West Coast TE Peeps....

[badger]

nothing here in Vancouver, but got word from my cousin in Japan that him and his family in a small port town are okay. Apparently they had a "tsunami" the height of 90cm.

[KnottedYet]

So far 5 "Looky-loos" have been washed out to sea from the West Coast.

Gotta get up close and personal with the tsunami surge, cuz everyone knows the media is just over-reacting and the government is lying and hey, we all know we see waves bigger than 2 feet all the time, so this tsunami warning stuff means nothing and besides we're 8,000 miles from Japan and let's get a six-pack and go to the beach!

4 people were rescued. The body of the 5th has not been found.

C'mon, kids. Keep your buns off the beaches today.

[Trek420]

In all seriousness - nuke plants don't have an off button. Once you "stop" them, you still have to make sure they cool for hours - otherwise, you can have big problems. From what I hear, they're having issues with some of the back up systems that cool the cores....scary stuff.

Yes, I know there's no off button. Was just making light of a very serious event. The main thing is thoughts and prayers to everyone, especially those waiting to hear from family.

[Eden]

what do you mean "our Noaa radio went off"

We have a NOAA weather radio - it mainly just sits there quietly, but if there is an alert, (usually weather related, but it will go off for Amber Alerts and area wide emergencies too) it beeps very obnoxiously - as it should as it is meant to get your attention then gives you the alert. I've only heard it go off a few times. Two have been Amber Alerts, a couple times for high wind, once for "severe winter weather" and last night to give the tsunami warning. There's a button you can push to get the current weather forecast too.

[jelee1311]

My mom and stepdad live in Rockaway Beach, Oregon,and have had no major problems,thank goodness. Praying for people in Japan and everywhere that have been affected by this distaster.

[Trek420]

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquak.../us/index.html

[Aggie_Ama]

We have a NOAA weather radio - it mainly just sits there quietly, but if there is an alert, (usually weather related, but it will go off for Amber Alerts and area wide emergencies too) it beeps very obnoxiously - as it should as it is meant to get your attention then gives you the alert. I've only heard it go off a few times. Two have been Amber Alerts, a couple times for high wind, once for "severe winter weather" and last night to give the tsunami warning. There's a button you can push to get the current weather forecast too.

In Texas we have warnings every other day. Right now it is a red flag warning for high winds and dry area. The weather alarms are a curse but necessary....

To think Japan is on the cutting edge of earthquake proofing and to still see the devastation is insane. It was almost more than I could take. Prays/good vibes to everyone in Japan and worldwide.

[SadieKate]

I was yelling at the TV this morning when the news anchor starting implying that the impending peril had imploded when the first wave hadn't shown up within 20 mins of estimated arrival. Sorry, but what a dipsh!t.

Tsunami waves do not behave like normal waves. They are not surfable. They are not to be played with. And they are hard to track in deep water. And there can be a lot spaced across hours.

This is readily available info. Obviously, brains were not a requirement for his position.

[Eden]

Sometimes I wonder about my hubby.... when he sleeps, he sleeps hard... Not only did the weather radio fail to wake him up, this morning he had no memory whatsoever that when I came to bed I told him that the radio went off and gave a tsunami warning....

I've been watching the news. It looks so horrible along the coast. I don't think any amount of preparedness can stand up to the force of a big wave.... the best you can do is get people out of the way. It was good that the quake happened during the day - people were awake and alert, so it does sound like many people were able to get out or to a high building before the wave hit.

[NbyNW]

Well it sounds like the big man (or woman) upstairs was looking out for my Dad today! He was supposed to stop in at Narita on his way to Taipei early this morning, and it sounds like the earthquake hit just about a half hour before his scheduled landing time. Apparently they were sent to a nearby military base to refuel and then got re-routed to Osaka. Crazy timing, but very glad he wasn't on the ground when things got exciting.

I have friends who are still waiting on news of family, friends and colleagues out of Sendai. Keeping fingers crossed.

[bluejellybean]

I live in a tsunami zone in Canada...we've been on "advisory" all day but it hasn't advanced to a "warning"...thank god...I'm thinking about friends in Japan who I've lost touch with over the past few years and don't have their current emails...who knows what to come and where, things can happen at the blink of an eye.

[shootingstar]

Hope you will be safe ...for a long time on west coast and your loved ones in Japan/eastern Asia.

Vancouver Island particularily on west coast side would the first hit area in the southern part of Canada.

[bluejellybean]

this is definitely another nudge to get an emergency kit together!

[Biciclista]

We have a NOAA weather radio - it mainly just sits there quietly, but if there is an alert, (usually weather related, but it will go off for Amber Alerts and area wide emergencies too) it beeps very obnoxiously - as it should as it is meant to get your attention then gives you the alert. I've only heard it go off a few times. Two have been Amber Alerts, a couple times for high wind, once for "severe winter weather" and last night to give the tsunami warning. There's a button you can push to get the current weather forecast too.

thanks Eden, I had never heard of one before!

[shootingstar]

Really, bluejellybean VAncovuer Island is quite vulnerable compared to City of vancouver or Seattle.

When I was vacationing near your side of Vancouver Island I stayed at a lovely bed 'n breakfast in Qualicum Beach --about 12 years ago. The guy was a retired provincial govn't bureaucrat in emergency planning.

He had his kit in the car and by his bed.