Storytelling Tradition Saved Lives in Boxing Day Tsunami Memorials to those who died in the tsunami on Indonesia’s Banda Aceh do more than offer remembrance; they also provide an education tool to teach school children about tsunamis and to recognize the warning signs. After the Boxing Day earthquake, many people went to the beaches when the waters receded instead of going to higher ground, which cost them their lives. It is a much different story on Indonesia’s island of Simeulue, where 7 people died out of a population of around 70,000. Simeulue is located just 50 kilometers from the epicenter where the 9.2 magnitude earthquake hit. The island received no warning that the tsunami was coming. Simeulue has suffered through earthquakes and tsunamis in the past, and an oral tradition called “smong” developed. Grandparents in particular teach their grandchildren the smong which concludes with, “If a strong tremor occurs, and if the sea withdraws soon after, run to the hills, for the sea will soon rush ashore.” The people on Simeulue’s coast remembered this lesson and ran to the island’s hills, thereby saving their lives. It is hoped that educating school children in Banda Aceh will ensure that they too will know what to do if a tsunami ever happens again. - RE Photo Credit: Tsunami damage in Sumatra by U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Philip A. McDaniel http://bit.ly/16QHYrM Read More: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30542317?OCID=fbasia http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001831/183133e.pdf