West Coast TE Peeps....

[Trek420]

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

Buy it here! They'll need the funds. I'm getting at least another one. So far small one in the car, purse, teeny tiny kit in the commuter bike bag .. need one for home and another for work.

http://www.redcrossstore.org

Enough power to: devastate Japan, cross the Pacific, threaten Hawaii, more ocean, sweeeeeeze through the tiny opening in the San Francisco bay and ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdMDCLwblkY

[Tokie]

Here in the Santa Barbara area we were on Tsunami "alert". My house is in the tsunami flood zone. So I thought about loading the 3 poodles into the car to spend the day in the covered parking at work, which is further inland. But the surge was only predicted to be a foot or so, and the beach here is down a bluff too - I think we are about 30 feet above sea level. So the dogs stayed home. I can tell you from the light traffic into work though that alot of people were spooked and stayed home. My girlfriend is in Osaka now visiting family. the earthquake there was almost imperceptible. But I expect that her flight home early next week may be delayed! So sorry for the destruction and loss of life. Tokie

[shootingstar]

For reasons I can't fully explain, I felt really sad watching the aerial plane photos of the tsunami sweeping across...I can't imagine the terror and horror.

It was on CNN from a Japanese broadcasting statioin that aired it in silence with Japanese slow, mournful music...like a temple-like dirge.

It was probably the most effective footage. No dialogue was necessary.

This is just sustainable blog in Tokyo that I occasionally follow. Doesn't say much...which how much can one say when there is devastation not so far away. http://tokyogreenspace.com/

[NbyNW]

My Dad was able to get on a flight out of Osaka this afternoon. I'm glad this didn't end up in him being stranded for multiple days!

Still can't wrap my mind around the devastation in the quake zone. It's a bit surreal.

[shootingstar]

Lucky him.

Another earthquake had occurred.

Diagram of plates:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/.../?from=1939748

It's just not a good sign when there have been several major earthquake disasters in past few years....Indonesia, NZ (just recently), Chile..

For the tsunami in Indonesia 1-2 yrs. ago, I was in touch with someone in Honolulu. She told me that in the evacuation, the traffic congestion..was alot. They went to high ground. The mood was abit ...even festive. Guess that's a coping mechanism.

[Trek420]

Aftershocks: 6.8. 6.3, 7.1 .......

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/

[shootingstar]

It feels very bizarre that someone read one of my blogs from Kobe, Japan about 12 hrs. ago. I realize they're far away...but one cannot help how they are touched personally in terms of people who they know who might be hurt or dead.

Our lives have more interconnections than we can possibly even imagine.

[Koronin]

It's terrible what has happened to Japan.

Living on the east coast (NC) we bought a weather radio, well actually two. One that is plugged in and one that is fully battery powered for if/when the power goes out. I do have a plan for evac for a hurricane though. I have a friend in Raleigh who has told me as long as I can give her some notice she can have a bedroom prepared for us and our cats to stay with her for however long we need to. Never thought about an emergency kit. Guess because when we moved here I just figured if we had to go somewhere Raleigh should be safe from whatever might hit here.

[smilingcat]

I kept on writing to post on this thread and kept on erasing. What can you say about natural disasters?

I'm deeply touched with all your comments, who wouldn't? I was on the phone with my mother several times yesterday. She is worried sick for her older brother. He is in his 80's my mother in her late 70's. My mother couldn't get her call through although my cousin in Kyushu managed to get her call through to my mother.

My uncle and his wife lives about 60 miles south of Sendai up in the mountain. Only thing we can do is wait. One good thing for my mother is that my sister lives only 5-10 minutes from her and both of them are helping each other in this difficult time.

Thank you for your kind words and kind thoughts,

Smilingcat

[shootingstar]

My uncle and his wife lives about 60 miles south of Sendai up in the mountain. Only thing we can do is wait. One good thing for my mother is that my sister lives only 5-10 minutes from her and both of them are helping each other in this difficult time.

This would be very tough...to wait and hear of outcome.

[channlluv]

Total non-event here in San Diego. My heart goes out to the people affected north of us, though. I agree that the news media were really downplaying the danger. Our beaches weren't closed and while there was a police cruiser going up and down warning people, no one was required to get out of the water or off the beach or boardwalk. Duh.

My brother and his wife and five-year-old daughter moved from the earthquake zone a month ago to the D.C. area.

I just can't even fathom the amount of devastation the people of Japan are facing right now. All those agricultural facilities gone, buildings destroyed, transportation hubs demolished...it's going to be a long time recovering for them.

Roxy

[Trek420]

I was on the phone with my mother several times yesterday. She is worried sick for her older brother. He is in his 80's my mother in her late 70's. My mother couldn't get her call through although my cousin in Kyushu managed to get her call through to my mother.

It must be hard to wait for word. I can hardly imagine.

The phone system is probably overloaded. Lines and poles may be down, central offices damaged but the sytem is designed to re-route calls. In a disaster everyone picks up the phone right away. Cell and land line systems while robust are not meant to take that kind of load. The system IS though designed to shut down to "protect itself" leaving available trunk lines for first responders.

Please assure your Mom that's probably the technical reason why she can't get through and that her family is in our thoughts and prayers.

That's why it's recommended in a major disaster unless you or others nearby actually neeeeeeed emergency help stay off the phone. Don't call into the area, don't call out.

Instead if disaster strikes call 1 (one, uno, ichi ... ) person outside of your area. Call them. If dial tone is slow don't hang up, stay on the line it may pick up. Say you're ok or not ... that 1 person should have your emergency contacts. They make calls.

I've said this before and like the cobblers children not having shoes barely have my own emergency contacts but now I'm working on it.

[limewave]

I was overwhelmed watching the coverage yesterday evening. All I could do was send up silent prayers. I kept going in and checking on my kids who were fast asleep during the commercials. And later DH and I fell asleep holding hands.

International Aid is down the road from us. We will most likely look to offer support through them.

[Trek420]

The ALOHA FOR JAPAN t-shirt is available at FITTED as well as other fine local retailers in Hawai’i. The retail price for this t-shirt will be $20 and all profits will be donated towards Hawai’i’s Red Cross Foundation in support for the people of Japan. Lets help our friends and family in Japan in this great time of need.

These will be available for sale online Monday

http://www.fittedhawaii.com/hanahou/

Also available at:

BUTI-GROOVE HAWAII
500 Piikoi Street
Honolulu, HI 96814
808-589-2884

IN4MATION WARD WAREHOUSE
1050 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96814
808-597-1447

BAREFOOT LEAGUE
880 Kapahulu Ave.
Honolulu, HI 96816
808-734-0200

[Trek420]

3.9 in the East Bay. Did ya feel it?