[EVENT] Cold Winds Blowin'...

[ironwood]

Characters: All
Date: January 10-31, 2018
Location: Keeliai, all sectors
Situation: Hurricane and ensuing cleanup
Warnings/Rating: add warnings to headers as necessary, please.


Come late night on the 10th, carrying over into the wee hours of the 11th, the winds that have been on and off all month pick up, howling between buildings and rattling anything not nailed down. The worst of it comes over the next day, when the winds don't actually stop, sweeping through the city at high speeds and bringing rain and all kinds of debris with them.

The canals in Water are nearly impassable, making travel even more inadvisable than it would have been. In some places the wind takes out the power, too, leaving several people temporarily without much in the way of heat -- not good when the average temperature is hovering around 5°C (about 40°F). The rain comes heavier over the course of the day, and flooding both minor and major abounds; during the worst of the storm the canals are near to overflowing and there's a sincere -- and realized -- risk of drowning. As the flooding rises fast, some unprepared citizens may be caught by these rushing torrents and need rescue.

The storm settles down toward the end of the twelfth, leaving only brisk winds and a sullen drizzle as it finally passes the city by. In its wake, however, is a vast array of damage, and significant repairs to be made.

The high winds have knocked many trees down, some of which landed on homes and businesses -- in some cases, punching right through the roofs, rendering the buildings temporarily unlivable, and sending their occupants out into the storm to seek their nearest secondary shelter. Flooding is wide-scale, doing immeasurable amounts of property damage and putting many lives at risk. Many are left injured, homeless, or their businesses and livelihoods in ruins. Even more have lost personal possessions that are irreplaceable.

All told, the Merchant's Guild estimates that nearly 10% of the city's residential districts have suffered severe damage, meaning that the homes in those areas are not structurally safe to live in until repairs are made. This translates to about 6000 kedan across all Sectors in need of temporary housing. A further 20% (roughly 10,000) of the city has experienced moderate damage, so their homes are livable, but they may be without power, heat, or necessities like running water or adequate food stores.

The rest of the city takes light damage, mostly in the way of flooding and damaged goods. Volunteers are needed all over the place to remove storm debris to a growing mountain of wreckage outside the city walls. Everything from broken windows and furniture, to entire trees and large sections of rooftops need to be hauled away, and in some cases, the Foreigners' abilities will be much appreciated, since whatever left is going to be done with kirin-hauled carts and sledges.

Through the rest of the month, repairs are in progress, most of it taking place beneath a sapping cold rain, which impedes both repairs and volunteers' health, and many come down with walking pneumonia and flu-like afflictions. Usayi is among those organizing work crews for the clearing of large debris and urgent patches; he'll be spearheading those efforts as the month wears on as well. The Woodsmen also call for help from as many volunteers as possible, citing the loss of a great deal of growing and stored seeds, as well as the damage to their agricultural land plots, which are now littered with more debris.

Comments

[ironpeace]

Usayi has just finished sending off another casualty to the closest Guild volunteer; she will assess what can be done from there. Two members of his crew are still shoving against a wall that's fallen in wholesale, bearing it up with slow persistence into a more secure position. One bit at a time.

He has one eye on that when he glances up to the armor. Armor; Foreign; can't currently place a name to the individual who wears it. "We believe we have the majority of the injured from this section," he says, flicking his gaze over the armor once more before focusing on spotting the lifting crew. "It's impossible to tell for sure yet, however, so we are attempting to regain some structural integrity before pressing on."

[highprofilerichkid]

Tony nods. "I can search for anyone trapped with infrared scans as I go. That wall— Tony frowns (not that Usayi will be able to see it) and takes a step forward. He doesn't like the look of that at all. "If they brace it from the other side, I can push it back into place. That doesn't look stable to me."

He'd rather have the wall collapse on him and look like an idiot, than have two more injured kedan to dig out of the rubble.

[ironpeace]

It's what they have to work with. Usayi turns his head again to raise his eyebrows at the armor's blank faceplate. "If you can, then fine. You'll have to take their places first. Do that, and I'll signal my people to move."

He doesn't waste time questioning motives or means, simply accepts it. Right now, rescue and repairs are more important. Although there is one thing: "Your name?"

So he can have something to yell if he needs to.

[highprofilerichkid]

Tony nods. "Tony Stark." He moves to assist the two kedan workers. Once he's in place and bearing the full weight of the wall, he says, "I've got it. I think it'll hold together. Do you have any extra wood beams to prop it up with?"

[ironpeace]

He hasn't met Stark before, though he knows the name. "Usayi," he offers in return, and moves on just as briskly.

As Tony takes the weight of the wall Usayi motions to his crew, pointing one of them at the other side of the wall and the other to the pile of recovered material that may be re-usable. "She'll find something in a moment," he says, and moves to help balance the wall himself, from the side opposite Tony.

It won't be too long before that final kedan is back with some shorter but uncompromised beams, and she pauses glancing between both sides to try to figure out which one wants her first.

[highprofilerichkid]

Usayi goes back to work before Tony can offer any further greeting or introduction, but Tony doesn't mind. There are far more important things to be done than exchange small talk. (Also, he sucks at small talk.)

"This side first," Tony says to the kedan hauling the beams. "One on each end. Then the other side. I'll move once the rest of it's done and we can put the last brace here." That should keep the forces fairly equal and get the unarmored people out of the way faster. "Watch out for cracks - don't brace it where it's weak."

[ironpeace]

Small talk is for when they're not in the middle of coping with a disaster. Usayi also prefers not to have small talk with Foreigners, so that all works out quite nicely.

The kedan with the beams does as instructed, coming to Tony's side first and checking assiduously for cracks before bracing the wall. It takes a little while -- those supporting it shift their weight and bear up in solidarity -- but eventually it's suitably braced, save for the last spot Tony indicated. "Will it hold?" Usayi calls over, not quite motioning to step asie yet.

[highprofilerichkid]

"Looks like," Tony answers. "The foundation is solid, and I'm not seeing any major structural faults. I think it's good."

Eventually it'll need some major repairs or just need to be replaced, but as long as it's braced it won't pose a safety hazard. And they won't have to worry about seismic activity - one of the benefits of building on the back of a gigantic living turtle.

[ironpeace]

Braced for now is all Usayi demands; it can be fixed later. Right now the priority is it not collapsing on some poor unfortunate, and not making things worse.

"Good." Now he motions his people aside, though he's the last to let go and move away. "...thank you."

The thanks sound grudging, but they do exist.

[highprofilerichkid]

"Don't choke on that thanks; I don't know the Heimlich," Tony says, with dry humor. "Don't worry about it. This is what I'm here for. Just tell me where you need me."

This reminds him too much of the earthquake in Hatal for him to enjoy getting any kind of praise for it. He appreciates the gesture, grudging or not, but they both have better things to be doing. Gratitude and congratulations aren't in order until the work is done – and it'll be a long time until it is.

[ironpeace]

"The what?" Usayi shakes his head shortly after asking. "Never mind. It doesn't matter. There are other things I can use you for."

And he proceeds to make as much use of Tony's skills for the relief efforts as Tony will allow; there will be no immediate acknowledgment of this, since the work is in the air, but Stark has added himself to the list of people Usayi allots a grudging amount more patience than most.