There are two physical sorts of radiation exposure. One is the “pure” radiation itself. Think of it as light or sound. Well, get in your house, and its going to be a bit quiter or darker isnt it? While you are exposed to it and the longer you are exposed to it, the greater your chances that you will get cancer over the course of your lifetime. Now these levels can range from “0.01 percent greater than normal chance of getting cancer over your lifetime” to dead within a few day (note, that except for the people right at the plant, the danger is more towards the 0.01 percent end of the spectrum than the “your gonna die soon” end).
But when the radiation source is turned off or removed, thats it. You just live your life normally and roll the dice as to whether you end up getting cancer or not.
The other type of exposure is to the physical SOURCE of the radiation. Take for example a small dust particle of a radioactive material. If you breath it in, or ingest it or it gets working into your skin say, that little radioactive particle could end up staying in your body for years. And generally, thats the more dangerous way to be exposed to “radiation” because that little particle has years and years to keep causing possible damage.
Now, if you’ve possibly got stuff like radioactive dust/debris floating around in the air, the best and simplest way to minimize your exposure to it is to stay indoors right? Yeah, it won’t be like being in a lead lined clean room, but it will cut your exposure level way down.
Yesterday, my company notified us employees that they would match up to $100,000 in donations to the ACR specifically for this disaster. As of this morning, we were about halfway there (~20,000ish employees). I have nothing to compare this to, so I have no idea whether this is a good effort or if it’s really quite anemic, but from where I’m sitting it sure sounds nice!
More importantly, because it is a rich rival country. An economic competitor that not so long ago left America standing. Not so much recently, but I’m sure there are still some resentments. Like, if they’re so efficient and hardworking, let them clean up their own messes!
Commentator – nuke expert? – on CNN says the Japanese have dealt with the NIMBY problem by building fewer plants but more reactors in each. In this case, six (where an American plant would have only one or two). Which now presents a different kind of problem.
You know, Japan IS the country that rebuilt two cities leveled by atomic bombs. I wouldn’t underestimate their resilience or their ability to rebuild.
And there’s no way Fukushima will go “full Chernobyl” - completely different reactor set up, we’re not going to have chunks of core launched out of the pit and littering the neighborhood like in Chernobyl. Yes, there will be a nasty mess but it will be very, very localized. Most of what’s gotten out at all has been the sort of thing that decays into harmlessness rapidly, in days or weeks.
Do Japanese carry insurance for Tsunamis? Is it available and how expensive. How about earthquake insurance? I am wondering about so many people having nothing now.
There is smoke coming out of the reactor. The smoke is white, which could be water vapor. It’s been about 30 minutes and there isn’t any formal information. Tepco is refusing to speculate on what is happening. The spokesman is saying it’s impossible to know and is losing his cool.
He’s refusing to answer any further questions and we to get more information.
There are so many problems happening at one time.
We decided that there wasn’t any reason for me to stay in Tokyo. I work out of my house with a laptop and a cell phone, so I can do this in Taipei as well. My wife would rather me be there with her.
We just found out, I can get the same flight as the family!
I would like to stay and help, but you run into limitations of what individuals can do, and balanced with the need to take care of your own family. If it weren’t radiation, I’d be more than willing to head up and help, but the risk is too great.
I hope that Hokkaido Brit’s husband and others are safe.
I don’t know about tsunami insurance, as our house is not in a danger zone.
We have earthquake insurance, which costs several hundred dollars per year, but will only pay for 50% of the replacement cost of the house, and nothing for personal belongings.
A lot of people don’t carry earthquake insurance, but enough do that it’s likely the insurance companies will go bankrupt if the Big One hits Tokyo. I’m sure they don’t have enough money in reserves.
Many people wound up bankrupt after the Kobe earthquake, still owing money on homes, and unable to rebuild.
If you own a condo, then a certain percentage of people must agree to rebuild.
leaving is smart tokyoplayer. during tmi’s troubles in pennsylvania they evacuated pregnant women and small children for miles and miles.
as the plant disaster is now at a level 6, and not coming under control it is a very smart move.
right now the wind is blowing out to sea. there is a cold front coming over the weekend that will put the wind blowing into land. with earthquakes going off on both coasts and a volcano in the south where do you evacuate people? esp. when you have hundreds of thousands of evacuees already.
this all hinges on 50 very tired, very courageous workers.
