West Coast TE Peeps....

[Blueberry]

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.

ETA: Of course, I'm worried about our friends in Japan too. I was bleary eyed when I posted, and knew about the tsunami warnings, but not the quake that caused them....

[crazycanuck]

Some of my former workmates (and students) in Japan have been affected by the Quake.

One dude's wife n kids (lives in Fujisawa) were @ Shinjuku station on thier way home & were stranded. They spent the night in Yokohama.

Another's family is in Sendai & are unable to contact them.

It goes on...

[Biciclista]

from the news: Tsunami waves up to 1.7 feet hit Washington coast

[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]

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

[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.

[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