my $raSortedEvents = [ @{ $raEvents }[
   map  { unpack q{x12N}, $_ }
   sort
   map  {
       pack( q{A8}, uc $raEvents->[ $_ ]->{ severity } )
       .
       (
          $raEvents->[ $_ ]->{ severity } eq q{OK}
          ?   pack( q{l>}, $raEvents->[ $_ ]->{ event_age } )
          : ~ pack( q{l>}, $raEvents->[ $_ ]->{ event_age } )
       )
       .
       pack( q{N}, $_ );
   }
   0 .. $#{ $raEvents } ]
   ];