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.
Pleased to know that you and some of our other Japan-dwelling FReepers are well. Prayers up for all those affected in Japan.
Gee, I grew up in the Bay Area (SF) and we had quakes all the time. No fuss, no bother, orderly response. Even when we all bounced across the room in our school desks, no big deal.
We were taught to remain calm.
I am impressed (but not surprised) with how efficient the Japanese are. That little detail of having the trains warned in time for them to stop probably saved some lives. I would not want to be on a 300 mph train during an earthquake.
I was in the Loma Prieta earthquake, and a 2 minute warning is enough time to get to a safe location where things won’t fall on you. You can make sure you have your shoes and dive under a table. You can get all of your kids to a safe spot under a doorway.
“Somebody ran out of their home in panic and was hit by a car and expired on the scene.”
Just damn...
Hope that will be it.
Egads, I can yet recall a typhoon and even then were The Powers That Be, calm, and directive, no hype.
My earthquake drill training began in what would be pre-school here in America. There's a photo of me in my school uniform with hat the day I got a prize for fastest good reaction in an earthquake drill. I had to be close to age 4.
We had an earthquake drill song we sang once we'd made it to a safe spot. I realize now, that song was taught us to be sung after we'd gotten to safety, so that we could be found if things really got bad, and that the song would comfort us should we have to wait to be found.
Yes, FRiend, I know the drill. And I know you are with very good people in such a circumstance.
The folks in charge of this in L.A. think the population would use the time to run outside, and of course, get hit by falling debris and make matters worse.
THANKS TONS.
PRAYERS AND HUGS.
An interesting poster on
posted an assertion a week or two ago that one of his friends who he claims has
100% accuracy
has predicted a 9.5 quake off the coast of China for the middle of June plus or minus a couple of weeks—so any time in June.
We shall see. Also predicted with it was a 50 meter Tsunami wave going far inland. Might be a good time to stay at upper elevations.
All the more so if this quake somehow reverberates, cocks things up a bit more.
Please be safe, buddy.
And I'm thinking of the tsunami-warning horns on the Oregon coast. Computerized, one could even give a sort of count-down until the quake hit. 10 pulses repeated every second or so for "you have 10 or more seconds", then counting down to 1, after which...
Imagine an earthquake in a classroom and all 35 students quietly but immediately getting under their desks and with no instructions from the teacher. That's what it was like in Japan. And that is not what I experienced in California. Things could have changed in Japan over the years; but I only left CA near 4 years ago.
According to the earlier threads, epicentre was in Iwate (area 3) on the map. Fukushima Prefecture is area 7 on the map.
Which ones do you remember the most? I was there in 1992 for the big three.
I’m glad to see you were “promoted” to breaking and live thread status.
TOKYO - Japan's government says two people have died and eight others have been injured in an earthquake in the northern part of the country.hereChief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said at least two died in Saturday's 7-magnitude quake, including one person who ran out of a building in panic and was hit by a truck.
He says one of the eight injured was in serious condition.
I spoke too soon ... back out of the sidebar now.
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