9:00 AM - Reports of what is happening at Fukushima continue to run the gamut from, not-to-worry (too much), to uncontrolled massive release of radiation. After 2 weeks of this roller-coaster ride, a certain amount of fatigue is setting in. Stoicism, complacency or inertia.... I don't know which, but till things become clear, I don't intend to uproot my life on the basis of speculation. Tokyo has been my home for 20 years. I like the people here. My children are happy in their studies and we all feel comfortable. Barring a large radioactive plume containing dangerous levels of radiation, the plan for us is to sit tight and carry on.
The hustle and bustle of Tokyo life remains greatly diminished. With the problems in the economy prior to the quake, it looks like the decreased economic activity may push many already struggling businesses over the edge. Tokyo Disney Land is out of operation so that is a massive hit to local hotels. No foreign visitors to Tokyo either (and even to areas far away from Tokyo). So the hotel business is hurting. Foot traffic in shops is way down, and will probably continue to be down for quite some time. I'd expect a round of layoffs and restructuring to follow as businesses adjust.
Still following the relief efforts in Fukushima. The initial problems of distribution of food and water seem to have been addressed. Now it is a matter of sorting out what to do with the folks who have seen their homes and communities wiped out by the tsunami, and now contaminated by radioactive particles. Many are having to make the difficult decision of whether to start life over in another area, or try to go back to what is left of their communities. Impossible to imagine how hard it must be for them. I feel selfish to be overly concerned about my situation in Tokyo when I think of what the people in the areas hit by the tsunami must be going through. Proud of the strength of character of the Japanese people and glad that the US is helping up there. Hope world events in Libya and other areas won't diminish the focus and aid that needs to continue to be provided to the tsunami victims.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
March 26 - Uncertainty reigns...
10:55 AM - Daily life in Tokyo goes on at a subdued pace. No one is hurting for staple goods and many things continue to go on as normal (mail, trash pick up, etc.) But, fewer businesses are open, fewer commuters are on the trains, and people are not out very much. What seems to be settling in is an air of uncertainty. Every day we look at the news we are forced to work out for ourselves the meaning of the vague and often contradictory statements coming from the government. It doesn't help that many sources from the media are alarmist and trumpet false reports. At the same time the government tends to prefer to downplay everything. What this leaves us Tokyoites with, is a feeling of real uncertainty. Is the situation at the plants going to get under control or will it escalate? Will it be spewing highly radioactive materials over Tokyo for months to come? Is that a real possibility?
Uncertainty is not good. Imagine getting reports from the government that infants shouldn't drink the water 'today', but that the next day, it is perfectly OK to give your kids the water. Who among us would do that? So we ask, what is next? No one really knows. The result is that people can't get on with their lives, make decisions or even feel comfortable going to and from work. Businesses certainly can't have uncertainty like this hanging over their daily operations. If this drags out for months, and there are more and more events that spread even low levels of radiation, Tokyo could be in for very tough times.
Of interest to me was what happened to the USS Ronald Reagan. Apparently the crew "freaked out" about radiation levels. They had to decontaminate parts of the ship and steam out of the affected area. In retrospect, this must have been what motivated the hasty departure of the USS George Washington from Yokosuka. (Freak out on USS Ronald Reagan)
Uncertainty is not good. Imagine getting reports from the government that infants shouldn't drink the water 'today', but that the next day, it is perfectly OK to give your kids the water. Who among us would do that? So we ask, what is next? No one really knows. The result is that people can't get on with their lives, make decisions or even feel comfortable going to and from work. Businesses certainly can't have uncertainty like this hanging over their daily operations. If this drags out for months, and there are more and more events that spread even low levels of radiation, Tokyo could be in for very tough times.
Of interest to me was what happened to the USS Ronald Reagan. Apparently the crew "freaked out" about radiation levels. They had to decontaminate parts of the ship and steam out of the affected area. In retrospect, this must have been what motivated the hasty departure of the USS George Washington from Yokosuka. (Freak out on USS Ronald Reagan)
March 25 - Nothing here... move along...
4:00 PM - Yesterday, it was the neutron beam story and today there is a report of possible breach of the containment. (breach) Hard to know how serious any of this is and what the potential might be for major release of radiation. Just have to watch carefully. Nothing else to do.
Trains running more regularly today but not 100%. The local mall is open but stores nearly deserted. Very low level of activity on the streets and in the stores. Heard a report today of businesses considering moving operations out of Tokyo so they can be assured of stable situation. Staple foods fine.
Tried to plug in to efforts at relief in the Sendai area, but JRCS and CrashJapan both replied that they can't deal with individual efforts to help yet. So, the best way to help remains to give money. Saw an article about "Samaritan's Purse" getting a load of their emergency packs to people in Sendai and Miyagi. The US military helped with delivery. Glad to see these organizations helping each other. The need is there now. Had to turn off the TV because the stories of loss were just too much.
Trains running more regularly today but not 100%. The local mall is open but stores nearly deserted. Very low level of activity on the streets and in the stores. Heard a report today of businesses considering moving operations out of Tokyo so they can be assured of stable situation. Staple foods fine.
Tried to plug in to efforts at relief in the Sendai area, but JRCS and CrashJapan both replied that they can't deal with individual efforts to help yet. So, the best way to help remains to give money. Saw an article about "Samaritan's Purse" getting a load of their emergency packs to people in Sendai and Miyagi. The US military helped with delivery. Glad to see these organizations helping each other. The need is there now. Had to turn off the TV because the stories of loss were just too much.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
March 24 - Neutron beams? What now?
11:51 AM - Just before going to bed last night there was a report of neutron beams being observed coming from the stricken plants in Fukushima. Since this would seem to indicate that fission is taking place again, and greatly ups the seriousness of the situation there, one would think there would be a lot of discussion and analysis of this news. So far, nothing. News is focusing on Iodine and Cesium radiation in the food chain and water, and hasn't really explained the causes and potential ramifications of the appearance of the neutron beams. So now I have to try to become knowledgeable about it in order to anticipate the potential repercussions for us. Hard to go about ones life normally when these kinds of announcements leave one struggling to get useful, timely and trustworthy information upon which to make important decisions.
Aftershock today that gave us a good jolt then nothing more. Train schedules were reduced and bus runs more limited. Trains going to Tokyo were almost empty at 7:30 this morning, when they are usually so full you are pressed up against other passengers. Up escalators were turned on, down escalators turned off, which is an improvement over a couple days ago when they were all off. The bright lights have been turned off at stores and shops everywhere. It adds to the drab mood that is taking hold. Staple foods are becoming more and more available but gas is still difficult to get.
Aftershock today that gave us a good jolt then nothing more. Train schedules were reduced and bus runs more limited. Trains going to Tokyo were almost empty at 7:30 this morning, when they are usually so full you are pressed up against other passengers. Up escalators were turned on, down escalators turned off, which is an improvement over a couple days ago when they were all off. The bright lights have been turned off at stores and shops everywhere. It adds to the drab mood that is taking hold. Staple foods are becoming more and more available but gas is still difficult to get.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
March 23 - Cloudy with a chance of radiation?
3:22 PM - Iodine 131 levels in Tokyo tap water are now above safety limits for babies. How does this happen given the distance from Fukushima and the low levels of radiation being reported? Are we Tokyoites the frogs in the cookpot with more news everyday of incremental increases in radiation? (tap water radiation levels for Tokyo)
2:21 PM - Excerpt from another blog (blog link) that captures the mood of Tokyo ... "The darkness of the capital feels incredibly appropriate lately. Every partially lit shop I pass, is like a flag flown at half mast. Every unlit window is a constant reminder that so many, so close to us, are going through such unimaginable suffering. With so much empathy everywhere I look, it becomes impossible to forget a what I saw in the news today.
At the graduation ceremony for a junior high school in Miyagi, a father attends in place of his son who was washed away in the tsunami. The man holds up a photograph of the boy in a baseball uniform as the accepts his son's diploma.
Moving through the train stations, the signs, billboards, clocks and vending machines that I had always presumed to be constructed of naturally glowing material, have gone dark and are hardly visible.
In Iwate, the results of the high school entrance exam- taken before the earthquake- are posted today. A solemn-faced boy in his school uniform tells a reporter that he really wants to go tell his mother that he passed the test. But she is still missing.
There are over 10,000 stories like these, and likely just as many darkened shops in the capital. So perhaps it's my survivor's guilt talking, but personally, I am in no hurry to see the neon begin burning again."
11:25 AM - Saw some sun today after a couple days of rain. So far, radiation levels in Tokyo remain normal. Nuclear plants generally seem to be moving slowly toward being controlled but will be periodically venting nuclear materials at various levels of radioactivity for some time to come.
No blackouts for us yet, but after the 3 day weekend, today is a business day and demand is up again, so blackouts scheduled. We still get the occasional aftershock and the constant need to check the news for updates on emergency information does increase anxiety levels a bit. Still, compared to what the people of Fukushima are dealing with, it would be selfish to be overly worried about these minor issues.
Progress in getting food, water and gas to stricken areas in Fukushima is being made slowly. 11 days after the quake and still some people in shelters are lacking water and food. This seems inexcusable. This article talks about the government red tape and inflexibility that is stymieing the efforts at relief. Red tape
2:21 PM - Excerpt from another blog (blog link) that captures the mood of Tokyo ... "The darkness of the capital feels incredibly appropriate lately. Every partially lit shop I pass, is like a flag flown at half mast. Every unlit window is a constant reminder that so many, so close to us, are going through such unimaginable suffering. With so much empathy everywhere I look, it becomes impossible to forget a what I saw in the news today.
At the graduation ceremony for a junior high school in Miyagi, a father attends in place of his son who was washed away in the tsunami. The man holds up a photograph of the boy in a baseball uniform as the accepts his son's diploma.
Moving through the train stations, the signs, billboards, clocks and vending machines that I had always presumed to be constructed of naturally glowing material, have gone dark and are hardly visible.
In Iwate, the results of the high school entrance exam- taken before the earthquake- are posted today. A solemn-faced boy in his school uniform tells a reporter that he really wants to go tell his mother that he passed the test. But she is still missing.
There are over 10,000 stories like these, and likely just as many darkened shops in the capital. So perhaps it's my survivor's guilt talking, but personally, I am in no hurry to see the neon begin burning again."
11:25 AM - Saw some sun today after a couple days of rain. So far, radiation levels in Tokyo remain normal. Nuclear plants generally seem to be moving slowly toward being controlled but will be periodically venting nuclear materials at various levels of radioactivity for some time to come.
No blackouts for us yet, but after the 3 day weekend, today is a business day and demand is up again, so blackouts scheduled. We still get the occasional aftershock and the constant need to check the news for updates on emergency information does increase anxiety levels a bit. Still, compared to what the people of Fukushima are dealing with, it would be selfish to be overly worried about these minor issues.
Progress in getting food, water and gas to stricken areas in Fukushima is being made slowly. 11 days after the quake and still some people in shelters are lacking water and food. This seems inexcusable. This article talks about the government red tape and inflexibility that is stymieing the efforts at relief. Red tape
Monday, March 21, 2011
March 22 - KI pills available to US gov employees... all others, you're on your own.
10:05 PM - Probably the best article I've run across about how to help the people in Fukushima. How to help
6:49 PM - Just got the news that the USS Geo Washington interrupted its maintenance cycle and got underway today to avoid a radioactive plume that is headed toward Tokyo area and will deposit more radioactivity "in the next 24 hours than in the previous 10 days". No mention of the source of this info and no coverage in Tokyo news of any plume with higher levels of radiation. Local monitors show no signs of significant increase. So, is the Navy being very cautious with their 4.5 billion dollar investment or do they know something we don't? GW report transcript GW leaves town, video
The US Ambassador has made sure gov personnel and dependents are taken care of. US citizens working in the economy not associated with the gov are left to fend for themselves. Meanwhile, Ambasadoor Roos's Twitter feeds are all about what a great job the embassy is doing.
12:00 PM - Nothing much new on the situation with nuclear plants. Every day that goes by without a major setback adds confidence that there won't be a large release of radiation. Rainy day again today. Off to work.
I note the British embassy has provided their citizens with KI pills or means to get them. Not so the US embassy, that has limited distribution to US gov personnel and dependents. Not that I think we need these pills at this point, but what are we... chopped liver?
Embassy's Travel Warning update follows:
On March 21, 2011, consistent with NRC guidelines that apply to such a situation in the United States, the U.S. Government is making available Potassium Iodide (KI) as a precautionary measure for United States Government personnel and dependents residing within Nagoya (Aichi Prefecture), Tokyo (Tokyo Capital Region), Yokohama (Kanagawa Prefecture), ....The KI should only be consumed after specific instruction from the United States Government. While there is no indication that it will become advisable to take KI, out of an abundance of caution the United States Government is making it available to its personnel and family members to be used only upon direction if a change in circumstances were to warrant. No-one should take KI at this time. In the event of a radiological release, sheltering in place or departing the affected area remain the primary means of protection.
........ For private U.S. citizens seeking information about KI, we advise you to contact your doctor or employer. Should you need further assistance contact the Department of State by emailing JapanEmergencyUSC@state.gov or calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.
6:49 PM - Just got the news that the USS Geo Washington interrupted its maintenance cycle and got underway today to avoid a radioactive plume that is headed toward Tokyo area and will deposit more radioactivity "in the next 24 hours than in the previous 10 days". No mention of the source of this info and no coverage in Tokyo news of any plume with higher levels of radiation. Local monitors show no signs of significant increase. So, is the Navy being very cautious with their 4.5 billion dollar investment or do they know something we don't? GW report transcript GW leaves town, video
The US Ambassador has made sure gov personnel and dependents are taken care of. US citizens working in the economy not associated with the gov are left to fend for themselves. Meanwhile, Ambasadoor Roos's Twitter feeds are all about what a great job the embassy is doing.
12:00 PM - Nothing much new on the situation with nuclear plants. Every day that goes by without a major setback adds confidence that there won't be a large release of radiation. Rainy day again today. Off to work.
I note the British embassy has provided their citizens with KI pills or means to get them. Not so the US embassy, that has limited distribution to US gov personnel and dependents. Not that I think we need these pills at this point, but what are we... chopped liver?
Embassy's Travel Warning update follows:
On March 21, 2011, consistent with NRC guidelines that apply to such a situation in the United States, the U.S. Government is making available Potassium Iodide (KI) as a precautionary measure for United States Government personnel and dependents residing within Nagoya (Aichi Prefecture), Tokyo (Tokyo Capital Region), Yokohama (Kanagawa Prefecture), ....The KI should only be consumed after specific instruction from the United States Government. While there is no indication that it will become advisable to take KI, out of an abundance of caution the United States Government is making it available to its personnel and family members to be used only upon direction if a change in circumstances were to warrant. No-one should take KI at this time. In the event of a radiological release, sheltering in place or departing the affected area remain the primary means of protection.
........ For private U.S. citizens seeking information about KI, we advise you to contact your doctor or employer. Should you need further assistance contact the Department of State by emailing JapanEmergencyUSC@state.gov or calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
March 21 - Looking at the long term
2:51 PM - Things could still turn bad at plants 2, 3 or 4, but there is growing confidence that they won't. Every day that passes seems to show some progress in being able to avert a major release of radiation. Now, the issue becomes dealing with the radiation that has already escaped and the cumulative effects of any subsequent releases of even low levels. Foods from as far as 120km from the plants are showing increases in radiation levels already so the new concern for Tokyoites is food and water contamination levels and just how comfortable we feel with assurances that those levels are not going to be harmful. contamination story I'm back to the analogy of the frog in the cooking pot with the heat being turned up very very slowly. Still, I feel there is no need to jump (leave Tokyo) but radiation levels in the air, water and food supply bear close watching.
As for life just west of Tokyo, it is a rainy but relatively warm day. National holiday too, so no need to go to work. Milk was available and my favorite senbei were back on the shelves yesterday! The inconveniences that occurred just after the quake are disappearing in the Tokyo area. Rolling blackouts being scheduled for tomorrow. We'll see if they materialize.
Beginning to be concerned about what recovery will look like for Tokyo. Given the uncertainty that will remain for months about operations here, businesses will have to adjust by relocating as much of their operations as they can to outlying areas to avoid stoppages. Also, I wonder how schools and universities will deal with the situation when the new academic year starts in a couple weeks. The question becomes, what will the new normal be for Tokyo.
Finally, it seems that relief is flowing more consistently to those in Fukushima although still lots of bottlenecks. The JSDF as well as US forces have been helping a lot and the government is working through some of the initial communication and logistics problems that resulted from the tsunami destroying roads. The Japanese people in the area have just been amazing with their cooperation with and help for their neighbors. Their example is something that all of us should admire and emulate. cooperation
As for life just west of Tokyo, it is a rainy but relatively warm day. National holiday too, so no need to go to work. Milk was available and my favorite senbei were back on the shelves yesterday! The inconveniences that occurred just after the quake are disappearing in the Tokyo area. Rolling blackouts being scheduled for tomorrow. We'll see if they materialize.
Beginning to be concerned about what recovery will look like for Tokyo. Given the uncertainty that will remain for months about operations here, businesses will have to adjust by relocating as much of their operations as they can to outlying areas to avoid stoppages. Also, I wonder how schools and universities will deal with the situation when the new academic year starts in a couple weeks. The question becomes, what will the new normal be for Tokyo.
Finally, it seems that relief is flowing more consistently to those in Fukushima although still lots of bottlenecks. The JSDF as well as US forces have been helping a lot and the government is working through some of the initial communication and logistics problems that resulted from the tsunami destroying roads. The Japanese people in the area have just been amazing with their cooperation with and help for their neighbors. Their example is something that all of us should admire and emulate. cooperation
Saturday, March 19, 2011
March 20 - Staying put and turning off embassy info
11:30 PM - Things getting back to normal enough that I felt confident to return the go-bags to the closet. Plants #5 and 6 under control, but plants 3 and 4 still a problem. The feeling of uneasiness in Tokyo seems to have been reduced by the increase of independent monitoring. Hopefully, restoring electricity to the plants can help stabilize #1 and 2. But this problem isn't going to be over for months.
1:21 PM - Very good discussion of where things stand at the nuclear plants, what could still happen and what to look for in the near term. From NPR...Update on Fukushima power plants
Key point... "Mr. LOCHBAUM: Well, one of the concerns with doing that is that the water weighs about eight pounds per gallon. The spent pools are on fire, or maybe on fire, and you're trying to get that situation resolved. One of the things you don't want to do is have the cure be worse than the problem originally.
If you put too much weight on top of the spent fuel pool, you could cause the racks that are holding the fuel assemblies to collapse. If the spent fuel reconfigures, you could actually cause a critical mass to be formed and restart a nuclear chain reaction and have a reactor core operating outside of containment." Not good.
9:38 AM - Yesterday, the only issue of concern was a travel warning from the embassy that urged US citizens to leave. This was a departure from the previous information that told us we could leave if we wanted to but there was really no reason to do so. The embassy, despite my efforts to get clarification, offered no explanation. Ambassador Roos seems to issue by the minute updates about how helpful the embassy is being, but on this rather important issue, he has been content to let a confused message stand. So... I'm ignoring the embassy messaging now. I'll base my decisions on other sources of info, and all of those other sources (especially radiation level reports) indicate there is no problem in Tokyo that would cause me to leave.... yet. Many expats are leaving, however, Leaving I think they are spooked by the uncertainty rather more than the reality of the situation. Can't blame those with kids for wanting to get some distance between them and the power plants. Kids are out of school right now, having finished their academic year. There will likely be some tough choices to be made as the school year begins again in early April.
Beautiful day here. Sunny and warm. Friends say (and my own experience here is similar) that lines for food are going down. The initial disruption to supply is mostly over and hoarders have their pantries full. Now it is a matter of seeing what the 'new normal' becomes. Businesses, trying to avoid disruption to operations, seem to be eying a move to Osaka. Whether that is a temporary measure or whether Osaka begins to challenge Tokyo's dominance is not yet clear.
Seems pretty difficult to plug in to relief efforts in the area around Fukushima. Going there on one's own to try to help would just add to the problem, but it is hard to sit on my hands and do nothing as the stories of the victims trickles out. Aftermath
1:21 PM - Very good discussion of where things stand at the nuclear plants, what could still happen and what to look for in the near term. From NPR...Update on Fukushima power plants
Key point... "Mr. LOCHBAUM: Well, one of the concerns with doing that is that the water weighs about eight pounds per gallon. The spent pools are on fire, or maybe on fire, and you're trying to get that situation resolved. One of the things you don't want to do is have the cure be worse than the problem originally.
If you put too much weight on top of the spent fuel pool, you could cause the racks that are holding the fuel assemblies to collapse. If the spent fuel reconfigures, you could actually cause a critical mass to be formed and restart a nuclear chain reaction and have a reactor core operating outside of containment." Not good.
9:38 AM - Yesterday, the only issue of concern was a travel warning from the embassy that urged US citizens to leave. This was a departure from the previous information that told us we could leave if we wanted to but there was really no reason to do so. The embassy, despite my efforts to get clarification, offered no explanation. Ambassador Roos seems to issue by the minute updates about how helpful the embassy is being, but on this rather important issue, he has been content to let a confused message stand. So... I'm ignoring the embassy messaging now. I'll base my decisions on other sources of info, and all of those other sources (especially radiation level reports) indicate there is no problem in Tokyo that would cause me to leave.... yet. Many expats are leaving, however, Leaving I think they are spooked by the uncertainty rather more than the reality of the situation. Can't blame those with kids for wanting to get some distance between them and the power plants. Kids are out of school right now, having finished their academic year. There will likely be some tough choices to be made as the school year begins again in early April.
Beautiful day here. Sunny and warm. Friends say (and my own experience here is similar) that lines for food are going down. The initial disruption to supply is mostly over and hoarders have their pantries full. Now it is a matter of seeing what the 'new normal' becomes. Businesses, trying to avoid disruption to operations, seem to be eying a move to Osaka. Whether that is a temporary measure or whether Osaka begins to challenge Tokyo's dominance is not yet clear.
Seems pretty difficult to plug in to relief efforts in the area around Fukushima. Going there on one's own to try to help would just add to the problem, but it is hard to sit on my hands and do nothing as the stories of the victims trickles out. Aftermath
Friday, March 18, 2011
March 19 - Little change...
2:58 PM - Good site for list of relief organizations working in Japan. This link came from the US Embassy. For people wishing to contribute, this looks like a good source. Relief for Japan
2:07 PM - The embassy has just changed their travel warning to tell people not to come to Japan and urging US citizens in Japan to leave. That is a big change but has gotten no coverage. Before, they simply were facilitating the exit of people who wanted to leave, but their position was that leaving was not necessary. So far, no explanation of this change and although I'm on their emergency notification list, no e-mail update indicating any change at all. This kind of poor communication is about he last thing anyone needs right now. If there is a change in status that should necessitate US citizens to leave, it would be nice to know what the basis for that is. But to fob off a major change like that in some unheralded travel update is really unhelpful and just adds to the anxiety. DoS is dropping the ball.
11:10 AM - It has turned sunny and is getting warmer. Electrical outages canceled.
7:36 AM - It is a cold, gray day here this morning. A quick scan of the news shows no increase in radiation but little progress with efforts at Fukushima to get things under control. The situation for us here in the Tokyo area looks like it will be unchanged for some time. Mostly we're inconvenienced right now with train service reduced and lines for staple goods. Getting gas for vehicles remains a problem. But otherwise we are fine. Metropolis Magazine is publishing radiation levels at this site Tokyo radiation levels and I'll be checking it regularly.
The people in Fukushima, however, are still not getting what they need and temperatures up there are low. The exclusion zone and gas shortages seem to be the problem. Good report here by NYT Fukushima residents here and here by (surprisingly) Al Jazeera. Fukushima relief problems
2:07 PM - The embassy has just changed their travel warning to tell people not to come to Japan and urging US citizens in Japan to leave. That is a big change but has gotten no coverage. Before, they simply were facilitating the exit of people who wanted to leave, but their position was that leaving was not necessary. So far, no explanation of this change and although I'm on their emergency notification list, no e-mail update indicating any change at all. This kind of poor communication is about he last thing anyone needs right now. If there is a change in status that should necessitate US citizens to leave, it would be nice to know what the basis for that is. But to fob off a major change like that in some unheralded travel update is really unhelpful and just adds to the anxiety. DoS is dropping the ball.
11:10 AM - It has turned sunny and is getting warmer. Electrical outages canceled.
7:36 AM - It is a cold, gray day here this morning. A quick scan of the news shows no increase in radiation but little progress with efforts at Fukushima to get things under control. The situation for us here in the Tokyo area looks like it will be unchanged for some time. Mostly we're inconvenienced right now with train service reduced and lines for staple goods. Getting gas for vehicles remains a problem. But otherwise we are fine. Metropolis Magazine is publishing radiation levels at this site Tokyo radiation levels and I'll be checking it regularly.
The people in Fukushima, however, are still not getting what they need and temperatures up there are low. The exclusion zone and gas shortages seem to be the problem. Good report here by NYT Fukushima residents here and here by (surprisingly) Al Jazeera. Fukushima relief problems
Thursday, March 17, 2011
March 18 - The new normal for Tokyo?
9:29 PM - For anyone still thinking they can rely on information about safety coming from government sources, this article should put an end to that...Coverup
This article gives some indication of what the people in Fukushima are facing. Tragedy
8:10 PM - The Japanese government is not doing a very good job of managing 2 crises at once. The people of Fukushima are not getting the help they need in these critical days after the quake. This article offers some good organizations to consider sending donations to. http://bit.ly/hykjuh I'll be looking around to see what other options might be available to plug in to an immediate effort on the ground here. Gas shortages and disorganization plague the relief efforts. Keep you posted.
3:20 PM - Just went for a bit of a look around the area. Trip to the local mall. No work today so a bit of time on my hands. First thing I noticed was the gas station had gas. Cars were lined up for about half a mile. Next, trains running to the station where the mall is located were running at about 15 minute intervals instead of the usual 4 or 5. No train schedule posted either. Just have to take what comes when it comes. Then, a bit of a shock, but nearly all of the stores at the mall were closed but for the grocery store, McDonalds, and Starbucks. Doors shut and locked on the other 50 or more stores in the complex. This is going to deal a serious blow to the economy if it keeps up much longer.
11:58 AM - This just posted... US flights to detect radiation show no increase outside the immediate area. NYT article
10:26 AM - I'm thinking we Tokyoites will be faced with the same dilemma as the frog in the cooking pot. The heat (in this case, radioactivity levels) will likely increase incrementally over time and it will be up to each of us to decide if we want to jump or just wait till it all gets a bit hotter. Too soon to really know what the long term ramifications for Tokyo will be, but living 155 miles (checked it on Google maps) SW of a boiling teapot of nuclear isotopes can't be good for the city.
6:00 AM - The situation at the nuclear plants has "stabilized" although the word 'stable' has to be stood on its end to be applied here. From news accounts it doesn't appear they will be able to get or keep it under control. Attempts at restoring electrical power from the grid are ongoing but success depends on whether the pumps and systems in the plant have survived the previous damage and will be operable. We'll see, but I'm doubtful. This is a good article summarizing where we are now. http://bit.ly/eR032S
The US has finally got their monitoring devices here and they are in place. The Japanese gov has given permission for them to fly the 'pods' with sophisticated monitoring devices through the area. This is supposed to give a very accurate reading of Cesium levels. Much needed information and I hope it will be disseminated widely.
As for life in western Tokyo, there seems to be a settling in of a new normal. Work in Tokyo greatly cut back. Trains operating intermittently. Rolling blackouts said to be occurring but not yet in our area. As the picture to the left shows, people line up for food in the morning if they need staple items, otherwise they're gone from shelves quickly. But the shelves were fully stocked at the opening. Lines getting shorter, too. Streets continue to be pretty empty of traffic. People aren't out and about in large numbers.
Yesterday after the embassies began making arrangements for people to get out of Tokyo, and after the US increased their exclusion zone to 80km, many friends were questioning their decisions to stay in Tokyo. I think that today, the mood is that things are playing out slowly enough that leaving is an option but not necessary at this time. This looks like it will be a long term problem now. What is needed most for those of us living in the Tokyo environs is a source of clear, accurate information from sources independent of the government. And we certainly shouldn't forget the plight of the tsunami survivors up north who are homeless, freezing cold, without food and water and heat. They need everyone's help and concern and should be the focus of attention, concern and aid.
This article gives some indication of what the people in Fukushima are facing. Tragedy
8:10 PM - The Japanese government is not doing a very good job of managing 2 crises at once. The people of Fukushima are not getting the help they need in these critical days after the quake. This article offers some good organizations to consider sending donations to. http://bit.ly/hykjuh I'll be looking around to see what other options might be available to plug in to an immediate effort on the ground here. Gas shortages and disorganization plague the relief efforts. Keep you posted.
3:20 PM - Just went for a bit of a look around the area. Trip to the local mall. No work today so a bit of time on my hands. First thing I noticed was the gas station had gas. Cars were lined up for about half a mile. Next, trains running to the station where the mall is located were running at about 15 minute intervals instead of the usual 4 or 5. No train schedule posted either. Just have to take what comes when it comes. Then, a bit of a shock, but nearly all of the stores at the mall were closed but for the grocery store, McDonalds, and Starbucks. Doors shut and locked on the other 50 or more stores in the complex. This is going to deal a serious blow to the economy if it keeps up much longer.
11:58 AM - This just posted... US flights to detect radiation show no increase outside the immediate area. NYT article
10:26 AM - I'm thinking we Tokyoites will be faced with the same dilemma as the frog in the cooking pot. The heat (in this case, radioactivity levels) will likely increase incrementally over time and it will be up to each of us to decide if we want to jump or just wait till it all gets a bit hotter. Too soon to really know what the long term ramifications for Tokyo will be, but living 155 miles (checked it on Google maps) SW of a boiling teapot of nuclear isotopes can't be good for the city.
6:00 AM - The situation at the nuclear plants has "stabilized" although the word 'stable' has to be stood on its end to be applied here. From news accounts it doesn't appear they will be able to get or keep it under control. Attempts at restoring electrical power from the grid are ongoing but success depends on whether the pumps and systems in the plant have survived the previous damage and will be operable. We'll see, but I'm doubtful. This is a good article summarizing where we are now. http://bit.ly/eR032S
The US has finally got their monitoring devices here and they are in place. The Japanese gov has given permission for them to fly the 'pods' with sophisticated monitoring devices through the area. This is supposed to give a very accurate reading of Cesium levels. Much needed information and I hope it will be disseminated widely.
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Yesterday after the embassies began making arrangements for people to get out of Tokyo, and after the US increased their exclusion zone to 80km, many friends were questioning their decisions to stay in Tokyo. I think that today, the mood is that things are playing out slowly enough that leaving is an option but not necessary at this time. This looks like it will be a long term problem now. What is needed most for those of us living in the Tokyo environs is a source of clear, accurate information from sources independent of the government. And we certainly shouldn't forget the plight of the tsunami survivors up north who are homeless, freezing cold, without food and water and heat. They need everyone's help and concern and should be the focus of attention, concern and aid.
March 17 - Another day done
No noticeable aftershocks today. Food is available in our area but you have to get to stores early and line up or staple goods will be sold out. Very much less traffic and people on the streets today. No blackouts for us although we were warned of the possibility several times. Train transportation is reduced and inconsistent. Many firms have finally stopped operations.
It becomes difficult to focus on things since I am drawn to the news of the nuclear plants and need to watch their status carefully. I have no trust in the information coming from either the Japanese or US government and count on them for nothing. The opinion I've come to is that odds are one of the 6 nuclear plants will start leaking radiation, either from a breach in the containment or from the spent rods outside containment, in quantities large enough to cause an end to even the now greatly reduced ability to keep things under any control. After that, all efforts at control will have to be suspended and it will be a matter of time before the other plants follow suit. Then it is a matter of which way the wind blows and what level of radiation is contained in any plume.
Although the US embassy has finally gotten around to making very limited arrangements for private citizens (a couple flights to some undesignated location in Asia... paid for out of pocket.except for embassy staff), and Brits, Germans and French are being advised to leave Tokyo, I'm convinced that is an overabundance of caution and currently unwarranted. It looks like much of this action is driven by a feedback loop in which one embassy staff looks at what the other is doing then feels compelled to do the same. Tokyo is 170 miles from Fukushima and any catastrophic event that might occur in Fukushima would (according to experts) not result in harmful levels of radiation reaching Tokyo in any short period of time, if at all. This sounds logical. So, my thinking is that there would be plenty of time for an orderly exodus from the area before anything near a harmful dose of radiation might arrive. Although many here are getting very nervous, from where I sit, it seems that leaving Tokyo is not necessary. I am, however, very interested in news of radiation rates and will be watching for any serious spikes as providing the best indicator of whether to leave or not.
Very disappointed with the US Embassy and ambassador who waited far too long and went along with the spin from the Japanese government without independent confirmation for days as the situation clearly deteriorated. But very happy to follow President Obama's NCAA picks and to know he's going to have a nice weekend in Rio. P-A-R-T-Y!!! Enjoy your weekend Mr. President. Everything is going well here. Thanks for your concern.
5:00 AM -
Reports of containment breach in reactors 1-3, on top of the problems with spent fuel rods outside containment. With crews being severely limited in the amount of time they can be near the reactors now, it is hard to see how they can manage the cascading failures. Radiation levels higher than normal in Tokyo but we're told they are within safe parameters. Hoping that remains the case but doubtful.
In this area, streets are nearly deserted. It is a cold, windy but clear day here. Food is available but stores can't keep up with demand. Staple foods sell out quickly in the morning. Blackouts of electricity have been announced several times but when the scheduled time comes, electricity remains on. So far we've not experienced any interruption of electricity at all.
It becomes difficult to focus on things since I am drawn to the news of the nuclear plants and need to watch their status carefully. I have no trust in the information coming from either the Japanese or US government and count on them for nothing. The opinion I've come to is that odds are one of the 6 nuclear plants will start leaking radiation, either from a breach in the containment or from the spent rods outside containment, in quantities large enough to cause an end to even the now greatly reduced ability to keep things under any control. After that, all efforts at control will have to be suspended and it will be a matter of time before the other plants follow suit. Then it is a matter of which way the wind blows and what level of radiation is contained in any plume.
Although the US embassy has finally gotten around to making very limited arrangements for private citizens (a couple flights to some undesignated location in Asia... paid for out of pocket.except for embassy staff), and Brits, Germans and French are being advised to leave Tokyo, I'm convinced that is an overabundance of caution and currently unwarranted. It looks like much of this action is driven by a feedback loop in which one embassy staff looks at what the other is doing then feels compelled to do the same. Tokyo is 170 miles from Fukushima and any catastrophic event that might occur in Fukushima would (according to experts) not result in harmful levels of radiation reaching Tokyo in any short period of time, if at all. This sounds logical. So, my thinking is that there would be plenty of time for an orderly exodus from the area before anything near a harmful dose of radiation might arrive. Although many here are getting very nervous, from where I sit, it seems that leaving Tokyo is not necessary. I am, however, very interested in news of radiation rates and will be watching for any serious spikes as providing the best indicator of whether to leave or not.
Very disappointed with the US Embassy and ambassador who waited far too long and went along with the spin from the Japanese government without independent confirmation for days as the situation clearly deteriorated. But very happy to follow President Obama's NCAA picks and to know he's going to have a nice weekend in Rio. P-A-R-T-Y!!! Enjoy your weekend Mr. President. Everything is going well here. Thanks for your concern.
5:00 AM -
Reports of containment breach in reactors 1-3, on top of the problems with spent fuel rods outside containment. With crews being severely limited in the amount of time they can be near the reactors now, it is hard to see how they can manage the cascading failures. Radiation levels higher than normal in Tokyo but we're told they are within safe parameters. Hoping that remains the case but doubtful.
In this area, streets are nearly deserted. It is a cold, windy but clear day here. Food is available but stores can't keep up with demand. Staple foods sell out quickly in the morning. Blackouts of electricity have been announced several times but when the scheduled time comes, electricity remains on. So far we've not experienced any interruption of electricity at all.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
March 16 - Hope is not a plan.
Another day, another meltdown. Keeping myself informed of the current situation and watching events unfold in slow motion. The nuclear plant situation is going from bad to worse and now looks like there is no way to keep it from escalating. Rather than this being resolved soon, it looks as if it will be a long affair as Japanese workers try to contain the radioactivity that is now escaping. What that means to Tokyo residents depends on the wind, weather and levels of concentration of radioactivity. Assurances by our embassy staff that they aren't worried tend to make me wonder about their competence. The press conference held by Ambassador Roos was ludicrous and embarrassing. Absolutely unhelpful as he deferred to others, obfuscated, and did the typical diplomatic doublespeak. Roos (or perhaps more aptly "Ruse") is not up to the task of looking ahead and having a credible Plan B in place should it become necessary. Rather, they seem to be hoping radiation levels remain low. Hope is not a plan.
Given the uncertainty and the lack of credible info from the Japanese government, added to the lack of useful information and contingency plans from the US government, it appears that many are leaving Tokyo. This is fortunately the school break for kids so getting family out of town is not so difficult right now. Getting one's gas tank filled up, once on the road, may be quite another matter.
Given the uncertainty and the lack of credible info from the Japanese government, added to the lack of useful information and contingency plans from the US government, it appears that many are leaving Tokyo. This is fortunately the school break for kids so getting family out of town is not so difficult right now. Getting one's gas tank filled up, once on the road, may be quite another matter.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
March 16 - Update
From what I could tell from my convenience store survey this morning, there are still empty shelves. To the left is the same store I took pictures of yesterday. You can see some boxed lunches still available. As for the local grocery store, best be close to first in line when it opens. They allow 30 or 40 people in at a time then others can come in as the first group leaves. Milk, eggs, bread, rice.. all go quickly. By mid-afternoon shelves were once again bare.
Restock of convenience stores is happening regularly and this truck had the shelves full again when I came back a few hours later. People have been requested to stop hoarding, but there still seems to be a lot of it going on.
On the way to work today (about a 20km commute by bike), traffic was significantly off. Much more like a slow weekend's traffic than a weekday. This picture is the same area that had traffic backed up for miles yesterday. Today... deserted.
Gas is in short supply. The only stations that had gas yesterday were closed today. The only station I found on my commute that had gas (this Eneos station), also had a long line of cars waiting. Police stationed at the intersection to direct traffic.
Otherwise, it is a gorgeous day today and this baseball team is out taking advantage of it as they practice along the Tama River.
Reminders to anyone who can, the Red Cross is helping out in Sendai and can use donations. Those people have little food and shelter and it is now snowing.
March 15 - Normal, this is not...has the exodus begun?
10:00 PM - Was just ready to go to bed when the largest aftershock since Friday's quake hit our area. Things started to sway slowly (not so bad), then a big jolt, then shaking for a good minute. Sweet dreams are not made of this. Fine now. Felt like a 4 or 5. Hope that is as bad as it gets.
I'm still amazed that many businesses continue to require their workers to go to work downtown despite the uncertainty of train transport. After having a heck of a time getting home on Friday after the big quake, I can't imagine the need for many of the businesses to put their workers in that position unless absolutely necessary. I figure it will be a few more days for things to sort themselves out. Why tempt fate?
As I go to bed these days, I always wonder what the news will bring in the morning. So far, at each step of the cascading failures that has lead to where we are now, the government has said, "Not to worry." Reactor loses coolant... "Not to worry." Explosions rip apart outer buildings... "Not to worry." Partial meltdowns in perhaps 3 plants and 3 more on the way... "Not to worry." Spent rods heating up, increasing radiation levels in the area.... you get the picture. To say the gov has lost credibility is to put it mildly. Thank goodness for BBC live coverage and constant updates with correspondents and sources from outside the government. Let's just hope the containment vessels hold.
Well, off to bed. We'll see what the morning brings. Will be headed off to work by bike in the morning and should be able to update with more pics of life on the streets in west Tokyo.
5:00 PM -
There is an attempt by everyone here to try to get on with life as normal, but reality keeps intruding. First, there are the frequent aftershocks that, although so far not very strong, add to the edginess. Next, in the area west of Tokyo where I live, there are shortages of food, gas, and other emergency supplies. Just after the quake people had not yet started hoarding, but now shelves are largely empty. Add to this the blackouts that so far seem to be more threat than reality. Each scheduled blackout of electricity has yet to happen, but one never knows what to believe now and has to plan for blackouts whether they materialize or not. And finally, there is the story of the nuclear plants and the slowly growing crisis there. It is rather surreal to have to continue going to work when no less than 3 nuclear plants are near meltdown only 150 miles away. So, I have tried to become knowledgeable about BWRs, cesium microsievert levels, iodine, containment vessels, etc. It doesn't help that some news outlets seem more interested in being alarmist than in giving reliable and well reasoned analysis.
As of today, (about an hour ago), I did some recon on my bike as I returned home from work. The amount of goods available on convenience store shelves has become my scale to measure the mood of people here. As of 5:00 p.m. today, by this measure, the mood is still dark. Shelves stood empty of staple goods. Lines for gas at stations remain kilometers long. And as I rode past one road that offers exit of the city headed west, I saw cars backed up for miles. What I don't see, is coverage of any exodus of Tokyo, but I suspect that people who can get out are getting out now.
5:00 AM - Up at 5:00 a.m. to check the news. Quick review of news indicates a worsening situation with spent rods but no serious radiation level increase in the Tokyo area. US Embassy web site says they are monitoring the situation independently and if radiation levels get bad, they'll let us know. Link to embassy's announcement Rather unhelpful since, once it becomes clear that radiation levels are dangerous, there is little they can do but tell us to leave or stay indoors... as if we couldn't figure that out for ourselves. Helpful would be to have contingency plans available. Perhaps distribution of iodine tablets that are now impossible to find. That would be helpful.
Well, it's off to work by bike. Will see what the stores, roads and gas stations look like today.
I'm still amazed that many businesses continue to require their workers to go to work downtown despite the uncertainty of train transport. After having a heck of a time getting home on Friday after the big quake, I can't imagine the need for many of the businesses to put their workers in that position unless absolutely necessary. I figure it will be a few more days for things to sort themselves out. Why tempt fate?
As I go to bed these days, I always wonder what the news will bring in the morning. So far, at each step of the cascading failures that has lead to where we are now, the government has said, "Not to worry." Reactor loses coolant... "Not to worry." Explosions rip apart outer buildings... "Not to worry." Partial meltdowns in perhaps 3 plants and 3 more on the way... "Not to worry." Spent rods heating up, increasing radiation levels in the area.... you get the picture. To say the gov has lost credibility is to put it mildly. Thank goodness for BBC live coverage and constant updates with correspondents and sources from outside the government. Let's just hope the containment vessels hold.
Well, off to bed. We'll see what the morning brings. Will be headed off to work by bike in the morning and should be able to update with more pics of life on the streets in west Tokyo.
5:00 PM -
There is an attempt by everyone here to try to get on with life as normal, but reality keeps intruding. First, there are the frequent aftershocks that, although so far not very strong, add to the edginess. Next, in the area west of Tokyo where I live, there are shortages of food, gas, and other emergency supplies. Just after the quake people had not yet started hoarding, but now shelves are largely empty. Add to this the blackouts that so far seem to be more threat than reality. Each scheduled blackout of electricity has yet to happen, but one never knows what to believe now and has to plan for blackouts whether they materialize or not. And finally, there is the story of the nuclear plants and the slowly growing crisis there. It is rather surreal to have to continue going to work when no less than 3 nuclear plants are near meltdown only 150 miles away. So, I have tried to become knowledgeable about BWRs, cesium microsievert levels, iodine, containment vessels, etc. It doesn't help that some news outlets seem more interested in being alarmist than in giving reliable and well reasoned analysis.
As of today, (about an hour ago), I did some recon on my bike as I returned home from work. The amount of goods available on convenience store shelves has become my scale to measure the mood of people here. As of 5:00 p.m. today, by this measure, the mood is still dark. Shelves stood empty of staple goods. Lines for gas at stations remain kilometers long. And as I rode past one road that offers exit of the city headed west, I saw cars backed up for miles. What I don't see, is coverage of any exodus of Tokyo, but I suspect that people who can get out are getting out now.
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| The line for gas (station to right of picture) |
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| The line out of town - normally flowing traffic and never jammed. Now backed up for miles. |
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| Half of businesses closed in the local area. |
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| Yesterday. Convenience store shelves with food items empty. |
5:00 AM - Up at 5:00 a.m. to check the news. Quick review of news indicates a worsening situation with spent rods but no serious radiation level increase in the Tokyo area. US Embassy web site says they are monitoring the situation independently and if radiation levels get bad, they'll let us know. Link to embassy's announcement Rather unhelpful since, once it becomes clear that radiation levels are dangerous, there is little they can do but tell us to leave or stay indoors... as if we couldn't figure that out for ourselves. Helpful would be to have contingency plans available. Perhaps distribution of iodine tablets that are now impossible to find. That would be helpful.
Well, it's off to work by bike. Will see what the stores, roads and gas stations look like today.
March 11 - Quake Day
I've been watching the coverage of the earthquake and it is very bad up north of us along the coast. But in the area we live (which is half way between Tokyo and Yokohama), there is little or no damage and things are running along pretty much as normal. It is the areas affected by the tsunami that have been hardest hit. That is a sliver along the coastline about 150 miles north and east of Tokyo. In Tokyo itself, the earthquake caused minor damage to some buildings and there were some outages of electricity in some scattered areas just after the quake. Most of that has now been restored. Train service was down for about 15 hours and that caused the biggest headaches since it was a workday and millions of commuters had to find a way back to their homes in the suburbs, or they had to find some accommodation downtown. Needless to say that was a mess. But train service has been restored here, stores are fully stocked with food and supplies, and far as I can tell, there things are back to normal in Tokyo and where we live.
The issue with the nuclear reactors is a big concern. It is hard to assess risk because the government isn't really good about telling the real state of affairs, but rather tend to downplay everything. When living in an area with such a large population, by the time they admit they have a serious problem, it would be too late to get out of the area. So, we watch it closely. We've stocked up on food and protective items just in case.
When the quake struck, I was on the train coming home from Shinjuku (downtown Tokyo). My train had just come up from the underground portion of its route and I was about 7 miles from home when it struck. The conductor stopped the train (they were warned of the earthquake by radio). The train stopped and we all rode it out on the tracks. The train shook for about a minute and we all realized this was a big one. The trains remained stopped between stations for about 90 minutes and there was a second quake during that time that was not as long but seemed about as powerful. Everyone took out their electronic devices (cell phones, iPads, etc.) and watched the news. We became aware of fires but realized that major damage to buildings had been avoided and the Tokyo area had avoided deaths and injuries. Most worrying at that time was that I couldn't contact my family because phone service was overloaded. The tsunami hadn't happened yet. After 90 minutes sitting on the tracks, the train continued a few hundred meters to the next station and we all got off the train. I assumed the trains wouldn't be running for a long time so walked and hitchhiked my way home. A very kind lady with two kids in the back of the car, stopped to pick up this foreigner who stuck out his thumb for a ride. She took me a few miles closer to my home and as we talked she told me she'd been in the Hanshin earthquake in Kobe. She was really kind. Took a couple hours to walk home from where I was dropped off. Everyone was home when I got back.
My daughter was at school and my wife was at home when the quake struck. They said the shaking was pretty bad but still nothing toppled in the house. Bookshelves stayed upright and nothing fell off shelves. My daughter was very scared because she was on the 4th floor of the school. Fortunately, building codes are pretty strict here so buildings all stayed upright and undamaged. The got a pretty good stress test though. Again, there was little or no structural damage. My son was outside jogging so he didn't actually notice much.
I think work and school in the area will be back to normal Monday.
So, bottom line, we're all safe and sound... things are pretty much back to normal in the area, but the people north of Tokyo near Sendai have got it bad. That is where you see the reports of damages and death, and that is mostly from the tsunami. We are far enough away from there that we are largely unaffected.
The issue with the nuclear reactors is a big concern. It is hard to assess risk because the government isn't really good about telling the real state of affairs, but rather tend to downplay everything. When living in an area with such a large population, by the time they admit they have a serious problem, it would be too late to get out of the area. So, we watch it closely. We've stocked up on food and protective items just in case.
When the quake struck, I was on the train coming home from Shinjuku (downtown Tokyo). My train had just come up from the underground portion of its route and I was about 7 miles from home when it struck. The conductor stopped the train (they were warned of the earthquake by radio). The train stopped and we all rode it out on the tracks. The train shook for about a minute and we all realized this was a big one. The trains remained stopped between stations for about 90 minutes and there was a second quake during that time that was not as long but seemed about as powerful. Everyone took out their electronic devices (cell phones, iPads, etc.) and watched the news. We became aware of fires but realized that major damage to buildings had been avoided and the Tokyo area had avoided deaths and injuries. Most worrying at that time was that I couldn't contact my family because phone service was overloaded. The tsunami hadn't happened yet. After 90 minutes sitting on the tracks, the train continued a few hundred meters to the next station and we all got off the train. I assumed the trains wouldn't be running for a long time so walked and hitchhiked my way home. A very kind lady with two kids in the back of the car, stopped to pick up this foreigner who stuck out his thumb for a ride. She took me a few miles closer to my home and as we talked she told me she'd been in the Hanshin earthquake in Kobe. She was really kind. Took a couple hours to walk home from where I was dropped off. Everyone was home when I got back.
My daughter was at school and my wife was at home when the quake struck. They said the shaking was pretty bad but still nothing toppled in the house. Bookshelves stayed upright and nothing fell off shelves. My daughter was very scared because she was on the 4th floor of the school. Fortunately, building codes are pretty strict here so buildings all stayed upright and undamaged. The got a pretty good stress test though. Again, there was little or no structural damage. My son was outside jogging so he didn't actually notice much.
I think work and school in the area will be back to normal Monday.
So, bottom line, we're all safe and sound... things are pretty much back to normal in the area, but the people north of Tokyo near Sendai have got it bad. That is where you see the reports of damages and death, and that is mostly from the tsunami. We are far enough away from there that we are largely unaffected.
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