Tsunami in Japan, 3/11/11

[ElementalNovel]

I'm sure we've all heard of it.
A giant 8.9 earthquake has caused a massive tsunami to hit Japan this morning. Already, over 300 have been found dead on one of the beaches.
The first waves have reached the West coast of the US and Hawaii and Washington.
I know there are members of Magistream who live in these areas. Let's hope they're all ok.
Please, does anyone have thoughts/ news/ etc on this disaster?

[TxCat]

I had an odd experience related to it. I'd been sleeping soundly and suddenly woke up nauseated, shaking, and anxious. The feelings accelerated over the course of about half an hour and then slowly decreased until all that remained was a vague feeling that something really bad had happened.

When I checked the time of these feelings --- we couldn't trace the reaction to anything physical --- I discovered that it coincided exactly to the minute to the time the earthquake hit. I'm on the east coast of the US. There is no plausible reason why I should have had any reaction at all.

I've got friends and family in Japan and Hawaii and on the west coast, on up into Washington State and British Columbia. I haven't heard from any of them. One has probably already been dispatched, as he is Coast Guard.

On the world scale, I'm a little disappointed with countries' reactions. Our President hasn't said anything. Most of the US papers and news outlets haven't even touched the story. I did find this:

World Stunned by Japan Quake but Little Rapid Action

It's being reported by Reuters in London, not a US based outlet.

The US did send over a batch of coolant in an effort to stabilize the nuclear reactor, according to the article. Obama is quoted as making the typical mumblings about standing by a nation in its time of need but...nothing else.

I know part of the problem is that you can't get rescue teams in until the waves recede and the aftershocks stop but I would have thought we could have mobilized a bit more to go help (or maybe not...I remember how long friends in New Orleans and other parts of Louisiana sat after Katrina).

Britain, France, and the rest of the European Union seem prepared to only sit on their asses, haven't even committed to any help unless they're asked. Very disappointing.

Snapshots of Developments after Japan Quake

This article is keeping a running tally of the dead, injured, and buildings destroyed.

The bulk of information I found was about how this will impact the price of oil. Disgusting!

Also, for some reason Hawaii and California seem to think they're safe even though the experts have repeatedly said that the initial wave is not the worst and that more severe waves which do more damage usually follow.

Hope everyone is staying out of danger and out of the coasts.

[Blackwidow]

I hope they are alright. I am just a bit freaked out with all this 2012 stuff and now the tsunamis. I am freaked out. Even though I really don't live near the cost.

[GrowlingCupcake]

Here (Singapore), it's been dominating our news channels, including CNN so it seems odd that it is not big news there?

They're not saying anything new, though, so I am not watching it anymore. Perhaps after I wake there will be more information.

There is a lot of speculation about the economy too.

[NorthernLady]

I am not going to comment too much on the economy, as I don't know it. Logistics wise, it would be massive. I don't know how 8.9 felt, but I have felt something in lines of 7.9. I am feeling for those in Japan. They haven't had a huge one like this in ages. (looked it up, and memory was right.)

I much come in and say, Crab, and fish harbors of Alaska are safe. Planes bound to Japan landed safely in Anchorage. Alaska only gotten 5 feet of waves. Cautions are still out there with the currents. (They can be bad enough without such waves)

I heard about the earthquake through a friend of mine, who always been there for me. He just went through one in his own country. As much I feel like I could help, but I feel a bit hopeless in doing so. Unaable to help at all. Not even monetary wise. This clean up and rescue would be very high.

[SilentPsycho]

Britain, France, and the rest of the European Union seem prepared to only sit on their asses, haven't even committed to any help unless they're asked. Very disappointing.

To be fair, it's Japan's call to give permission for countries to send over large groups. Britain can get numerous specialist teams ready and off to Japan within four hours, but Japan needs to give permission first.

[TxCat]

To be fair, it's Japan's call to give permission for countries to send over large groups. Britain can get numerous specialist teams ready and off to Japan within four hours, but Japan needs to give permission first.

According to the article, they already had. Their Parliament was in session when the earthquake occurred so their prime minister felt it first hand. I know it can take a while to get relief to a disaster area, especially when it's densely populated and its seaports and airports have been impacted but some of the comments in the article by the various world leaders were just off-putting.

A bunch of Jax NAS cargo planes took off about four hours ago (I'm in their flight path and they're large enough and loud enough that they put shadow over the house when they go). I'd guess they're headed to help. I don't know as any of the vessels on this coast could get there in time to do anything, though.

I do see that the waves seem to have weakened considerably as they went out, which is good news for the other coasts. Having been in the path of swells after a hurricane (which reached up to 12 foot and traveled right up the St. Johns just as if it had been a wave tank in a physics lab), I can appreciate the flooding which will occur and the sheer terror it must inspire.

Still no word from the friends who were in the area. As they were all military or Coast Guard, I'm hoping they've just been mobilized and were not actually hurt or killed. I haven't heard from ANY of my civilian friends.

[DoomedDaphnia]

I actually heard about this in my calculus class this morning, but I haven't heard much else outside of that it was about an 8.9 magnitude earthquake. I'm a bit disappointed that we aren't doing much. Then again, maybe there's something preventing help from arriving. From what I've just read, their prime minister seems to be trying to calm everyone down, though. Hopefully, they'll be able to bounce back soon enough.

[SilentPsycho]

To be fair, it's Japan's call to give permission for countries to send over large groups. Britain can get numerous specialist teams ready and off to Japan within four hours, but Japan needs to give permission first.

According to the article, they already had.

It was mentioned on either the BBC or the ITV Special report about two hours ago that Japan has yet to ask for aid from us. I can't remember which one, my Dad switched it on before I could see.

[Blackwidow]

I am scared about the whole subject. Even though it really doesn't effect me where I am. I would just like to get the thought off my mind.