Shake, Rattle, and Roll!

While eating lunch with Erica today we talked about getting a 72 hour kit and being prepared for a natural disaster or emergency.  It looks like Hurricane Irene may hit the east coast this weekend and Richmond is expected to feel her impact.


After lunch I stopped at a store on my way to work.  Suddenly, out of nowhere, it started to shake...first a little...then a lot...then a lot more.  This lasted a good 30-40 seconds!

I figured it was an earthquake but wanted to be sure so I called the newsroom.  They confirmed my thoughts and told me to get to work immediately.


Within 30 seconds of entering the building, a photographer and I were walking right back out...on our way to the VCU Medical Center.  We were told the biggest hospital in Virginia was being evacuated.


As we hopped into a live truck, I tried...and tried...and tried...and tried to call Erica.  None of my phone calls were going through.  I couldn't send text messages, couldn't send emails, couldn't check the internet for updates, couldn't make any calls.  The phone networks were jammed.


We pulled into downtown Richmond and people were EVERYWHERE.  All of the high-rise office buildings were evacuated and folks were lined up and down the streets.

By the time we got to VCU, the hospital was allowing patients and others back inside.  I was finally able to reach Erica...who strongly felt the earthquake while working.


From here my photographer and I sent to an elderly housing tower.  The stairwell was damaged and engineers didn't think the building was safe so they ordered the 400 people inside to leave.


Imagine moving 400 senior citizens, many in wheelchair or on walkers with oxygen, from an 11 story building with a crumbling stairwell!  The firefighters worked quick and had everyone out in under an hour.


I spent the entire afternoon at this residence tower.  We were on the air for five hours straight with no commercials.  Here's one of my reports:






The 5.8 quake was felt from North Carolina to New York.  Miraculously, no one was killed or seriously hurt.  


Sure, some things were damaged... like the spirals of the Washington DC LDS Temple and the National Cathedral...but things could have been a lot worse.

Erica and I were worried many of our fragile items sitting on our mantle would have fallen to the ground but everything is in perfect condition. (However, some spices in the kitchen dropped to the floor).

With an earthquake behind us and a likely hurricane in front of us, Erica didn't waste any time getting us prepared!  She went straight to the store tonight and began to build our food storage. 


Hopefully this weekend's storm fizzles out...but should it happen, we'll be ready!


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Sad

This has been a sad weekend.

Saturday Erica and I were helping friends move when I got a shocking call that a close friend and co-worker had passed away.

Coz Johnson was a photojournalist who I've worked with several nights a week for the past two and a half years.  We've been all over Virginia covering all kinds of stories.

When I started at WRIC, Coz had only been shooting a few months...but that didn't matter.  He was willing to try new things, tell stories in a creative way, push the envelope, and be as artistic as possible.  I saw him grow as a photographer...and he helped me grow as a reporter.

Coz shooting video of me rappelling. 

You get to know a person pretty well when you spend hundreds of hours with them.  

He knew me well - my wife, my family, my interests, my church.  He came to our ring ceremony and wedding reception. 

I knew Coz well - his interests, his dreams to work in film, his battle with weight and diabetes, his caring easy-going attitude.

He put up with my juvenile number when he'd ask me a question and I'd respond, "Be-COZ..."  Or when I'd say, "This story is for a great COZ."  He'd always respond, "Really, Nate?"

He is a true friend.

Saturday morning, when he didn't show up for work and wasn't answering the phone, two co-workers went to his house. 

His car was there but he wasn't answering the door.  Coz lived alone and it was possible he overslept...but police and EMS were called.

After forcing their way inside, officers discovered that he had passed away.  His heart simply stopped.

I was the last reporter to work with Coz.  His normal days off are Thursday and Friday.  On Wednesday, he called me into the edit bay to show me the story before it went to air.  

I told him I liked it and wished him a good weekend.  A few minutes later, I walked out the door and drove home.

I know Coz is in a better place.  I know he is happy and free of pain.  I know I will see him again.

Still, this has been a sad weekend.