Japan's nuclear emergency prompts panic buying in Tokyo

Guardian.co.uk ^ | 03/15/11 | Justin McCurry

[OB1kNOb]

News of a serious radiation leak at the Fukushima nuclear plant has sparked panic buying in Tokyo, as some residents started to leave the capital to escape potential contamination....

People in the capital, home to 12 million, snapped up radios, torches, candles, fuel containers and sleeping bags, while for the fourth day there was a run on bread, canned goods, instant noodles, bottled water and other foodstuffs at supermarkets......

Fears are rising that if the hoarding frenzy continues it will affect the ability to deliver emergency supplies to the disaster zone. "The situation is hysterical," said Tomonao Matsuo, a spokesman for the instant noodle maker Nissin Foods. "People feel safer just by buying Cup Noodles."....

[OB1kNOb]

A textbook case playing out in real time for others to understand why one should be prepared for a disruption in daily services and supplies. Just-in-Time delivery systems collapse during real SHTF events. Pray for Japan. - OB1

[DTogo]

Was talking to a friend in Tokyo last night who said a significant portion of office workers are not showing up because of mass transit disruption and/or fear of exposure to radiation in the air. Grocery staples are also in short supply.

Several of his friends are also taking time off to travel far away from Tokyo.

Comments from Freepers in Japan?

日本＊ピング＊ (kono risuto ni hairitai ka detai wo shirasete kudasai : let me know if you want on or off this list)

[bkopto]

Although I probably preaching to the choir....

Freepers take note!

[RummyChick]

I don’t think it is a textbook case. I think if something happened like that here it would be mayhem with people getting knifed over a bag of rice.

[Professional]

See, the Japanese economy is BOOMING!

There isn’t going to be an unemployed Japanese person for many years to come I’d think.

[GOPJ]

Fears are rising that if the hoarding frenzy continues it will affect the ability to deliver emergency supplies to the disaster zone.

I don't see the connection...

[stevecmd]

Wonder what ol’ Shep is gonna do since Fox sent him to Tokyo??

[Jim W N]

So much for the "safety" of nuclear power plants. It seems either the "safe" technology (replacing rods with kind of steel-like balls (what it takes to work in one of those places)) that people are talking about is still in the research and development stages or have not yet been implemented out into the field yet. Old nuclear power plants should be shut down until new technology is thoroughly tested and proven in alpha and beta testing to be "safe" : i.e. cannot melt down.

Even with this new technology, what about nuclear waste - another threatening problem with this power source? Again, better would be grease the R&D skids for fusion, a safe and clean alternative.

[dennisw]

buying panic can happen here easily.....We’re all set. Have propane in tank. Store of filtered water. Have dried beans, rice, whole wheat berries for sprout bread. Best bean is chickpeas....the most meaty. Go veg for a few weeks or months.

[SteveH]

fusion has been 50 years away for the last 50 years.

[Ronin]

It’s true. I was in Seiyu today and the place was full of customers looking to buy anything they could. No canned goods, rice, bread, milk or meat. Cup noodles are gone everywhere, as are any snack foods.

I’m a bit guilty of hording myself. I figure I have about two weeks supply of stuff now. More, if I have to stretch it. But I am not seeing a lot of delivery trucks on the streets which makes me nervous. I think the packrat tendencies will subside in a couple of weeks if there is not another quake, but right now, you can’t blame people for wanting to have a full pantry.

It’s just very nerve-wracking right now.

[kickstart]

If you are really worried about your safety, do not drive an automobile, don’t take a bath, don’t eat at restaurants, don’t run with scissors, don’t step on sidewalk cracks or walk under ladders.

[Retired Greyhound]

Panic “buying”, not looting.

[OB1kNOb]

Fears are rising that if the hoarding frenzy continues it will affect the ability to deliver emergency supplies to the disaster zone.

I don't see the connection...

Perhaps there is concern that if the level of hoarding increases caused by an increasingly desperate and hungry public they may reach a level of panic causing them to begin to shanghai emergency supply deliveries before it can even get to the intended disaster zone distribution point. Desperate people do desperate things.

[edpc]

Almost certain....but that supports the case for being prepared so you aren’t the one in that situation.

[donozark]

CNN had a report on Seiyu in Yokosuku being empty-or nearly so, and it was 2 days ago!
Like you say, best to stretch out the 2 week supply you have as long as you can...

[OB1kNOb]

I’m a bit guilty of hording myself.

Going into survival mode after such a catastrophe is normal and to be expected. Praying that things settle down quickly for you FReepers there. Please keep us posted as to your first hand observations so other FReepers can learn what really occurs when faced with such challenges. - OB1

[Quix]

INDEED.

[Jim W N]

Life is about reasonable risk.

To me nuclear power plants are like buying trouble when you don't have to. The threat of meltdown and the ongoing problems of nuclear waste are enough to tell me that man hasn't solved what needs to be solved to put this under the category of reasonable risk.

[GOPJ]

You’re doing the right thing - our prayers are with you...