# The Non-Nuclear Japan Earthquake Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 1, 2011, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783 "2011-04-01T14:19:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hokkaido\_Brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d26b3c/32.png) [@Hokkaido\_Brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hokkaido_Brit)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783/21 "2011-04-04T02:08:11Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > If you are calling a mobile phone, then the Google Voice calls are quite a bit cheaper. 11 cents for Google voice vs 17.5 cents for Skype. For landlines, they are almost the same. 2 cents vs 2.6 cents. This is true and good advice. But depending on where your contact person is in Japan, cell phone service is not up yet and landlines are down for most areas in the earthquake zone, still. Cell phones are getting more and more connected each day though. DH has to send messengers or physically go to some of the people he needs to talk with if they are out of radio range, it’s very frustrating for them. Though he has been able to call me from the gym where he spends most nights since the end of the first week. So we have been lucky. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783/22 "2011-04-04T02:30:44Z")
I suggest watching the Nova special Japan’s Killer Quake. [http://video.pbs.org/video/1863101157](http://video.pbs.org/video/1863101157) I just watched a replay on my local PBS station. What is depressing is how much better prepared the Japanese were than the United States is. When something like this happens on the US west coast the death toll is going to be much worse. I doubt that even 10% of the fatalities in Japan were actually caused by the quake. Most of the deaths were caused by the Tsunami. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783/23 "2011-04-04T17:36:19Z")
Didn’t see this thread till this morning. I’m continuing to think of all of you and hope that the rebuilding can happen more quickly than anticipated. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783/24 "2011-04-05T12:36:43Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > I was so glad they took the effort to rescue the doggie. 🙂 [Doggie has been reunited with his owner](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12957838). ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783/25 "2011-04-05T14:28:25Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > I suggest watching the Nova special Japan’s Killer Quake. That’s exactly what I came in to mention. Excellent content and summary for something that just happened so recently. A lot of the footage I’d never seen before. As for building even higher defenses, keep in mind this was a ‘thousand year’ quake. Something of this magnitude happens so infrequently it may be many generations before we see the like again. Who knows what measures may be available then and at what point do the steps required begin to take a toll who’s weight becomes questionable, even against the possible benefits received. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783/26 "2011-04-05T18:57:57Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > That’s exactly what I came in to mention. Excellent content and summary for something that just happened so recently. A lot of the footage I’d never seen before. > > As for building even higher defenses, keep in mind this was a ‘thousand year’ quake. Something of this magnitude happens so infrequently it may be many generations before we see the like again. Who knows what measures may be available then and at what point do the steps required begin to take a toll who’s weight becomes questionable, even against the possible benefits received. It looks to me like th actual earthquake preparations were actually pretty effective. It was the tsunami that caused the most loss of life. There are some countries where if this earthquake had happened, they would be counting the living instead of the dead, since it would be a much shorter list. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783/27 "2011-04-05T21:31:23Z")
I went to Google Earth to look up Kesennuma. Looks like Google Earth has updated a wide swath of the Miyagi prefecture imagery since I last looked at it a couple of weeks ago. It now shows the tsunami damage and it’s overwhelming. You can clearly see just how far into the coastal cities the tsunami reached, as there is a point where the buildings are whole and then everything up until that and on down to the sea is obliterated. It’s simply ungraspable. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783/28 "2011-04-05T21:43:04Z")
Also, Google Earth is even able to depict clumps of rubble floating offshore from many towns. I’m looking at Yamada, Japan, and the adjacent ocean has clumps of what look like the framing from houses clinging together in floating islands. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783/29 "2011-04-07T14:43:47Z")
There just was was another earthquake off the coast of northern Honshu, and a tsunami warning, but the height of only 1 meter, but it could be several times higher in spots. It was a 6 on the Japanese scale, and lasted for a minute. Haven’t heard of the magnitude yet. We could feel it here in Tokyo, but not as strong as some of the others. ---
**Author:** ![Hokkaido\_Brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d26b3c/32.png) [@Hokkaido\_Brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hokkaido_Brit)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783/30 "2011-04-07T14:51:55Z")
Shit bloody bugger that was another big one. Magnitude 7.4, depth 40 km, no effect on the nuclear power plant so far. It was a 3 up in Hokkaido where we were. Shook me and the big boy out of bed. Big one yanked little one up as we have a rule to be in the same room during a quake if possible, but we have put him back now. The bathwater was sloshing. Yuck. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783/31 "2011-04-07T14:57:08Z")
I just saw that…stay safe guys. Jesus, when is the Earth going to settle down over there? ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783/32 "2011-04-07T14:57:59Z")
I was just telling my wife, 7.4 isn’t _that_ bad, you should have felt the 9.0. (She was in Germany when The Big One hit. We’re trying to decide when to bring the Little Ones back from Taiwan, and I think this just postponed it a week. ---
**Author:** ![KinkiNipponTourist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9bcb4/32.png) [@KinkiNipponTourist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KinkiNipponTourist)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783/33 "2011-04-07T15:01:44Z")
I have NHK on now, and the announcer is repeatedly pleading with any batshit crazy whackjobs out there, “Please do not go to see what’s going on.” Of course, the whackjobs are probably not listening anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Hokkaido\_Brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d26b3c/32.png) [@Hokkaido\_Brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hokkaido_Brit)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783/34 "2011-04-07T15:14:28Z")
It was another widespread one. Just came upstairs to find the door of our big bookshelf had swung open. That bothers me because it’s not tethered to the wall, it’s the only dangerous bit of furniture we own… Big kid is worried sick about his father who was in the big quake zone. I keep telling him that his Dad is sleeping in a gym that withstood the big one last month and escaped (just) the tsunami so there’s no reason that he’ll be hurt this time. The repetition seems to be working as he’s agreed to go back to bed. Fully dressed though. Little one is in bed with me now. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783/35 "2011-04-07T15:25:25Z")
I’m finally getting my wife to relax and come to bed now. The reactors are still OK. Get some sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Hokkaido\_Brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d26b3c/32.png) [@Hokkaido\_Brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hokkaido_Brit)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783/36 "2011-04-07T15:28:47Z")
Night! ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783/37 "2011-04-07T17:22:28Z")
I hope you guys and your little ones can get some sleep. A 7.4 here in California would be a major pants-wetter, and I’m sorry you have to endure this on top of everything else. ---
**Author:** ![Hokkaido\_Brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d26b3c/32.png) [@Hokkaido\_Brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hokkaido_Brit)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783/38 "2011-04-08T00:40:40Z")
It was only a 3 here where we are. It’s just that our Dad/DH is down there so we are all ultra-sensitive to them right now. He was able to send a mail saying he’s OK so no worries now. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783/39 "2011-04-08T02:57:25Z")
Oh, man, can it calm down already, please? Glad to see that those of you who’ve checked in are safe. And glad your DH was able to let you know he’s OK, **HB**. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783/40 "2011-04-08T08:32:55Z")
Be prepared [for some more](http://www.npr.org/2011/04/07/135220914/why-more-shaking-is-in-japans-near-future) > [@](#): > > “Large earthquakes have more, larger aftershocks,” says Sevilgen. “The basic rule is if you have one magnitude 9 earthquake, you can have 10 magnitude 8s, 100 magnitude 7s, and a thousand magnitude 6s.” > > Some earthquakes follow this pattern very closely; others are more random — it’s all a matter of probability. Since the March 11 earthquake, there have been about 400 aftershocks greater than magnitude 5, and three over magnitude 7. Sevilgen says the 7.1 magnitude earthquake reported on the morning of April 7 is no surprise. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-non-nuclear-japan-earthquake-thread/576783.md?page=3)