What I'm curious on, and maybe some of our members in Japan can speak to that, is whether there was any warning at all given beforehand?
You would think that with something this big there would be some sort of indication. Even if minutes before, but something. Or was it just totally random?
honestly, the first thing that came to my mind when i heard the news were you guys.
glad you are ok. and lets hope they get the power plants under control.
What I'm curious on, and maybe some of our members in Japan can speak to that, is whether there was any warning at all given beforehand?
You would think that with something this big there would be some sort of indication. Even if minutes before, but something. Or was it just totally random?
They have a pretty elaborate warning system in place, I was hearing about it the day-of, and was very impressed.
KAI RYSSDAL: Even before the shaking started, millions of people in Tokyo knew this quake was coming. Japan has spent hundreds of millions of dollars over the past 15 years building an earthquake early-warning system. Today the investment may have paid off.
Marketplace's Steve Henn reports.
STEVE HENN: More than a minute before the ground began to shake in Tokyo, texted warnings hit millions of cell phones; stations interrupted their broadcasts; bullet trains came to a halt; and factories got urgent e-mails to secure their assembly lines.
Another explosion at another nuclear plant, 11 people missing or wounded. What the hell man.. Murphys law is seriously in effect here.
EDIT: Apparently it was so powerful people 50km away could feel it. As far as I know the reactor(s) have not gone into some kind of meltdown.
What I'm curious on, and maybe some of our members in Japan can speak to that, is whether there was any warning at all given beforehand?
You would think that with something this big there would be some sort of indication. Even if minutes before, but something. Or was it just totally random?
The system is sent out to every cell phone in the area (this instance, the entire country). It was too fast to get the warning out (for us). The people in Sendai had 5 minutes or less after the quake to get out before the tsunami.
I was working on the comp when my cell phone went "WHOOOP!! WHOOP!!" then BAM!! monitors slid into my face and KB's were in my lap. All the stuff on the shelves went on the floor and the house was shaking. Got the oldest son downstairs. It was too fast for the village air-raid sirens. They were knocked out before they made a peep. I got my oldest son standing in the doorway, and the baby was under a coffee table with stuff falling and breaking around him, ba-chan and ji-chan were by the door. Then we just rode it out for it must have been a minute.
After the 9, I strapped the baby to my back, ran upstairs did clothes for everyone, 4 days of food for the baby, stuffed vital docs in a waterproof bag, 100,000 yen in a wallet. Put the bags next to a window with an extension cord and a bandanna so I can find it in case the house falls. Told the oldest son to put on his winter clothes, dressed the baby in winter clothes. 3.5 minutes at the most. Did that and as soon as I finished my wifes stuff, the 7's hit (back down stairs I go).
Ji-chan grabbed the keys to the shed and put them in his pocket. The shed has our camping gear. ba-chan has a lockbox with cash and docs ready to go.
(I went upstairs and put all my equipment on the floor laid out so it can't fall all the way down)
Then from there, things started to settle down. The house we live in is old, so everything is gas. We had about 3 months of gas in the small tank for heating the front room, and 6 months in the back we used for the bath. Another 3~4 months for the kitchen. The fuel for the bath/front room would be used for the relic ji-chan dug out of the storage under the stairs. It was a gas heater that was at least 35 years old. The heater was designed for heating and cooking. We still had water as well. So after the initial hits, it was almost normal for us. Most people in this town remember a time with no electricity. At night was cold, we slept with no fires/candles going.
We had a month and a half of rice and other things. We were fine. Just not knowing what was going on outside of our village was a problem.
The baby still starts screaming when there's an aftershock, so nights are a PITA lately, with the occasional woop woop of the cell phone. But those have stopped because of the frequency of these 3's, 4's and 5's.
Last year a school in Sendai was interested in hiring me. This year again, word got back to me that they would like to hire me full time. I didn't entertain the thought because I didn't want to move my family again. My wife said it would be a good idea for at least me to go and commute weekly or daily. Still, I said no. I am really glad I didn't now.
Hmm, something I just noticed. Anybody notice how there doesn't seem to be any looting going on at all in spite of all this? Everyone seems very collected and steadfast in their wanting to help out. I just remember with Katrina you couldn't open up a collection of photos or a news article without there also being photos of people looting from ruined convenience stores or just about anything people could get their hands on.
Would call it a normal reaction rather than cool people.
America had some problems that lead to looting in the first place but i dont think that belongs here.
I really hope they manage to control the power plants somehow.
Japan is also a much more tightly packed country. It doesn't take long to get police/military support from one area to another. I'm sure they have all kinds of support services that started setting up in the affected areas almost immediately.
Problem with that density is when people die, its by the thousands . 2000 dead were washed up on beaches today. Thinking about how many peoples sons and daughters that is just blows my mind ;_;
i think its because they have a deeper level of respect as a people.
Just look at the fucking scumbag, low life, ignorant assholes saying the earthquakes, volcano, and tsunamis are payback for Pearl Harbor - those are the people that loot & steal, not ones that have been raised with respect for people and each other. Makes me sick to my stomach just thinking that people would say that.
i think its because they have a deeper level of respect as a people.
Just look at the fucking scumbag, low life, ignorant assholes saying the earthquakes, volcano, and tsunamis are payback for Pearl Harbor - those are the people that loot & steal, not ones that have been raised with respect for people and each other. Makes me sick to my stomach just thinking that people would say that.
Please don't got making generalizations like this. There are just as many assholes in one place/race as another.
I called my japanese friend to make sure he was ok, "How many fucking times do I have to tell you, I'm Korean and live in Ontario".
-Joke courtesy of Reddit
Amazing infrastructure they have in Japan, that's for sure. Not to undermine the current death toll but it could have been MUCH worse were it not for modern building standards.
Japan is also a much more tightly packed country. It doesn't take long to get police/military support from one area to another. I'm sure they have all kinds of support services that started setting up in the affected areas almost immediately.
Ah yeah, I would also suppose with the still very winter weather conditions - and the sheer magnitude of destruction, that looting a soggy television isn't going to be doing anyone any good anyway.
You know I really wish I could do more than donate a bit of money to the red cross. I really want to just pick up, fly out there, and help out in person.
I've been following the news and this thread for a while. It's such a horrible thing to happen and I can only imagine how powerless one can feel facing such an enormous force. I'm happy that all polycounters located in Japan are safe and that the number of casualties is much lower than I would have expected (considering the damage), but the news of what's happening at Fukushima is simply horrifying.
I'm really hoping that they will avoid a meltdown. As long as the reactors are not damaged, I'm sure Japan will be back on its feet in a blink. Stronger than before :thumbup:
Not to be sensationalist, but since this was warned about for a long time, and it happened, and pretty much everything people deny tends to come true, shouldn't people in california gtfo while they can? Nay?
Sorry i mentioned it in my post, it was a broad stretch to relate the two, and don't think we need to discuss that there is some disgusting behavior going on. I also don't think we should post things related to it, or the above video(s).
I wasn't trying to generalize entire people, and surely didn't want it to be a point of discussion - and in which case i shouldn't have posted it at all.
Out of respect for the polycounters who are experiencing it, as well as everyone else in Japan i think we should keep that shit out. And im sorry for bringing it up, it exists and is in the world, but don't think that its productive, or respectful to bring it to polycount.
on a more on topic note, i saw the American Red Cross sent teams out there.
yes, the US also has 8 naval ships there and 5 more on the way, most ships carry disaster relief supplies on board in case they happen to be near a disaster while deployed. I heard this morning that an US Aircraft carrier operating as a mobile fueling station sailed through a cloud of radiation.
yes, the US also has 8 naval ships there and 5 more on the way, most ships carry disaster relief supplies on board in case they happen to be near a disaster while deployed. I heard this morning that an US Aircraft carrier operating as a mobile fueling station sailed through a cloud of radiation.
Yea I heard they pulled out 3 ships because of radioactive clouds.
That video is nuts. In six minutes you go from being able to walk and drive in a clear street, to seeing an entire building floating down the road. Takes some courage to be standing where they were standing, from my point of view.
Ah yes I'd forgotten to look up what was happening. My housemate told me that over one hundred thousand had died, I was going to look it up.. and I am glad he's always wrong. Still, the situation is far from good. Hope they get those plants under control.
Lamont, what's the news regarding the nuclear plant? Are you guys expecting another Chernobyl? Damn this really sucks, thankfully my family there have moved further away..
we've moved down to Osaka for the time being. Tokyo was becoming unbearable. Did check the other forum I post on and they were being complete dicks about the situation here, which boiled my blood. I can7t even go back to look at the posts there. Please everyone try to stay away from political or any other idiotic thoughts of Japan. Japan has helped save so many lives abroad with their specialist search and rescue teams over the years, and they really are a peaceful nation and this is their time of need.
We are still getting quakes (just had a 6) and it may last for year. The situation here is beyond belief.
Tokyo has rolling blackouts, the supermarkets are devoid of food. Theres no trains. It's not even possible to get to the airport, and if you do the airlines have hiked all the prices to over $5000 or more.
we've moved down to Osaka for the time being. Tokyo was becoming unbearable. Did check the other forum I post on and they were being complete dicks about the situation here, which boiled my blood. I can7t even go back to look at the posts there. Please everyone try to stay away from political or any other idiotic thoughts of Japan. Japan has helped save so many lives with their specialist search and rescue teams over the years, and they really are a peaceful nation.
We are still getting quakes (just had a 6) and it may last for year. The situation here is beyond belief.
Tokyo has rolling blackouts, the supermarkets are devoid of food. Theres no trains. It's not even possible to get to the airport, and if you do the airlines have hiked all the prices to over $5000 or more.
Sleeping with my boots on.
~ Dude were right here with you. Many of us are old enough and mature enough here to understand the value of life, and safety and security to innocents.
Glad you managed to find a place in Osaka to wait it out in. Keep us posted man, we're all pretty damn worried about you guys!
Replies
That's amazing, horrifying stuff. Goes to show when this planet can shake us off without any problem.
You would think that with something this big there would be some sort of indication. Even if minutes before, but something. Or was it just totally random?
honestly, the first thing that came to my mind when i heard the news were you guys.
glad you are ok. and lets hope they get the power plants under control.
They have a pretty elaborate warning system in place, I was hearing about it the day-of, and was very impressed.
from http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/03/11/pm-the-effectiveness-of-japans-earlywarning-earthquake-system/
Glad to hear yall are ok over there! Hopefully it will calm down and life can begin again!
[ame]
this sucks man, I feel helpless.
EDIT: Apparently it was so powerful people 50km away could feel it. As far as I know the reactor(s) have not gone into some kind of meltdown.
What a disaster.
Japan is seriously just getting fucked over. This is just too much!
I was working on the comp when my cell phone went "WHOOOP!! WHOOP!!" then BAM!! monitors slid into my face and KB's were in my lap. All the stuff on the shelves went on the floor and the house was shaking. Got the oldest son downstairs. It was too fast for the village air-raid sirens. They were knocked out before they made a peep. I got my oldest son standing in the doorway, and the baby was under a coffee table with stuff falling and breaking around him, ba-chan and ji-chan were by the door. Then we just rode it out for it must have been a minute.
After the 9, I strapped the baby to my back, ran upstairs did clothes for everyone, 4 days of food for the baby, stuffed vital docs in a waterproof bag, 100,000 yen in a wallet. Put the bags next to a window with an extension cord and a bandanna so I can find it in case the house falls. Told the oldest son to put on his winter clothes, dressed the baby in winter clothes. 3.5 minutes at the most. Did that and as soon as I finished my wifes stuff, the 7's hit (back down stairs I go).
Ji-chan grabbed the keys to the shed and put them in his pocket. The shed has our camping gear. ba-chan has a lockbox with cash and docs ready to go.
(I went upstairs and put all my equipment on the floor laid out so it can't fall all the way down)
Then from there, things started to settle down. The house we live in is old, so everything is gas. We had about 3 months of gas in the small tank for heating the front room, and 6 months in the back we used for the bath. Another 3~4 months for the kitchen. The fuel for the bath/front room would be used for the relic ji-chan dug out of the storage under the stairs. It was a gas heater that was at least 35 years old. The heater was designed for heating and cooking. We still had water as well. So after the initial hits, it was almost normal for us. Most people in this town remember a time with no electricity. At night was cold, we slept with no fires/candles going.
We had a month and a half of rice and other things. We were fine. Just not knowing what was going on outside of our village was a problem.
The baby still starts screaming when there's an aftershock, so nights are a PITA lately, with the occasional woop woop of the cell phone. But those have stopped because of the frequency of these 3's, 4's and 5's.
Last year a school in Sendai was interested in hiring me. This year again, word got back to me that they would like to hire me full time. I didn't entertain the thought because I didn't want to move my family again. My wife said it would be a good idea for at least me to go and commute weekly or daily. Still, I said no. I am really glad I didn't now.
Also nice to hear that you are all okay.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/13/world/asia/satellite-photos-japan-before-and-after-tsunami.html?hp
6.5 minute video. goes from no water to houses gone.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=1605260179420&comments
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Maps/10/140_40.php
437 earthquakes of mag 4 or higher in the past week.
Is this just Japan being full of cool people?
America had some problems that lead to looting in the first place but i dont think that belongs here.
I really hope they manage to control the power plants somehow.
Just look at the fucking scumbag, low life, ignorant assholes saying the earthquakes, volcano, and tsunamis are payback for Pearl Harbor - those are the people that loot & steal, not ones that have been raised with respect for people and each other. Makes me sick to my stomach just thinking that people would say that.
Please don't got making generalizations like this. There are just as many assholes in one place/race as another.
-Joke courtesy of Reddit
Amazing infrastructure they have in Japan, that's for sure. Not to undermine the current death toll but it could have been MUCH worse were it not for modern building standards.
Ah yeah, I would also suppose with the still very winter weather conditions - and the sheer magnitude of destruction, that looting a soggy television isn't going to be doing anyone any good anyway.
You know I really wish I could do more than donate a bit of money to the red cross. I really want to just pick up, fly out there, and help out in person.
I'm really hoping that they will avoid a meltdown. As long as the reactors are not damaged, I'm sure Japan will be back on its feet in a blink. Stronger than before :thumbup:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Sinks
Not to be sensationalist, but since this was warned about for a long time, and it happened, and pretty much everything people deny tends to come true, shouldn't people in california gtfo while they can? Nay?
Crazy video.
They'd wanna watch out, the divine retribution fairy must be about ready to smite them down for Hiroshima & Nagasaki.
That`ll teach jay-pan to play god with all of its robots and sciencey nonsense.
I.
Wow.
I feel I would be completely justified in murdering her, for the betterment of the human species
Rage.
Okay, that is the most sickening bullshit I have ever seen..
Is she really celebrating what looks to be at least three times the death toll of 9/11?
If anything is immoral, that is it.
she made a dedicated video for polycount too -
[ame]
I won't be surprised if her house gets on fire anytime soon.
I wasn't trying to generalize entire people, and surely didn't want it to be a point of discussion - and in which case i shouldn't have posted it at all.
Out of respect for the polycounters who are experiencing it, as well as everyone else in Japan i think we should keep that shit out. And im sorry for bringing it up, it exists and is in the world, but don't think that its productive, or respectful to bring it to polycount.
on a more on topic note, i saw the American Red Cross sent teams out there.
I felt like throwing up after watching this... My god may she burn in hell for eternity.
EDIT: Oh right...we suspect trolling. Still, there are people like this. And she's gonna end up kneecapped if she keeps that up.
That video is nuts. In six minutes you go from being able to walk and drive in a clear street, to seeing an entire building floating down the road. Takes some courage to be standing where they were standing, from my point of view.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-12740843
Ah yes I'd forgotten to look up what was happening. My housemate told me that over one hundred thousand had died, I was going to look it up.. and I am glad he's always wrong. Still, the situation is far from good. Hope they get those plants under control.
http://www.cgbylg.com/CellPhoneWarning.MOV
We are still getting quakes (just had a 6) and it may last for year. The situation here is beyond belief.
Tokyo has rolling blackouts, the supermarkets are devoid of food. Theres no trains. It's not even possible to get to the airport, and if you do the airlines have hiked all the prices to over $5000 or more.
Sleeping with my boots on.
~ Dude were right here with you. Many of us are old enough and mature enough here to understand the value of life, and safety and security to innocents.
Glad you managed to find a place in Osaka to wait it out in. Keep us posted man, we're all pretty damn worried about you guys!