American refugee

It started with an earthquake, a sharp jolt that took forever to stop shaking and rolling, and then nothing…but car horn alarms outside the house and in the neighborhood. The mother gathered her two children and went outside in case there were more aftershock quakes. Later news reports indicated that there 100 aftershocks. The immediate neighborhood was in ruins. Houses cracked open, tilted and fallen off their foundations, a nearby overpass broken and collapsed on one side so as to be unusable and blocking the road over which it crossed. People were congregating in small groups, talking and pointing to collapsed houses and overturned cars. Smoke was coming out of several houses, and flames were visible. People could be seen entering a convenience store on the corner, as well as the liquor store, and leaving with arm loads of merchandise and running away. Gunshots could be heard coming from somewhere. Things were beginning to fall apart. “Qick, you two, let’s get inside, off the street” the mother said to her two children. This neighborhood was not good to be in on a good day, let alone at night, and certainly not with the power out, and after a quake with no rescue first responders coming to save you. And that was certain, they were not coming. “ mom, we have to leave. This city is going to be a war zone by morning. We have to get out now” Tommy, the 15 year old son said.” Okay, let’s pack some clothes, warm ones and cold ones, heavy boots, a hat, towels, blankets, things for the road. We don’t know how long we will be on the road. Oh, and bottles of drinking water. And food.Don’t forget your toothbrush.” Evelyn, the mother said.

‘With a burst of energy, they all started gathering what they needed, filling back packs and staging them by the front door. The work was being done by flashlight, as there was no power. They loaded the car and with a last look around, Evelyn got behind the wheel and started the engine. Tommy and his sister Susie climbed in as well, and put on their safety belts. There were no cars on the street as they drove away, twisting and turning through the neighborhood, seeing all the damage on every block. The crowds of people were getting larger, but still no police or fire trucks. All three of them were in shock, and were silently staring out the windows looking at the devastation around them. Eventually they arrived to the freeway that ran through the city and headed south away from Oakland towards Haywardand Castro Valley. “Mom, where are we going? Tommy asked. “ I don’t know, just out of the Bay Area, away from the city and the chaos that is sure to follow.” Evelyn replied. I must act calm, pretend I know what I’m doing. My kids need to feel safe and confident that I will protect them, she thought to herself. More cars were on the freeway now, all trying to escape the East Bay like they were. Fortunately no overpasses were down and the road was passable. Tommy started fiddling with the radio, looking for a news Chanel. He found one, and the news wasn’t good, but what they all expected. The earthquake was recorded as a 10.9 on the Richter scale, which was huge, major damage to all the cities in the Bay Area, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Mateo bridge had collapsed, as well as the Bay bridge and the Richmond bridge. The Dunbarton bridge had been closed pending a structural inspection was conducted. The quake was centered just off the coast near San Francisco, and a tsunami warning had been issued. Everyone was advised to head to higher ground. “ well, we are doing the right thing. We will be driving up the Altamont Pass soon, and that’s pretty much the highest point around here.” Evelyn said. Just then they drove through Dublin and Pleasanton interchange. There was a lot of overpass damage, emergency vehicles with flashing lights were funneling the traffic through the debris. Traffic was slowing to a crawl, but it was moving. Soon they reached the outskirts of Livermore, and they started climbing up the Altamont. Evelyn started breathing calmly, and told Tommy and Susie things were getting better, they were out of danger.

The news started to urgently report about the tsunami hitting the coastal towns of California and Oregon, and into the Bay, flooding the East Bay cities and towns. Oakland was completely flooded, as was San Leandro, Hayward, Milpitas and Fremont. It was a major catastrophe. Evelyn kept on driving like a robot. She was numb. Before she knew it, they were past Tracy, and were aproaching Stockto, not out of the tsunami danger yet. Every town they past was in ruins, and the news reports kept coming with terrible updates. “Mommy, I have to go to the bathroom” Susie whined. “ ok, I’ll try and fing one” Evelyn said. Just then she saw light burning burning at a truck sto gas station. Flag City. “ there’s a Flying J, oh, and a McDonald’s” Tommy cried out. “We can go pee, fill up with gas and get some food.” Evelyn exited the freeway, and steered to the pumps at the Flying J. It was 5:30am, crack of dawn, and the pumps were jammed with cars of people fleeing the Bay Area. They could hear giant generators running, which was why all the lights were on. Signs were posted everywhere stating that only cash was accepted. Gas station employees were at every pump, taking money and operating the pumps. Everybody around them was frantic. “ I only have a credit card” someone was shouting. “ sorry, the credit card reader is down, cash only”, the pump attendant shouted back. Evelyn filled up, and paid. Next she drove to the McDonald’s, where they used the toilet and purchased some comfort food. She judged that they needed it. “ we have to be careful with our money from now on, we will need it” she admonished Tommy and Susie. Then they drove away towards Sacramento.

‘They started noticing that every exit from the freeway was blocked by emergency vehicles and police carrying shotguns, not allowing any cars to go into the towns running along the road. Cars were pulled over, and people standing next to them, waving down all the passing traffic. They had run out of gas. No one stopped to help them. The news had shocking reports of extreme flooding of the entire Bay Area with thousands dead, and the flooding was reaching far inland to the Central Valley, engulfing farm land and low lying towns like Lodi and Manteca, and most of Stockton. “Oh my god, we just got out in time. I think Flag City truck stop is flooded out” Evelyn exclaimed. “We have to get off I -5 and go into the mountains.” Tommy asked his mom, “ where are we going to go? Do you have a plan?” “Yes, I Know some people in the foothills by Marysville. They will help us” she replied. Oh gosh, It’s been awhile, they were just people I knew briefly, not well. They might not help us at all, she thought to herself. Not really a plan. Wishful thinking. Don’t scare the children.

Evelyn merged right onto highway 99, then right again onto highway 70 toward Marysville, the gateway to the gold fields, and hopefully to her friends that would remember her and be willing to help. The traffic was backed up through Marysville and she saw some building damage, with police vehicles and emergency vehicles blocking all side streets. All traffic was being waved through town. By Lake Ellis they turned onto highway 20, and almost immediately started to climb up into the foothills. Evelyn let out a sigh of relief. They had made it out of the danger of flooding from the tsunami. Before long the entire Central Valley will be an inland sea. She was having doubts about making contact with the acquaintance she knew from years ago that lived up here, if she could even find them. Her children we’re relying on her. What was she going to do?

ahead of her was a roadblock, manned by national guard soldiers, and the line of vehicles slowed to a crawl as each car was stopped and the occupants were interviewed by a soldier. When the car was released to continue their journey, it turned off the road and entered a makeshift camp of tents and trailers. When Evelyn’s turn came, she found out it was a giant FEMA camp, setup as a refugee camp for the displaced people of the earthquake and tsunami disaster. The California governor had declared California an emergency, and brought in the national guard and the federal government rushed a response with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the army to assist with the refugee crisis that was unfolding. After a very long day of driving, Evelyn and her children had found a safe haven in the mountains. They would survive, but their lives were changed for ever.