Rida?

[Etoile]

You said he's in Miyagi prefecture, right? I am fortunate that I don't know anybody there...my Japanese friends are mostly in the Tokyo area (like rida) and Ibaraki prefecture (where I worked), well south of Miyagi-ken. What a scary situation for your friend...please let us know if he passes on any more information from that area.

 

[catalina_francisco]

You said he's in Miyagi prefecture, right? I am fortunate that I don't know anybody there...my Japanese friends are mostly in the Tokyo area (like rida) and Ibaraki prefecture (where I worked), well south of Miyagi-ken. What a scary situation for your friend...please let us know if he passes on any more information from that area.

He's in Iwate. Initially he thought everything was fine as they had a news report saying no worries, earthquake was far out to sea, but then everything started happening quick and not for the best. He also earns money as a photographer, mostly of Japan's beautiful landscapes and people. For now he is spending a lot of time in bed to keep warm which seems to be a good plan, along with providing translations for westerners following the situation on Japanese TV, papers or news reports. He has another friend who is close to the nuclear reactors, so tension is mounting for them. I heard awhile ago that the north island has moved 2.4 meters due to the quake....if true, that is a big shift!!

Catalina

 

[Homburg]

I'm ok, thanks!
But stuck at work as trains are not running, cabs are mobbed and street jammed.

I could walk home but it might be wiser at this point to wait for tomorrow, when is light.

We shook for 7 minutes, the longest I've felt here so far. The aftershocks that would usually rise concerns, we don't even notice them.

Up north thou, is a mess.

Really happy to see this. I figured you would probably be okay what with your location, but you are the first person I thought of.

Unfortunately, my family is up north. My dad has been trying to find out what is going on with his uncle and the rest of the family. No luck. Doesn't help that nobody over there speaks english and nobody here speaks japanese.

 

[rida]

Thank you for your thoughts!

Today, Monday, many places in Tokyo and surrounding areas will try to get back to normal. Problem is that we will have to do so on around 80% of our usual power supply.

As such there will be scheduled black-outs all over the region to reduce power usage and problems. As such some of the train line are also been canceled and/or reduced.

@Catalina: glad you got hold of your friend! It is so scary when you cannot reach them, isn't it?

@Homburg: hugs!
Let me know if I can help.

Basic lifeline are not back up north yet: electricity and water and gas. And of course phone coverage as well is out. As such there are many survivors in the evacuation areas that have not been properly reached to get a list of names as of yet (Even though they have been seen from helicopters/ get water-food delivery when possible). Priority is given to find the survivors stranded on roof tops and other places close to the coast where another tsunami could strike again.


ETA: to repost the below site:
http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=en

 

[johnie40uk]

I'm so glad you're all right. My thoughts are with the Japanese. x

 

[catalina_francisco]

J says they are getting very strong and sometimes lengthy aftershocks again today, often only minutes apart. Another explosion at nuclear plant and false tsunami warnings issued are also adding to the tension levels which he says for himself he is trying to keep under control but sometimes finds hard. And a prediction there is 70% chance of another quake within next 3 days....2000 more bodies washed up...it is devastating. His parents in law who live in another town which has been affected even worse than his are too scared by the aftershocks to stay where they are so are moving in with him and his wife for now. Makes our problems and worries seem very insignificant.

Catalina

 

[Etoile]

Indeed, a lot of people are very scared...a student of mine says he has barely slept since the first one, and an American friend of mine went to the military base at Yokosuka just to get out of Tokyo for a while.

 

[rida]

Things do not look good up north for many many people. And the transportation system being disrupted make it hard for help to go up there, and information to come down here.

Here in Tokyo, fast food, bread, rice and past, paper towel and toilet paper are getting short in the stores, but meat, fish, fruit and booze are still plenty. A part for Friday night and Saturday morning, right after the quake, I have not seen (not at least in super near my place) any excessive panic buying. The problem is that it is hard for goods to arrive, as gasoline is also running a bit short.

There is also disruption to the electricity supply, so they have planned black outs all around the suburban areas. Store also close earlier. Subways run smoothly, but many longer range commuters train are running at reduced capacity or stopped, due to the planned black outs. As such many cannot get to work, so offices as well are running at minimum staff (I'm the only one of the 4 of us that can make it to work ...).

But the one that can, try to keep up with normalcy as much as possible. It is the best way to help go through this ordeal the best we can.

Now the radiation scare is definitely creating a lot of stress. But people are still keeping their cool for the most part.

I'm going to stay indoor as much as possible and keeping my girls inside.

 

[YourCaptor]

Things do not look good up north for many many people. And the transportation system being disrupted make it hard for help to go up there, and information to come down here.

Here in Tokyo, fast food, bread, rice and past, paper towel and toilet paper are getting short in the stores, but meat, fish, fruit and booze are still plenty. A part for Friday night and Saturday morning, right after the quake, I have not seen (not at least in super near my place) any excessive panic buying. The problem is that it is hard for goods to arrive, as gasoline is also running a bit short.

There is also disruption to the electricity supply, so they have planned black outs all around the suburban areas. Store also close earlier. Subways run smoothly, but many longer range commuters train are running at reduced capacity or stopped, due to the planned black outs. As such many cannot get to work, so offices as well are running at minimum staff (I'm the only one of the 4 of us that can make it to work ...).

But the one that can, try to keep up with normalcy as much as possible. It is the best way to help go through this ordeal the best we can.

Now the radiation scare is definitely creating a lot of stress. But people are still keeping their cool for the most part.

I'm going to stay indoor as much as possible and keeping my girls inside.

You can always bust out your super fetish rubber suit™ and you'll be totally safe. The kinky shall prevail!!

You also always have a home in Italy and the US that you can go to if things get too threatening.

 

[rida]

You can always bust out your super fetish rubber suit™ and you'll be totally safe. The kinky shall prevail!!

You also always have a home in Italy and the US that you can go to if things get too threatening.

DARN! I don't have a rubber suit!! Better get one to put in my emergency backpack ^_~

Thanks!

 

[DVS]

The earthquake in Japan was strong enough that it made the earth shift on its axis so shortening the length of the day by about 1.8 millionths of a second. And I'd heard 8 feet from another source, but this article says the country of Japan moved about 13 feet. That is astonishing! If you couldn't tell form the catastrophic destruction, it just goes to show you the strength of this disaster.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12732335

 

[catalina_francisco]

Delta deserves an award, not. A guy who was booked to fly into Tokyo on Friday asked them yesterday if he could change the flight due to the circumstances and their response was 'no, not our fault there was an earthquake'.

Catalina

 

[Etoile]

Really? Delta has established policies on the Japan situation - they are requiring fare differences to be paid, but not charging fees:
http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/flight_status_updates/advisories/japan_earthquake/index.jsp

Actually most airlines have established policies on it:
https://faq.orbitz.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/16010

 

[catalina_francisco]

Really? Delta has established policies on the Japan situation - they are requiring fare differences to be paid, but not charging fees:
http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/flight_status_updates/advisories/japan_earthquake/index.jsp

Actually most airlines have established policies on it:
https://faq.orbitz.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/16010

Beats me, he is quite upset about it as he is not flush with money. Have to say our experiences with them in the past have not been great either.

Catalina

 

[YourCaptor]

DARN! I don't have a rubber suit!! Better get one to put in my emergency backpack ^_~

Thanks!

Yup you have more options than most, you have a safe retreat you can go back too. The hard part is making the call on when to go if at all. But you're gonna tough it out aren't ya.

My theory is it's all a huge cover up, the truth is Godzilla escaped. But it's cool, Japan kicked his ass how many times now?

 

[rida]

From a Flash News on the Italian Newspaper: "Corriere della sera"
"Expert found that Tokyo is 6 times less radioactive than Rome."
Those are the expert that were sent to justify why they did not let the emergency squad come in to help.

Yes, radiations are not something to take lightly. And yes, Japan has a history of messing up and covering up as well.

However, what I find annoying is that this earthquake has now turned into a highly polarized political agenda driven debate on Nuclear Energy: YES vs NO

And it is keeping much needed help from coming here...

 

[DVS]

From a Flash News on the Italian Newspaper: "Corriere della sera"
"Expert found that Tokyo is 6 times less radioactive than Rome."
Those are the expert that were sent to justify why they did not let the emergency squad come in to help.

Yes, radiations are not something to take lightly. And yes, Japan has a history of messing up and covering up as well.

However, what I find annoying is that this earthquake has now turned into a highly polarized political agenda driven debate on Nuclear Energy: YES vs NO

And it is keeping much needed help from coming here...

It's really sad that I've heard both good and bad about the reactors. And I'm sure there has to be a certain amount of chaos, due to the earthquake and tsunami.

I hope the people in charge are not covering up a potential disaster, because the Japanese people don't need any more stress. But, I will say if anybody can handle it, (aside from the Americans-yes I'm somewhat bias) it's the Japanese people. But it is disturbing to see the people being checked for radiation. If the situation is under control, why is that necessary?

The explosions we've seen on TV would scare me. I know reactor buildings have redundancy built in, but each explosion removes one level of that redundancy. And the rest of the nuclear world is watching.

I remember not too long ago (well, it's been several years, at least) a company was going to build a reactor in California and it was right smack on the fault line. And the really scary part of it was the whole thing had already been approved for building. Only when someone (I don't remember who) spoke up and said it wasn't a good idea, was the thing scrapped.

But, when you look at it, if California was to have a quake the size of a 9.0, the reactors that are already in production could be in the same situation as those in Japan. Sure, they say they were build to withstand an earthquake, but I'm always skeptical about such rhetoric.

I've heard different stories, but I've most often heard it could end up worse than 3 Mile Island, but far less than Chernobyl. But, there is still a good chance everything will be OK. But, letting sea water in to cool the rods corrodes the system and permanently damages it for the future. It's been said that can be seen as a last resort measure.

I guess I'm a pessimist at heart when it comes to believing some people. I also want to believe the same people, when they tell me everything is OK. I guess that's where the Japanese people are, right now. They want to believe, but they are staying inside with the doors and windows sealed...just in case. Just who can you trust, any more. You worry about being down wind.

It is also sad to see people needing food and water. That hurts me to see that, as well as the pain in the faces of the affected people.

 

[Etoile]

Indeed, it HAS turned into a political debate. You'd hope that would wait until the danger was past.

 

[rida]

It's really sad that I've heard both good and bad about the reactors. And I'm sure there has to be a certain amount of chaos, due to the earthquake and tsunami.

I hope the people in charge are not covering up a potential disaster, because the Japanese people don't need any more stress. But, I will say if anybody can handle it, (aside from the Americans-yes I'm somewhat bias) it's the Japanese people. But it is disturbing to see the people being checked for radiation. If the situation is under control, why is that necessary?

The explosions we've seen on TV would scare me. I know reactor buildings have redundancy built in, but each explosion removes one level of that redundancy. And the rest of the nuclear world is watching.

I remember not too long ago (well, it's been several years, at least) a company was going to build a reactor in California and it was right smack on the fault line. And the really scary part of it was the whole thing had already been approved for building. Only when someone (I don't remember who) spoke up and said it wasn't a good idea, was the thing scrapped.

But, when you look at it, if California was to have a quake the size of a 9.0, the reactors that are already in production could be in the same situation as those in Japan. Sure, they say they were build to withstand an earthquake, but I'm always skeptical about such rhetoric.

I've heard different stories, but I've most often heard it could end up worse than 3 Mile Island, but far less than Chernobyl. But, there is still a good chance everything will be OK. But, letting sea water in to cool the rods corrodes the system and permanently damages it for the future. It's been said that can be seen as a last resort measure.

I guess I'm a pessimist at heart when it comes to believing some people. I also want to believe the same people, when they tell me everything is OK. I guess that's where the Japanese people are, right now. They want to believe, but they are staying inside with the doors and windows sealed...just in case. Just who can you trust, any more. You worry about being down wind.

It is also sad to see people needing food and water. That hurts me to see that, as well as the pain in the faces of the affected people.

Only the people within a 30KM radius are sitting inside.
The radioactive checks are done both for security and to calm the people.

I tell you, the "news" from the West, with their sensationalism and wrong translations at time (like the "workers abandon Plant" instead of "a part of a necessary core of 50 workers, the plant has been evacuated") just feed the hysteria. Hence all the foreigners fleeing.

Yes, the Japanese government has a history of cover ups. But with the whole freaking world checking and criticizing their every move, and with something so big as Tokyo at stake, I don't think they are covering up that much.

Yes, they were slow at first, and still at times. But the satellite pictures, Tweeter, Blogs and the way information travel now, it is making it impossible to cover up something so big.

But right now, either way it ends, it will be used for politics and agendas.

And for your information, Japanese do not believe their politicians. It is just that screaming at them or shaming them right now, will not do any good. They pushed them to be more transparent with the Plant information, and since them, they have been giving a lot of information. Even admitting when they don't know what's going on, or admitting mistakes during previous press conferences.

But right now, people here knows that they need to leave the plant in the hands of the experts and do what they can to help the quake and tsunami victims. The best way being, getting everything in Tokyo and surrounding areas up and running so that help can be delivered where needed.

 

[Etoile]

I tell you, the "news" from the West, with their sensationalism and wrong translations at time (like the "workers abandon Plant" instead of "a part of a necessary core of 50 workers, the plant has been evacuated") just feed the hysteria. Hence all the foreigners fleeing.

I prefer to get my information by watching NHK World, the English-language service. I have it on my cable TV lineup but it can also be watched online here:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nhk-world-tv

 

[rida]

I prefer to get my information by watching NHK World, the English-language service. I have it on my cable TV lineup but it can also be watched online here:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nhk-world-tv

Yeah. They are the most boring news channel you can get.
But that tells you that nobody is in for becoming the next "Mr o Mrs Popularity".

And I was even impressed that when journalist were asking negative question, they showed the whole things, without strategic "cuts" or "voice overs".



As if it was not stressful enough to be "dancing" every couple of hours and worrying, and having to reassure all the worried family and friends, I so do not need to be sent link to more and more "panic inducing" pieces of news from journalist that are not here, and are reporting from their studios on the other side of the globe, hoping to became the next big swinging dick of the news airwave!

 

[Etoile]

Yeah. They are the most boring news channel you can get.
But that tells you that nobody is in for becoming the next "Mr o Mrs Popularity".

And I was even impressed that when journalist were asking negative question, they showed the whole things, without strategic "cuts" or "voice overs".



As if it was not stressful enough to be "dancing" every couple of hours and worrying, and having to reassure all the worried family and friends, I so do not need to be sent link to more and more "panic inducing" pieces of news from journalist that are not here, and are reporting from their studios on the other side of the globe, hoping to became the next big swinging dick of the news airwave!

Wait, NHK World studios are not in Japan?? I thought they were.

I have actually watched NHK World for months now, mostly the cultural programming rather than the news. Of course, news is all they are showing now.

 

[Keroin]

I tell you, the "news" from the West, with their sensationalism and wrong translations at time (like the "workers abandon Plant" instead of "a part of a necessary core of 50 workers, the plant has been evacuated") just feed the hysteria.

Sadly, this doesn't surprise me one bit. Western journalism, for the most part, is a joke. Stories are either played up or played down to a ridiculous degree; it must be so frustrating to those involved.

Some idiot even started something out here, claiming that winds were carrying radiation from Japan to BC and that we are all in danger. Good Cod. Such rubbish.

Just try to tune it out as best you can Rida.

 

[catalina_francisco]

It is also sad to see people needing food and water. That hurts me to see that, as well as the pain in the faces of the affected people.

Not to mention the snow and below 0 temperatures up north and no heating available. I wish western journalists would stop following and bothering those who are searching for relatives or have just found they have lost them. I know they likely see it as newsworthy and good press, but really, most I have seen the people are too upset and just want privacy, not a microphone and camera in their face hoping for a reaction for the 6 o'clock news.

Catalina

 

[rida]

Wait, NHK World studios are not in Japan?? I thought they were.

I have actually watched NHK World for months now, mostly the cultural programming rather than the news. Of course, news is all they are showing now.

Nhk world is in Japan. I think it is mostly the same NHK with more English voice overs.

I was referring to the other non japanease news channels.


@Keroin: thank you!
If you are in danger all the way over there, what's the point of people fleeing from here??? Honestly, so ridiculus.