don't have ice roads here where I live either. The area where this takes place is 700-800 miles north of us. It is a long ways away, but Alaska is a huge state!
The area where they want this water can be almost a desert as well. There is very little rain in summer and little snow in winter so we have to be careful how much water is allowed to be taken. I am glad we don't have any serious drought problems here though. Water is probably the best resource we have here as a state. We probably have millions of lakes and thousands of rivers and streams.
Thanks!
Jessica
It is very interesting to hear how other countries function, thanks Jessica. We have the common ground of the precious resource of water. We just had a telethon to raise money for the farmers, there is no feed for the livestock, cause the grass won't grow. Also the crops won't grow, so they are going broke, loosing their farms, some after many generations, some are committing suicide, it's really sad.
Jenny
Wow, that is sad Jenny. Drought is terrible. Unfortunately, extreme flooding and droughts are becoming more common due to climate change. There is always the possibility for extreme weather however.
I hope your drought gets better.
Hey, Jessica, my thoughts are with you those aftershocks can start to take their toll, feels like they will never end. looks like your workload has increased as well.
I hope that you have a nice Christmas and even if things are rumbling around celebrate that anniversary.
I don't know when things seem really bad and the stress and the pressure is mounting there will be a break in the clouds and the sun will shine again.
Take care.
Alex
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You are just very busy and constantly going. Hopefully, you can get some rest over the holidays. I am going to PM you about a matter.
Take it easy and take care of yourself.
Mary
Thank you Mary. I would love some more rest. I had a restful day yesterday which was nice!
You are so very welcome it was my pleasure and I understand about needing rest. I am so happy that you got some rest yesterday. That was really good.
Mary
That was good I know that you do need more rest may be hoping you can get some more rest during the week and the weekend providing you don 't have to work.
Mary
Hopefully I won't have to go to my job this weekend but I will have to go work on the 6-plex. Thanks!
Yes, I hope I can get some more now! Need to get to bed.
I understand that but you just try to take it easy and get some rest soon. At least you get a break from your job.
Maybe after you are done at the 6-plex you can get some rest then. I am just concern about you that's all.
Mary
I understand that you get to bed and get some rest because I know that you are exhausted.
Mary
Yes, thanks Mary. I got three more authorizations done today. So that is 10 down and two more to go tomorrow!
You are so very welcome and that is great news you are getting it all done and I know you must be happy about that.
Mary