8.9 earthquake leads to Japanese Tsunami

[Lucas156]

I heard that the quake/tsunami shifted the position of the island of Japan by as much as 8 inches.

Actually from what I have read it shifted the whole island at least 8 feet. Wowza!

 

[mrjarrell]

Store shelves empty in Tokyo, (and one imagines in other places in that region, as well). Damage to some food production facilities and roads, I would guess. No batteries available, no candles, etc, being reported and there are rolling blackouts since the power infrastructure was damaged.

Store shelves empty in Tokyo as uncertainty reigns | Reuters

 

[mrjarrell]

Look for LNG prices to rise, as Japan makes a shift to gas powered electricity generation. Both to replace the damaged reactors and to shift away from nuke power. Sad. Forbes takes a look at the economic impact.

Parsing The Economic Impact Of The Japanese Disaster - Jeremy Bogaisky - The Business Desk - Forbes

 

[ArmedProgrammer]

As I mentioned in the other thread - I have lived there. Spent about a year in Mito - about six miles inland from Oarai where that whirlpool was. And another year in various other areas. Knowing how the land is laid out, the death toll will CERTAINLY be north of 10000. And if it stays below 100k it will be a testament to their early warning system, and well done civil defense.
Agree with the other points people have made here. See the other thread for some decent discussion of the "what we could do to prepare for a similar situation here".

Take home lessons from this:
1) The economic impacts of this will be large. Mr J's got that handled above.
2) We should learn the lessons from this and prepare accordingly.
3) Some will say that we should never use nuclear power - I would not be quick to rush to judgment on that. Let's let it play out and get the real facts - not in the heat of the battle.
4) The Japanese are among the best prepared in the world to handle this. If it happened here, it would be worse. This is their Katrina + a tsunami + a nuclear emergency.
5) From my time there, I know the people of NorthEast Japan to be very cool people, ones that I would be proud to call my friends. I pray for them over the coming days. It's going to be tough sledding.
6) Has anyone else noticed the decided LACK of riots and looting? That is a credit to the people of that area. We could not say the same with Katrina.

There are lessons in all of this, I guess. Probably the best thing that we can do is a) do what we can to help and b) learn from the situation so that we're not doomed to repeat it. c) pray for those who are now facing the challenge of their lives.

 

[mrjarrell]

The Navy has repositioned their ships due to low levels of radioactivity. Hedging their bets, but keeping themselves safe.

7th Fleet repositions ships after contamination detected

 

[mrjarrell]

Crud! Apparently, the nuclear fuel rods at one of the damaged reactors are fully exposed now.

Nuclear fuel rods fully exposed at Japan reactor - Jiji | Reuters

 

[mrjarrell]

Video of the quake from inside a Junior High school. Shows just how long it lasted and the demeanor of the students. No yelling, no screaming. Just silence and hanging on.

BBC News - Japan earthquake: Amateur footage of Osato school

 

[mrjarrell]

A different, non-media, look at Tokyo. Things may not be as bad as reported, according to this gaijin.

http://www.japantrends.com/life-continues-in-tokyo/

 

[mrjarrell]

Pictures from the US Pacific Fleets operations in Japan for tsunami/quake relief. Way to go guys and girls!

Flickr: U.S. Pacific Fleet's Photostream