Posted on 06/13/2008 4:58:12 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
We just had a very strong earthquake which fiercely rocked and rolled the main Island of Honshu in Japan.
TV broke with news on all channels IN ADVANCE OF EARTHQUAKE, warning people to "get ready". 8:43 a.m. local time Saturday (just about 10 minutes ago). 7:43 p.m. Friday Eastern Time.
Then, sure enough, the long, rolling shaking began, and increased in intensity. I estimate the shaking to have gone on for at least 45 seconds. It hit here at 8:45 a.m. It literally gave us 2 minutes to prepare. I have never experienced an advance earthquake warning.
The epicenter is considerably far from Tokyo, way up in northwest Japan. So I am sure there is little or no damage in Tokyo, but I can imagine damage and/or loss of life near the epicenter. It may well have been a 7.5. We will see.
It's jsut a trick with time zones. ;)
Prayers extended for all in this earthquake.
Not the best way to start out your Saturday morning aye.
Just puts ya on edge all day anticipating aftershocks.
Be safe.
From the other side of the Ring of Fire. Global
Even without prediction a lot could be done. The “Ash Wednesday” earthquake here probably took a minute or more to reach us. With a net of sensors and some means to immediately notify the populace around the region, lives could be saved.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,298755,00.html
TOKYO — Scientifically, it’s almost a sure thing — Tokyo is awaiting a catastrophic earthquake. In fact, it’s long overdue.
And when it does hit, officials say, there is one other thing that is a near certainty — hundreds of thousands of people will be in need of shelter that the government will not be able to provide. Studies show as many as 3 million will be homeless, some 600,000 more than shelters can now handle.
But with little space for new facilities, the city is hoping to cut down those numbers — and the number of deaths and injuries — by providing residents with the world’s first wide-scale earthquake alert system, which became operational on Monday.
The city is hoping that, with its extremely high population density and little space available to build new shelters, giving residents more information and even a slight heads up will cut down on confusion, mitigate the secondary damage caused by fires and encourage them to plan ahead for how to cope and where to go.
The new warning system uses data provided by the Meteorological Agency, which maintains an intricate network of sensors deep underground nationwide that estimate the intensity of a quake as soon as the ground ruptures.
The system works by detecting primary waves, which spread from the epicenter of a quake and travel faster than the destructive shear waves.
When primary waves of a certain intensity are detected, the alarms are set off as much as 30 seconds ahead of the shear waves.
Public broadcaster NHK will relay the warning almost instantaneously to its television and radio audience.
The alert system was launched at 9 a.m. Monday at the Japan Meteorological Agency, said Akiko Takahashi, an agency spokeswoman. Transport Ministers Tetsuzo Fuyushiba attended a ceremony at the agency, where he turned on the switch to launch the system.
The alert will be broadcast on NHK’s television and radio, as well as major network TV stations in Tokyo, she said. So far there have been no troubles reported, Takahashi said.
Pretty neat, AIT.
FoxNews will be signing you up shortly.
(Forget the earthquake warnings....Your political commentary would make it worth their money. :>)
Glad you’re OK AIT! How to scoop the media!
Lot's of negotiating, I'm sure! Stay safe, AIT, I love your comments.
Godzilla on a Pogo Stick?
Glad you are OK. Prayers for anyone who may be needing them at this time...
Pretty amazing that you all had advance warning - even if it was just 2 minutes!
I felt it.. it woke me up X(
I just rolled over and waited for it to stop :p
Living in Eureka Ca since 1954 I can honestly say... BEEN THERE...DONE THAT
......What I personally liked about the Japanese TV warning (for those of us down south in the Kanto region) was the calm, clear, precise and relaxed way the anchorpeople immediately went to their TV sets and went on live, maps, graphics, tickers but most of all, relaxed demeanor.
In the US, on CNN or FOX, or local affiliates, I can imagine some bubble headed blonde former cheerleader just out of J-school, freaking out and slobbering all over the text, making viewers even more stressed out. Maybe like that black, gay weatherman in LA some years ago who freaked out on live TV when an earthquake hit, almost screaming and crying.
....These TV reporters (certainly on NHK) have been WELL trained and well prepared. Tyey have my utmost of respect.
National security chief has gone into the Prime Minister's residence to set up emergency coordination team. All Cabinet ministers being mobilized and asked to give reports on areas affecting their ministries......bullet trains running at the time all immediately slowed down and came to complete stops...one guy is on a cell phone right now describing situation inside one of the bullet trains....
AmericanInTokyo (aka "Early Riser") LOL Glad nothing fell on you, too.
Amazing! Hope you are well ...
That cute LOL
I think Godzilla saw his stocks going down today in Japan so he got tick off he own some shares with Monster.com OF COURSE LOL!
7.0
Does the power grid seem to have held up?
No news in the US: we have another piece of news going on.
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