Buzz
Throughout history, humanity has achieved incredible milestones. We've cured deadly diseases, ventured into uncharted territories, and made groundbreaking advances in various fields like science and engineering. However, nature has a way of reminding us of its power, sweeping away our progress in an instant, leaving us helpless as the dust is carried away by the relentless winds.
Natural catastrophes of all kinds have claimed the lives of countless individuals over the centuries. Yet, for each volcanic wasteland, devastated city, and obliterated coastline, there are survivors. Whether by sheer luck, the help of others, or their own resilience and skill, people manage to survive nature’s fury, as demonstrated by the following accounts.
10. Hit by a Lava Bomb
In May 2018, Hawaii's Big Island's Puna district was flooded by lava from multiple fissures. While many fled, some stayed behind to safeguard their homes and those of their neighbors. Among them was Darryl Clinton, who lived just east of the Leilani Estates, an area that was significantly affected by volcanic activity.
Darryl understood the risks. While lava flows are usually slow and easy to avoid, 'lava bombs'—large chunks of molten rock ejected from volcanoes—pose a much greater threat. For five days, he and others would soak homes when molten rock rained down from Fissure 17. They grew adept at predicting where the bombs would land, ensuring they stayed clear of their deadly paths. However, on May 19, Darryl’s luck ran out.
On that fateful day, Darryl was standing on the third-floor lanai of his neighbor’s house, talking on the phone. A lava bomb, which Darryl later described as moving more like a bullet than an arc, struck him in the ankle, knocking him off his feet and sending him crashing into a couch that immediately caught fire. A friend rushed to help. Looking at his ankle, Darryl saw bone protruding from his flesh, his foot hanging off his leg like a hinge, blood pouring from the wound. The only thing Darryl could think of was the agonizing pain and the fear that he might bleed out.
His friend managed to apply a tourniquet and rushed him downstairs to her truck. She called 911, and they sped toward the waiting first responders. Darryl was taken to the Hilo Medical Center, fully expecting to lose his leg. Miraculously, doctors were able to save it. Reflecting on the lava bomb that struck him, Darryl said, 'It was a mean one. And I mean, it could have hit anywhere else and it would have been all over.' Despite his near-death experience, Darryl has no intention of leaving the area and described witnessing the lava flows up close as 'the event of a lifetime.'
9. Struck by a Tornado
On January 24, 2018, Mark Hardgrove from Orlando, Florida, was preparing for a hectic day. He had a meeting scheduled in Fort Lauderdale, but the weather was looking ominous. To avoid delays, he decided to leave early, driving down the Florida Turnpike in his Hyundai Santa Fe.
Mark's drive through the rain was long and challenging, with poor visibility making progress slow. He noticed the ominous dark clouds to the west but hoped to reach his meeting before they arrived. However, as he approached the Coconut Creek Parkway exit, conditions worsened. Having grown up in Ohio, Mark recognized the signs of a storm capable of spawning a tornado. Though he hadn’t yet seen a twister, the wind was whipping the trees and a rotating cloud was rapidly approaching. Trapped in the left lane by surrounding cars, Mark was unable to move as the funnel cloud neared. He was stuck.
Mark watched in dread as the tornado touched down near the exit, hoping it might lift. Instead, his SUV began to rock violently. Suddenly, the world outside his windows turned gray, and Mark felt as if he was rising. Although he couldn’t see what was happening, two truck drivers on the opposite side of the turnpike witnessed it all. Mark's Santa Fe was lifted into the air and spun around in a barrel roll 20 feet (6 m) off the ground before landing on the opposite shoulder, facing oncoming traffic.
Dazed, Mark sat surrounded by the deployed airbags as the two truckers rushed to help. They quickly deflated the airbags, freed him from his seatbelt, and offered him water. Although Mark never got their names, he was incredibly grateful for their assistance.
Despite the severe damage to his SUV, Mark only suffered minor injuries.
8. The Boy Who Gave His Life to Save Another
On April 13, 1949, Kelcy Allen, a six-year-old student at Lowell Elementary School in Tacoma, Washington, experienced a life-altering event. That same day, a powerful earthquake struck the region, shaking Washington and its neighboring states. The tremor caused widespread destruction, from buckling railroad tracks to sweeping homes into the Puget Sound. Described as the worst earthquake in the history of the Pacific Northwest, it struck at 11:55 AM, just before lunch.
As the ground shook, Kelcy was inside the school when Marvin Klegman, an 11-year-old crossing guard, grabbed the terrified kindergartener and led him outside. Just as they reached safety, a cornice above collapsed, sending bricks crashing down toward them. Without hesitation, Marvin shouted, 'Look out!' and threw himself in front of Kelcy to shield him. The next thing Kelcy remembered was waking up in an ambulance. Marvin had tragically lost his life, saving Kelcy from the falling debris.
Soon after the tragedy, Kelcy’s family relocated to Portland, Oregon. As he grew up, Kelcy never forgot the courageous crossing guard who had saved his life, though he never knew the boy's name. After another earthquake struck the Puget Sound area in 2001, Kelcy felt compelled to learn more. The very next day, he went to the Tacoma Public Library, where he finally discovered the name of the hero: Marvin Klegman. Kelcy later shared his story in an interview with The News Tribune, a Tacoma newspaper. He also launched a fundraiser to create a statue of Marvin at Lowell Elementary, and now, April 13 is celebrated annually as Marvin Klegman Day at the school.
7. Swept Away by a Flash Flood
On July 15, 2017, Cesar Garcia and his family embarked on what they thought would be a pleasant Saturday hike. Unfortunately, of the 14 family members who participated that day, only four would survive the unforeseen disaster.
On the occasion of Cesar’s sister, Maria's 27th birthday, the Garcia family from Phoenix, Arizona, decided to celebrate with a day trip. They chose to hike to a picturesque swimming hole beneath a waterfall called Water Wheel, located in the Tonto National Forest near Payson. However, they were unaware that heavy rainfall had started miles away, triggering a flash flood as they made their way between hills to the swimming hole.
About a mile into their hike, the Garcias were confronted by a towering wall of water. There was hardly any time to react. Cesar held his one-year-old daughter, Marina, tightly and grabbed his nephew by the shirt. Then the force of the flood hit. Cesar's nephew was instantly torn from his grasp, and rocks and branches struck Cesar, injuring his legs and ribs. Clutching Marina, the two were swept underwater by the raging current. Cesar managed to grab onto a bush, but the water’s ferocity quickly pulled him loose, dragging him over sharp rocks. The only thought that remained was to hold onto Marina. Finally, he reached a tree, still holding his daughter.
For two long hours, Cesar clung to the tree, waiting for the floodwaters to subside. During that time, a group of hikers arrived, bringing some relief. He learned that his wife and eight-year-old son had managed to escape the torrent and were safe. Though the floodwaters prevented any immediate rescue, one of the hikers offered Cesar a towel to wrap around Marina. Eventually, rescuers arrived, taking Cesar and his daughter to the hospital. There, he discovered the devastating news: Cesar lost his mother, brother, two sisters, brother-in-law, and five nieces and nephews that day.
6. A New Home Destroyed Piece by Piece
The early days of September 2017 were filled with excitement for Kyrie Caulfield and his family. The diving instructor, a resident of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, had just purchased a new home with a breathtaking view of Cane Garden Bay. Kyrie, his wife Charlotte, and their two young daughters, aged four and 17 months, had just moved in. Charlotte was also expecting the couple's third child. The only worry that cast a shadow over their happiness was the impending threat of Hurricane Irma.
On September 6, Irma made landfall. Kyrie Caulfield and another family had decided to ride out the storm in the Caulfields' newly purchased home. At first, Kyrie wasn't overly concerned. The group would peek through the hurricane shutters and watch as trees bent sideways and debris flew through the air, but the house seemed to be standing strong. However, that sense of safety would not endure for long.
Around noon, Kyrie felt a rush of air at his feet. It was coming from his daughter's bedroom, which was facing the storm. He opened the door and was met with nothing but the devastation caused by the Category 5 hurricane. The room was gone. As Kyrie described it, 'There was no wall, no roof, no windows—it was just gone.'
Kyrie quickly moved a dresser in front of what was now an exterior door, but it was futile. Moments later, the hurricane ripped most of the roof off the house and sent it flying into the sky. Forced by the storm, the two families ran to the kitchen, now the only room still offering any shelter. Kyrie shoved the refrigerator into the doorway between the kitchen and the living room, but Irma tore it 30 feet into the air. The kitchen roof followed suit and disappeared. In a panic, Charlotte placed their 17-month-old daughter inside a cupboard, hoping to protect her. Kyrie knew they had to escape, but where? The living room was a pile of debris, blown by the violent winds. The husband of the other family broke a small window in the back of the kitchen, and they all squeezed through.
The families fled down a steep hill and into a nearby concrete garage, piling into a car left inside. The garage lacked a door, but there were wooden panels that Kyrie used to cover the car's windows. For a brief moment, they started to feel some relief. Then, they felt the winds begin to move the vehicle. Kyrie left the garage in search of better shelter. About 150 feet away, there was another house, abandoned by its owners. Though most of the house was destroyed, a sturdy closet remained, where they found the caretaker, Tyrone.
As Irma's eye passed over, the group caught a brief respite. They ran to Tyrone's makeshift shelter and had a half-hour to gather supplies and their dogs. But soon, the rest of the storm arrived. While they didn't have to find new shelter again, it remained a tense time for Kyrie. He would look out and see the ocean encroaching dangerously close. He knew that if the storm surge reached them, there would be no hope. Fortunately, the surge stopped advancing just 20 feet away. At last, the hurricane passed.
The following day, the Caulfields spent their time sifting through the debris of their home, searching for any belongings or supplies they could salvage. Their next stop was a friend’s house, which, though damaged, was still partially intact. During this time, Kyrie filmed a video 'tour' of his destroyed home, which was later shared widely on news outlets and across the internet. In the aftermath of the hurricane, Kyrie and his family relocated to Grand Cayman.
5. A Deluge of Boulders
Mount Mayon, known for its classic conical shape and the lush landscape surrounding it, epitomizes the image of a typical island volcano. Situated on the Philippine island of Luzon, Mayon is an active volcano, having erupted several times in recent years. One of those eruptions occurred on May 7, 2013.
On the day of the eruption, Roel Llarena and his fellow local tour guides were leading a group of international tourists on a hike up Mayon. The hike had been going smoothly. The tourists were friendly, and everyone had enjoyed the previous night, swapping stories and experiences. But as the group ascended, rain began to fall, and climbing in such conditions was not advisable. So, they decided to turn back. That’s when, without warning, a column of ash shot up from the volcano’s cone.
As the group of hikers and guides stood in shock, large boulders, some as big as minivans, began to plummet toward them. Roel later recalled, 'I stood there frozen. I couldn’t believe what was happening, I didn’t know what to do. It was like a scene from hell.' The group attempted to seek refuge behind a large rock formation, but not everyone managed to escape. Roel’s brother-in-law, three German tourists, and a Spanish woman were struck by the falling rocks and were carried out of sight.
The unexpected eruption lasted a mere 73 seconds and did not signal the beginning of a prolonged volcanic activity. Renato Solidum, the chief seismologist for the state, explained that the explosion occurred when the rainwater came into contact with the hot ash deposits at the mouth of Mayon’s crater. Regardless of the explanation, Roel made a firm resolution never to ascend Mayon again.
4. Swept 2 Miles by a Tsunami
In December 2004, Sonali Deraniyagala and her family were enjoying a Christmas vacation from London at Yala National Park in Sri Lanka. The day after Christmas marked the fourth day of their trip. Sonali was chatting with her friend, Orlantha, when Orlantha noticed something odd about the sea: a large wave appeared to be approaching. Sonali’s husband, Steve Lissenbergh, was in the shower, but she called for him to come and see the strange sight. The wave kept pushing past the beach and didn’t stop. Soon, gray-brown water surged through the trees and headed toward the hotel. Sonali shouted more urgently for Steve, who came out of the shower, unable to believe what was happening.
Sonali’s primary concern was for her two sons, seven-year-old Vikram and five-year-old Nikhil, affectionately called ‘Malli’. She grabbed them and ran toward the front of the hotel, with Steve following behind. The three of them reached the front, Vikram and Malli keeping pace with their mother despite being barefoot. A man driving a Jeep with a canvas roof noticed them and stopped. The family jumped into his vehicle, and it sped away. For a brief moment, Sonali thought the water had subsided, allowing her to relax, but then her worry shifted to her parents, whose room she had passed by in her frantic rush to save her sons. Steve reassured her that they were likely safe, which seemed believable now that the wave was no longer in sight.
Suddenly, the Jeep was overwhelmed by the rising water, caught in the full force of the tsunami. As the water climbed, Sonali and Steve each held one of their sons as high as possible, their faces pressed against the canvas top while the Jeep became an unstable vessel, no longer in contact with the ground. The last time Sonali saw Steve’s face, a look of terror like she had never seen spread across it as his gaze fixed on something behind her. She never discovered what it was, because at that moment, the Jeep capsized.
Sonali’s next moments were filled with a blur of confusion and agony. She felt herself being tossed around, dragged in all directions. At times, she couldn’t even tell if she was underwater or above it. When she managed to open her eyes, all she could see was a murky gray. The water pulled her with an unstoppable force, crashing her against debris until she finally collided with a tree branch, where she managed to grasp hold and cling for dear life.
Sonali had been swept nearly 2 miles (3.2 km) inland by the relentless waters. She was the sole survivor of her family. Her husband, two sons, and parents all perished in the devastating tsunami of December 26, 2004, which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives across the Indian Ocean.
3. A Home Lost Forever
Before the earthquake and the subsequent tsunami ravaged parts of Japan in March 2011, Ryo Kanoya (also spelled Kanouya) lived with his family in the village of Namie in Fukushima Prefecture. He was at work when the earthquake struck, soon followed by a tsunami warning. Ryo’s company instructed employees living near the coast to return home and assist with evacuations for the elderly. Ryo made his way back to his house, located 0.6 miles (1 km) from the shore.
However, by the time he arrived home, the predicted time for the tsunami’s arrival had already passed. Since nothing had occurred, Ryo’s father assumed the danger had passed. Ryo settled in to watch the news with his grandmothers while his father went upstairs. His mother and sister were still at work. Suddenly, the power went out, and Ryo’s father urgently called for everyone to come upstairs as quickly as possible. Ryo helped his grandmothers to the second floor and peered out the window toward the ocean. A colossal tidal wave was racing toward them. Ryo’s first instinct was to flee, but there was no time. All they could do was brace for impact as the sea surged closer.
The tsunami struck, and the family's home stood firm against the initial impact. However, the water began to pour in, rising steadily until their faces were pressed against the ceiling, gasping for one final breath of air. But soon, there was no air left. Trapped beneath the water, unable to escape through the window, Ryo thought to himself, “I might as well exhale the last of the air in my lungs and let myself die.”
Eventually, the house collapsed, sending everyone tumbling into the violent surge of seawater and debris from the neighborhood. Ryo spotted his father briefly, but the strong currents separated them. Ryo climbed onto a drawer but realized he was being pulled back toward the ocean. Fortunately, he managed to grab a bundle of debris caught in a large tree. He clung to it, watching helplessly as others were carried away by the water. As the waters finally receded, Ryo was able to climb down from his precarious perch.
Cold, wet, shoeless, and fearful of another tsunami, Ryo ventured further inland, calling out repeatedly, “Anyone alive?” But every person he encountered was dead. Eventually, he found a fellow survivor, an elderly man. Together, they spotted a fire truck in the distance and ran toward it, noticing other survivors perched on the roofs of buildings. They made their way to an evacuation camp, but had to relocate due to the meltdowns at the nearby Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
At a shelter in Okada, Ryo was reunited with his mother, sister, and father, who had all survived. Unfortunately, Ryo’s grandmothers were never found. To this day, Ryo’s family has been unable to return to Namie, as the area lies too close to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
2. Crushed
On the evening of May 25, 2019, Preston Black, from El Reno, Oklahoma, was at home with his wife, six children, and parents. At 10:28 PM, an EF3 tornado struck. It lasted only four minutes but covered a distance of 2.2 miles ( km), devastating the mobile home park where Preston and his family lived. With little protection offered by trailers, they had no time to react to the sudden storm.
There was nothing Preston could do but shield his children as best as he could, as the rain slammed the trailer sideways in the face of the approaching twister. The doors were torn off their hinges, and every window shattered. As they huddled inside, the mobile home was flipped upside down and lifted into the air before being ripped apart.
Preston hit the ground, face first. Initially blind to his surroundings, he felt a heavy weight press down on him. Two walls, a refrigerator, and a washer/dryer had landed on top of him. He could now see, and his wife of 14 years lay unconscious beside him, also pinned beneath the debris. Fueled by adrenaline, Preston rolled to her side and managed to lift enough debris for his family to pull his wife free, ignoring the excruciating pain in his upper body. Once his wife was free, Preston let the weight fall back onto him, but his family and several friends worked tirelessly to free him.
Preston felt a brief wave of relief when he saw that his children had survived the tornado with only minor injuries. His best friend quickly drove him to a nearby hospital, where he was then transferred to a hospital in Oklahoma City. Both of his shoulders and collarbone had been dislocated, four ribs and one shoulder blade broken, and he had a collapsed lung. His wife, in a room down the hall, had several broken bones as well. The following day, Preston was able to walk down the hallway to see her, and the couple was reunited with their children that same day.
1. A Bone-Shattering Avalanche
On the morning of January 13, 2016, Mike Brede was backcountry skiing with his friends Brandon Byquist and Jason Hershey near Lookout Pass on the Idaho-Montana border. The three were experienced skiers who knew the risks of avalanches, but on this particular day, the snow seemed stable, and they had skied the area before without incident.
After skiing for over two hours, they reached a steeper section of the slope. As they traversed it, they heard a loud boom and felt shockwaves beneath their feet. Mike quickly made a few turns, trying to escape the danger zone, but the snow suddenly gave way and swept him away.
In a split second, Mike reacted by pulling the cord of his airbag, which is designed to keep avalanche victims above the snow for visibility to rescuers. This likely saved his life, preventing him from being buried. However, the avalanche carried him over a ridge and into a rocky basin. As he plummeted, Mike felt a sharp pain in his leg before landing in a sitting position, facing uphill. He instinctively raised his arm to increase his chances of being seen. The snow piled up over him, reaching his chest, and Mike soon realized that his pelvis was broken, and his lower leg had been torn open, exposing his tibia and fibula.
Brandon and Jason skied down to reach Mike, knowing that it was a dangerous move that triggered small snow slabs to break loose. They quickly applied QuikClot to his lower leg to control the bleeding and used ski poles to stabilize the injury. They then discovered that Mike had also suffered a compound fracture of his femur, and he was bleeding heavily from that injury as well. Moving him was impossible without help, and they had already exhausted their supply of QuikClot.
The men called 911 and activated Mike’s emergency beacon. By this point, it was after 3:00 PM, and daylight was fading while the weather worsened. Getting ground crews to their location was no longer an option, and using a helicopter was risky. Around 4:00 PM, they received news that Two Bear Air, a nonprofit rescue organization with two helicopters that funds search and rescue missions, would attempt to reach them—emphasis on 'attempt.' In the meantime, Brandon and Jason did their best to keep Mike warm, sharing their down jackets and gloves with him. The snow was falling heavily, and visibility was poor. Jim Bob Pierce, a Two Bear Air pilot, had to fly low, following Interstate 90, to navigate his way to Lookout Pass.
As dusk began to settle, the three skiers, with Mike still bleeding and now suffering from hypothermia, finally heard the sound of the helicopter. Mike’s condition was dire, and there wasn’t enough time to safely stabilize him on a litter. Instead, he was placed into a ‘Screamer Suit,’ which Pierce described as ‘a coat with a strap that comes between his legs and works like a little hammock.’ It was going to be an excruciating ride for Mike, and as he recalled, ‘The rescuer told me to prepare myself for the worst effing pain of my life.’ He was hoisted up alongside the paramedic and the helicopter rushed off toward a waiting ambulance at Lookout Pass.
Mike received six units of blood and underwent emergency surgery for three hours. He spent ten days in the hospital, with a full recovery expected to take about a year. Despite everything, Mike survived, as did Brandon and Jason.
