| | Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis | |
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alj Five Star Member
Number of posts : 9633 Registration date : 2008-12-05 Age : 80 Location : San Antonio
| Subject: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Fri Mar 11, 2011 4:50 am | |
| The Richter scale for this one was 8.9. The tsunamis warnings spread all across Pacific, and include US and Canada:
http://www.npr.org/2011/03/11/134444531/major-tsunami-damage-in-northern-japan?ft=1&f=1001
Ann |
| | | Abe F. March Five Star Member
Number of posts : 10768 Registration date : 2008-01-26 Age : 85 Location : Germany
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Fri Mar 11, 2011 6:17 am | |
| The tsunami was scary to watch. I saw it happening on TV this morning. The mud and water carrying cars and homes in its path causing even more damage. I watched as some cars stood waiting at a traffic light, unaware of the water rushing to meet them. In emergency situations, waiting for a light to change is not a good thing to do. Better to risk a ticket than a life. If they were listening to their radio, they should have known what was coming their way.
It was terrible and is not over yet. Aftershocks and more tsunami warnings have been made. |
| | | alj Five Star Member
Number of posts : 9633 Registration date : 2008-12-05 Age : 80 Location : San Antonio
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Fri Mar 11, 2011 9:12 am | |
| It will take some time for us to learn the whole story. Already so much devastation, and more to come.
Ann |
| | | Betty Fasig Five Star Member
Number of posts : 4334 Registration date : 2008-06-12 Age : 81 Location : Duette, Florida
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Fri Mar 11, 2011 4:00 pm | |
| I watched CNN. What a force nature unleased is! I wonder if people ever will learn that the forces that rule this earth have the power to save it as well. Wind, water, sunshine and the earth it's self. To watch was misery. We have a connection to Japan in my David's son. His mother is Japanese. Kenneth talked to her today. She felt that the appocalyps was unfolding. If I had been there, I may have felt the same. God bless Japan this night. Love, Betty |
| | | dkchristi Five Star Member
Number of posts : 8594 Registration date : 2008-12-29 Location : Florida
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Fri Mar 11, 2011 4:27 pm | |
| Not long ago, I posted on Abe's thread about my own experience in a skyscraper in Tokyo during an earthquake. I never liked them in California, either. At least they predict hurricanes and we can evacuate. |
| | | Betty Fasig Five Star Member
Number of posts : 4334 Registration date : 2008-06-12 Age : 81 Location : Duette, Florida
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Fri Mar 11, 2011 4:47 pm | |
| Dear Diane, What a lot of suffering is shown on the tv screen in such a detached way. People, news women mostly, with lovely makeup and beautiful faces reporting without emotion the disaster as if it was just another accident that was separate and apart from everyone's reality. . Of late (the last thirty years) I have wondered about that detachment. It is a callousness that describes. Love, Betty |
| | | alj Five Star Member
Number of posts : 9633 Registration date : 2008-12-05 Age : 80 Location : San Antonio
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Fri Mar 11, 2011 6:29 pm | |
| I know what you mean. As I read the news, online, the screen kept suggesting I watch the video. The still pictures were bad enough. We are so detached. We go to movies and watch TV and see pretend violence. So how do we tell the difference when what we are watching is real?
Ann |
| | | joefrank Five Star Member
Number of posts : 8210 Registration date : 2008-11-04 Age : 75 Location : Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Fri Mar 11, 2011 6:47 pm | |
| 3/12/2011
I just read a second nuclear reactor is heated up and they can't cool that one down either, if these two explode it'll be like what happened in Russia, a disaster. I never understood why we need nuclear reactors? In New York State there's one at an area called Indian Point, less than two hundred miles from the city and it's built on a earth quake fault ...
Joe |
| | | alj Five Star Member
Number of posts : 9633 Registration date : 2008-12-05 Age : 80 Location : San Antonio
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Fri Mar 11, 2011 7:40 pm | |
| A friend of mine, Richard Rodgers, has been living in Japan for several years now, teaching at an American military base. He is also the webmaster for the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Website and Message Board, where I am one of the moderators. We have been worried about him all day, and have had several threads going at the site. He was able to get a couple of emails through to some of the moderators, and later in the day managed to get online long enough to set up an "official" posting place and give us a lengthy report. Since the board is public, I'm sure he won't mind my sharing of his message to us. We don't often get first-hands accounts as complete as this one:
http://www.audiemurphy.com/msgb/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=1037&p=4809#p4809
BTW, I'm not sure what courses Richard is teaching at this new school - they moved to the north from southern Japan just this past term. I know that he is certified to teach English, and was doing so when I met him in '99. He is an excellent writer. When you run across a few errors, I can tell you that he was still really shook up as he was writing.
Ann |
| | | dkchristi Five Star Member
Number of posts : 8594 Registration date : 2008-12-29 Location : Florida
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Sat Mar 12, 2011 4:56 am | |
| Whew! Thanks for sharing the eye witness of one person's experience who was very important to so many. |
| | | Abe F. March Five Star Member
Number of posts : 10768 Registration date : 2008-01-26 Age : 85 Location : Germany
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Sat Mar 12, 2011 10:26 am | |
| Disaster in whatever form is still a disaster where people get hurt. My sympathy is with those injured and to those who lost loved ones. No amount of rhetoric or excuses will bring them back. Many of us have been in danger and were lucky to have escaped. Some are not so lucky. We never know what will happen or when. I believe it is best to enjoy what we have now and not wait for "someday" unless we look upon that "someday" as now. |
| | | alj Five Star Member
Number of posts : 9633 Registration date : 2008-12-05 Age : 80 Location : San Antonio
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Sat Mar 12, 2011 10:47 am | |
| - Abe F. March wrote:
- Disaster in whatever form is still a disaster where people get hurt. My sympathy is with those injured and to those who lost loved ones. No amount of rhetoric or excuses will bring them back.
Many of us have been in danger and were lucky to have escaped. Some are not so lucky. We never know what will happen or when. I believe it is best to enjoy what we have now and not wait for "someday" unless we look upon that "someday" as now. this could easily be us rather than them. Ann |
| | | Betty Fasig Five Star Member
Number of posts : 4334 Registration date : 2008-06-12 Age : 81 Location : Duette, Florida
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Sat Mar 12, 2011 4:05 pm | |
| Dear Abe, Time. It seems so infinite when we are young. I am a big fan of John Denver. His song, Sweet Surender is beautiful and resonates in my heart when I hear it.
Lost and alone on some forgotten highway, traveled by many, remembered by few. Looking for something that I can believe in, looking for something that I'd like to do with my life. There's nothing behind me and nothing that ties me to something that might have been true yesterday. Tomorrow is open and right now it seems to be more than enough To just be here today, and I don't know what the future is holding in store, I don't know where I'm going, I'm not sure where I've been. There's a spirit that guides me, a light that shines for me, my life is worth the living, I don't need to see the end.
- Love,
- Betty
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| | | joefrank Five Star Member
Number of posts : 8210 Registration date : 2008-11-04 Age : 75 Location : Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Sat Mar 12, 2011 6:50 pm | |
| 3/13/2011
Every time I read or see it on TV or internet it brings tears to my eyes, knowing how much these people have suffered and it's going to take years to over come this horrible tragedy.
Joe |
| | | alj Five Star Member
Number of posts : 9633 Registration date : 2008-12-05 Age : 80 Location : San Antonio
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Sat Mar 12, 2011 10:23 pm | |
| Update from Richard:
We are okay. Services around here are on but this changes rapidly as you move north toward Sendai. Tokyo is in good shape ... took a little structural damage to some places.
Our biggest problem in this immediate area right now is transportation. You may have seen that four trains loaded by people were swept away by tsunamis. Transportation in Tokyo is in bad shape too. Schools in the Tokyo area (our International School friends and the Japanese School District) have closed schools until further notice.
We are also concerned about food, gasoline, etc. With the devastated coast areas which also includes major port facilities, this will affect imports which are badly needed by this country.
Shortates will probably affect the Japanese population more than it will the American Dept of Defense people. I am confident that my chain of command here at Zama and our leaders back home are going to keep us fed and warm. We have a functional navy, air force bases, army transportation facilities, etc. that are fully operational and energized and ready to go. I am just as confident that they will keep the people of Japan, with the help of a dozen other nations that have step forward, will also provide adequate relief.
We are nervous about the nuclear reactor. It's not far away from us at all considering what radiation fall out can do and from how far away it can affect you. But we are going to have business as usually tomorrow at school and deal with things as best as we can.
I can also tell you, after having been a few miles away from 3 Mile Island, and in Europe not terribly far from Chernobyl when it blew, that the media has a way of sensationalizing things just by fact they keep discussing everything in infinite detail and emphasizing the worse case scenarios over and over. That's how they make a buck and that's how they keep their ratings up. They seem more panicky than the people around here that I know and that includes the Japanese people. So don't let the hysteria of the ratings-crazy media scare you.
It may not be over but right now, I feel good about the rest of my school year and I think we will get this fixed soon.
Richard |
| | | dkchristi Five Star Member
Number of posts : 8594 Registration date : 2008-12-29 Location : Florida
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Sun Mar 13, 2011 5:54 am | |
| Thanks, Ann. It helps to have a rational person explain things. |
| | | alj Five Star Member
Number of posts : 9633 Registration date : 2008-12-05 Age : 80 Location : San Antonio
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Tue Mar 15, 2011 5:36 pm | |
| More from Richard:
Blackouts are forcing our computer system to go off line twice a day. Unfortunately, it seems to happen in the morning when I get to school and nobody is here. It also happens just after I leave campus and go home. These are my times to visit the website and work on it.
Yesterday another reactor shell blew up. To aggravate that news was the fact that a Navy Commander in charge of many bases decided to release information that low levels of radiation were detected at different locations, including out at sea on the USS George Washington aircraft carriers. The amount of radiation was slightly elevated over normal levels but was around the dose you receive from eating a bannana. Yup, you heard right ... a bananna (it turns out bananna's have naturally occurring radiation).
Anyway, the news was not published like that ... it was released that low levels of radiation had been detected.
So the rumor mill grabbed the info and the next thing you know, everyone over here is becoming really nervous, some people are trying to make travel arrangements back to the states, etc.
Last night, we had a "town hall" meeting with the installation commander at Atsugi Naval Base. A rear admiral was there. They restated their bosses earlier statement but then put it into context. It was a good meeting and a lot of folks left feeling better.
Rationing of gasoline is underway along with the rolling blackouts. There are airlifts of relief supplies flying out of Atsugi Naval Base on a daily basis. The community here bought and donated something like 25 tons of foodstuff on Saturday alone (the second day of the crisis). Everyday, more items are being brought to Atsugi and are being choppered out to the devastated area by Navy pilots.
The US Government has to be careful. If they jump in and take over the effort, it could appear that the Japanese government is paralyzed and not able to take care of its population. This, of course, isn't true. But we have to let the Japanese government keep the confidence of its people. If the Japanese Governemnt doesn't take the appearance of being in charge and able to manage the crisis, the political repercussions could be bad. As badly as we want to jump in and provide relief (food, medical, evacuation, search/rescue, etc.) we have to let our host nation allies do it and invite us in as they need.
My assessment of this is that we are going to get through this in good shape. The people up north in the devastated areas are hurting badly ... really badly. The Japanese economy will be hurt and we will suffer some economic effects too. But as far Maria and I are concerned, we are going to be fine. Our biggest inconvenience seems to be the rolling blackouts and not being able to communicate as often as we want.
As soon as the reactor situation settles down, the media-hype will shift as the journalists scramble to find another catastrophe they can sensationalize.
Richard PS: We had two really big aftershocks last night... those are hanging around. I am looking forward to the earthquakes becoming "normal" again. Quakes that occur once or twice a month and are around 4 or 5 on the reichter are welcome around here. People have a story that these quakes are the result of a giant "koi" (a goldfish) below the island that is swimming below the island. |
| | | alj Five Star Member
Number of posts : 9633 Registration date : 2008-12-05 Age : 80 Location : San Antonio
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Tue Mar 15, 2011 5:39 pm | |
| - Quote :
- Quakes that occur once or twice a
month and are around 4 or 5 on the reichter are welcome around here. People have a story that these quakes are the result of a giant "koi" (a goldfish) below the island that is swimming below the island. Any comment, James? Ann |
| | | alj Five Star Member
Number of posts : 9633 Registration date : 2008-12-05 Age : 80 Location : San Antonio
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:14 am | |
| The latest and probably the last from Richard for a while:
"I may be off the net for a while. Can’t say how long. Maria and I are fine. So are the kitties. Let everyone know. Watch the news. You will understand."
For those interested: This was just released from the Naval Air Facility Atsugi Commander on YouTube. It is okay to send this around if you want. It’s kind of military but this guy is actually my sponsoring commander and what he says pertains to me and Maria. Follow the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG2h4AVpo70&feature=youtu.be&a |
| | | alj Five Star Member
Number of posts : 9633 Registration date : 2008-12-05 Age : 80 Location : San Antonio
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:22 am | |
| Here is a news report of the situation Richard is involved in: - Quote :
- As news of continued problems with the Fukushima nuclear power plant in
Japan... The US has urged the evacuation of all citizens living within 50 miles of Fukushima, and is offering evacuation flights from Tokyo. http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2011/0317/Japan-nuclear-crisis-US-announces-evacuation-options |
| | | Abe F. March Five Star Member
Number of posts : 10768 Registration date : 2008-01-26 Age : 85 Location : Germany
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:17 am | |
| I just heard on the news that Obama will support the building of more nuclear power plants. If that is true, he just lost my vote. Perhaps they will come with a special healthcare program to treat radiation victims. I believe they will need them. |
| | | alj Five Star Member
Number of posts : 9633 Registration date : 2008-12-05 Age : 80 Location : San Antonio
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:19 am | |
| I think we have to deal with reality. While most of us want clean energy sources and sustainable alternatives, we don't yet have them. Until we do, our leaders have to weigh the available options. It's probably not unusual that many message boards right now have this topic in the forefront of discussions. On the JCF site, as I have mentioned, we are discussing many of the same things. One of the associates there is an engineer from India. He has been getting a lot of flack for his part in planning and building an oil pipeline in the Middle East. He insists on his right to take pride in his work, knowing that at this moment, the alternatives aren't there, and all he can do is focus his work on doing the best he can and building a pipeline that won't rupture, etc. He and I don't always agree, but I supported him with this message yesterday. I'm not showing his user name as this is a private board: - Quote :
- ________________, you sound like my father. He made his
living designing offshore drilling rigs. The shipbuilding company he worked for was founded by his father and grandfather. His father sold controlling interest without consulting him. He had a sizable block of stock in the company - not enough to control, but enough be listened to, and to see that he had the means to do his job properly. He was the chief engineer. After a few years, the new owners "Kicked him upstairs," gave him a new title, Director of Research and Development, an office, desk, and drawing board, and told him to just sit quietly until he retired. So that's what he did. In doing that, he developed the main designs for the first jack-up drilling rig, which saved his family's old business from going under, since politicians had managed to get a fixed-span bridge across a navigable waterway (technically illegal). His rigs were written up in Fortune Magazine during the late 70's. There are a few still in operation today. Fortune called them "the Cadillacs" of jack-up drilling because they were so stable in high seas. Many oil companies didn't use them because they didn't want to spend the extra money it cost to give them that stability. Toward the end of his life, he actively worked on technological exchange programs with Russia and China, believing that we would all get along better if we were interdependent and shared our knowledge. He took a lot of flack for that. He took more from some who thought we shouldn't be drilling in the first place. He died in 1982.
It isn't the technology. It's how it is used and developed. Sure, we need to be finding alternative sources, cleaner sources, but in the meantime. there is no reason an engineer should not take pride in a job well done.
AJ |
| | | Abe F. March Five Star Member
Number of posts : 10768 Registration date : 2008-01-26 Age : 85 Location : Germany
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:03 pm | |
| Taking positive steps, even baby steps, although all the research/tests are not completed, is a step in the right direction.
The German news reported that Chancellor Merkel proposed to the King of Morroco to finance the building of Solar sites in the desert. The King is thrilled saying that it would create jobs, provide needed energy, and be a source of income.
Chancellor Merkel also said that Germany's investment in Wind energy has already paid for itself. Wind and solar energy works. We don't know how effective energy derived from the ocean will be unless we try it. All these are harmless to the environment and to humans, yet we insist on playing with fire waiting to get burnt.
I intend to keep talking about it. That's my contribution. Using my voice, perhaps a lonely one, is what I can do. |
| | | alj Five Star Member
Number of posts : 9633 Registration date : 2008-12-05 Age : 80 Location : San Antonio
| Subject: Re: Huge Earthquake hits Japan, generates tsunamis Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:12 pm | |
| One more post from Richard: - Quote :
- Evacuations continue. Small kids, pregnant women, are now flying out
because of a spike in radiation detected in the air and in bottled water. The USS George Washington aircraft carrier was put back to sea because of how sensitive it is to radiation contamination. They don't want the residual radiation which is floating around to infiltrate its ventillation systems. Apparently, it will ruin the 4 billion dollar ship if it does.
We had two huge pallets of bottled water delivered to the school. We can't drink tap water. It's not potable.
Yesterday, 71% of the student body was present. The others have flown out. A sharp drop is expected over the next few days.
But with all this said, I am beginning to think Maria and I are not going to be evacuated. Only the children and dependents. The nuclear reactor seems to be getting their act together and there have been some improvements out there. The US Japan Commander told the Stars and Stripes newspaper that he thought a mandatory evacuation of essential personnel would not happen.
That's good news for me ... I will still have a job and continue to pay the kids college tuition. Whew!
Rolling blackouts are still the daily routine out here. I go home, light up a coleman lantern, sit back and read a Sony eBook which I keep charged at school. Can't get much done with the website under these circumstances but it's not a bad routine. People around here are very calm, very orderly, and go on about their business as best as they can. America could learn a lot from the Japanese culture. Ann |
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