# Large earthquake in Northeast Japan **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 11, 2011, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279 "2011-03-11T06:10:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/301 "2011-03-12T17:52:15Z")
> [@EKDS5k](#): > > Is there evidence to show that disaster prevention/relief has been poorly executed? Or that the nuclear power plant was not built to proper safety standards? Keep in mind that this is the 5th worst earthquake since we started keeping track of earthquakes. The talking heads on Japanese television are not exactly what I would call a reliable news source. > > I am honestly curious, because I really would have thought Japan would be on the ball when it comes to earthquakes. If I understand it correctly the problem was not the earthquake but the Tsunami. The backup generators used to power the water pumps failed. These particular plants are 40 years old and are not of the type with the water reservoir above the nuclear pile. That is the best configuration because in the event of total power failure they can just use gravity to dump the water. This may be a case of triple redundancy gone awry. As for disaster relief, the Japanese Red Cross is renowned for its efficiency and planning. They are the first people you would ever want to see anywhere in the world when it hits the fan. I know I shouldn’t be thinking this but I find myself looking at ever larger views of the “big picture”. Everybody is thinking about all the important stuff that needs to be done first but I can’t help looking down the road to all the layers of the onion that get pealed away. The impact of multiple run-away nuclear meltdowns. It’s unimaginable. They were showing jet stream paths out of Japan and I could easily experience the tail end of this. That’s how bad it is. I keep thinking of all the people who are sick or pregnant or otherwise tied up with their own limitations. Imagine dealing with a kidney stone or geriatric parent while Armageddon swirls around you. And finally, pets or just wildlife in general. Those animals aren’t even on anyone’s radar and never will be. How do you mourn for a cat when your neighbors are dead. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/302 "2011-03-12T18:03:29Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > Japan apparently [moved eight feet](http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/12/japan.earthquake.tsunami.earth/index.html?hpt=T1). Was there any change in elevation? Somewhere on those USGS pages, I saw a to-scale cross-section of the subduction zone, the trench in the ocean floor, and the earthquake site, and I am now imagining that as the crust above the subducting Pacific plate jerked eastward, it also thinned out a little. ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/303 "2011-03-12T18:07:39Z")
> [@EKDS5k](#): > > Is there evidence to show that disaster prevention/relief has been poorly executed? The Japanese government was severely criticized for completely dropping the ball after the Kobe earthquake, so it’ll be interesting to see how/whether things have improved. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/304 "2011-03-12T18:20:38Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I know I shouldn’t be thinking this but I find myself looking at ever larger views of the “big picture”. Everybody is thinking about all the important stuff that needs to be done first but I can’t help looking down the road to all the layers of the onion that get pealed away. The impact of multiple run-away nuclear meltdowns. It’s unimaginable. They were showing jet stream paths out of Japan and I could easily experience the tail end of this. That’s how bad it is. I keep thinking of all the people who are sick or pregnant or otherwise tied up with their own limitations. Imagine dealing with a kidney stone or geriatric parent while Armageddon swirls around you. And finally, pets or just wildlife in general. Those animals aren’t even on anyone’s radar and never will be. How do you mourn for a cat when your neighbors are dead. Woah! Don’t Panic! We caught a decent belt of the Chernobyl aftermath here in Britain, and it really wasn’t much of a big deal. This thing is nothing like the scale of what happened there. ---
**Author:** ![Heyoka13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Heyoka13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heyoka13)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/305 "2011-03-12T18:29:47Z")
Funny what one thinks about at times; for instance, don’t know why, but when I saw the power plant blow up, I immediately recalled a Japanese incendiary balloon during WWII landed a few miles from here . . . ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/306 "2011-03-12T18:38:13Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > I’d like to know a good answer for this as well. I’m rather broke until payday, but I’m probably going to donate to the Red Cross, but I am open to suggestions. I do know that money is far more useful as a donation than goods are, since you don’t have to sort through money to find the stuff people need (also, a lot of those “stuff donation drives” tend to work more as a way for people to clean out their garages of junk they don’t want) [dealnews Will Match Up to $25,000 in donations for Japan Relief (updated)](http://dealmac.com/dealnews-Will-Match-Up-to-25-000-in-donations-for-Japan-Relief/443459.html) “For every dollar you donate to the American Red Cross “Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami” Disaster Relief Fund from today through March 31, 2011, dealnews will match 100 percent, up to $25,000.” ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/307 "2011-03-12T19:01:34Z")
Did I read correctly that the containment building holding the reactor blew up? I thought it was one of the ancillary buildings. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/308 "2011-03-12T19:13:09Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Woah! Don’t Panic! We caught a decent belt of the Chernobyl aftermath here in Britain, and it really wasn’t much of a big deal. This thing is nothing like the scale of what happened there. I’m not worried about it but it’s just the idea that it could reach this far puts a scale on things. I was amazed at how much of Mt Saint Helens ended up on my car. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/309 "2011-03-12T21:38:27Z")
Do the people of Japan have tsunami insurance? ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/310 "2011-03-12T21:58:50Z")
Canadopers - if any of you wish to donate, send a text message with the word ASIA to 30333 to donate $5 to Canadian Red Cross. Or www . redcross . ca is their website. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/311 "2011-03-12T22:07:37Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Canadopers - if any of you wish to donate, send a text message with the word ASIA to 30333 to donate $5 to Canadian Red Cross. Or www . redcross . ca is their website. For those thinking of reporting as “call for action” – this has mod okay. **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator ---
**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/312 "2011-03-12T22:49:07Z")
Keiko contacted me on facebook – she and her family are okay. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/313 "2011-03-12T23:31:22Z")
> [@JpnDude](#): > > Another (mostly lurking) Doper in Japan checking in. > > I was at **Tokyo DisneySea** yesterday afternoon when the first quake hit. If anything, it was one of the safest places to be. No injuries or minimal damage so far. Apparently lots of soil liquefaction in the surrounding neighborhoods. That whole area is reclaimed land. Many of the 70,000 guests (including me) stayed overnight and were well taken care of by the Cast Members (staff) with some safety goods and food. The train lines from the theme parks into central Tokyo were closed until this afternoon. The local news announced that the **Tokyo Disneyland** and DisneySea will be closed until March 21st for inspection and/or repairs. > > I got back to my home north of Tokyo (around 180 miles from the epicenter) around 6pm local time, 28 hours after first strike. I had made contact with my wife late last night and was finally reunited with her this evening. Our home had lots of things scattered on the floor such as dishes, books, and other things on cabinets. No furniture fell, but there was lots of displacement. Water and power always available. there was an ireporter on cnn that had video of when the quake hit disney. from the sound and pictures everyone stayed very calm, sitting down or squating on the ground and holding onto the children. (perhaps it maybe different if one was on a ride) it seems as if disney is a good place to be during a natural disaster. i’m glad to hear all are okay. it must have been a bit nervewracking for your wife. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/314 "2011-03-12T23:34:29Z")
I am aware of aftershocks but they are getting 4 an hour. There have been over 250 of them according to the news. Over 50 have been above 6.0, 7.2 was the biggest so far. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/315 "2011-03-12T23:38:50Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Canadopers - if any of you wish to donate, send a text message with the word ASIA to 30333 to donate $5 to Canadian Red Cross. Or www . redcross . ca is their website. Done. I’ve never donated via text message before. Of course, I’ll send a proper donation via the usual channels. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/316 "2011-03-13T00:32:10Z")
Earthquake, tsunami, nuclear power plant about to melt down – is this the point where Godzilla comes out of the sea? ---
**Author:** ![KinkiNipponTourist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9bcb4/32.png) [@KinkiNipponTourist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KinkiNipponTourist)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/317 "2011-03-13T00:43:55Z")
Hi all, I live in Tokyo and am sitting in front of my TV, posting updates from Japanese live coverage of the quake. I’m not an earthquake expert, but am providing folks back home w/ news as it comes in, as opposed to when it becomes available on CNN, BBC etc. I’ve been posting on my FB page, and am making my posts visible to everyone, if anyone is interested. My name is Judy Howland. thanks, Judy ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/318 "2011-03-13T01:30:12Z")
there’s also a link to donate to the Red Cross for this disaster in the iTunes Store (Mac and PC iTunes app, doesn’t appear to be a link on the iPhone iTunes store) and on the Apple webpage ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/319 "2011-03-13T02:09:33Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > … > > I almost expect Godzilla to make an appearance at any time. It’s difficult to imagine a shittier scenario than what’s going on in Japan now. Okay, now I don’t feel so bad for thinking the same thing. With the earthquake, tsunami and potential nuclear meltdown I’ve been picturing Godzilla, Rodan, Ghidira, et al heading for Japan in a “what’s next?” scenario. If that happens, maybe one of them will say “guys, don’t you think they’ve had enough for now?” ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/320 "2011-03-13T02:14:44Z")
Personally, I’d be holding out hope for Gamera, the Protector of Earth and Friend to All Children. I think his help would be invaluable. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279.md?page=17)