Today we had a fire drill. Actually we had a fire, lifeboat, piracy drill all in one. It was going to be a long and chaotic afternoon. So the Captain went on the intercom announcing that the drill would begin shortly and reminding us that it was more than an at sea fire drill. So the Emergency Teams Alarm goes off and we all start moving. I am a Stairway Guide and in charge of Zone 3 cabin checkers so I went to Deck 6 to wait for the General Crew Alarm to sound. As we are up there, everyone in position, the Captain continues with the drill – ordering the fire teams around to were the “fire” is and to make sure power is secured. The General Crew Alarm sounded, a little sooner than normal, but we continued with business as usual.
Within minutes of the second alarm the Captain comes back over the speakers announcing that something was spotted overboard and that we were all to go to our musters immediately, including the Emergency Teams that stay behind. Then he said the words no one wants to hear, “this is not a drill”. So we all start moving to Deck 7 as all laughing was wiped from our faces quickly. As we get to the outside of the deck we head straight to our musters without our lifejackets because the drill is over. The Captain then announces that someone, possibly a dummy, was spotted in the water and we are turning the ship around. So we have to muster so that everyone is accounted for.
It was a bit scary: everyone was suddenly very serious. The noise of the water crashing against the ship as it turned was much louder than I imagined. Since my muster station is on the Starboard (right) side of the ship we were instructed to look across the water for any floating objects once the ship straightened. Luckily, all the crew were accounted for and nothing was spotted so the ship was turned around. We then continued with our very long drill. We had to get our lifejackets and wait in our musters while the officers and the International Operations Center “negotiated” with the “pirates” that got onto our vessel. It was a lot more than any of us expected and I hope to never hear the Captain say this is not a drill again!
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Shayla,
I always love it when others read and respond to my blog. So I'd like to do the same with yours. Thanks so much for giving us bits and pieces of your life on Mercy Ships. I love reading about your daily adventures...and it makes me sad that you are so far away! I think you are doing an awesome thing...and know that God has you right where he wants you! Are you planning a trip home at all? What happens next..after your year is up with Mercy Ships? Any plans?
We love you sooooo much! We pray for you every night ....Lukie, Patrick, and me....Luke knows how to hold hands and always asks....pray? Even before the dinner is ready :) He is sooooooo big! Now is often fighting to not take naps-that makes me want to pull all of my hair out of my head...we are also working on potty training! That is usually when we put him in his crib for his nap...and he plays for an hour...i go up to check on him and he has his diaper off and has peed on everything.....toddlers are lovely! It's like life has so many different stages...the next one is always a challenge!
Love you, sis!
Jeanne Moran
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