8.0 quake in japan! Options

[messix]

with tsunami!!!

bad!!!!

[Tom_T]

Glad to hear so many have checked in okay, and our hopes & prayers go out for those still in question.

I've buried with other stuff & just now got caught up with emails, posts here, etc. - although I did what Sir Andy did, got everything ready in the Westy to head to higher ground, if the surge looked higher than predicted on the news from Ventura, which would give me 10-20 mins warning), since we're on low ground in the Santa Ana River valley & some of the Tsunami predictions in 04 & this time were 2-4x lower than predicted, & with unknowns of what the Catalina Island to mainland channel would do with the surge.

Those looking at the news for the Tsunami's away from the epicenter (& there) need to remember that it's more of a fast "tidal surge" than the tall "tidal wave" as seen in Phuket Thailand, etc. - with very strong eddies & currents unseen under the surface. It's much more deceiving to the eye & can be very destructive even 1000s of miles away, if added to a high tide. Just imagine adding 5-7' surge on top of the seasonal extra high tides in Seal Beach & other low lying areas on our wet coast. So those close to the coast were very wise to evacuate - better safe than sorry, and one of those keg & watch guys was lost at sea up in NoCal when 3-4 folks were washed out while watching the tide flow out before the surge.

With several towns near the epicenter washed away, this could prove to be as big a life loss as the `04 Indonesian quake/tsunami. Now they're dealing with the nuclear crisis on top of it all, which doesn't yet seem to be contained, let alone under control - plus aftershocks & the "aftermath crisis" of getting food, water, shelter & medical care to 100,000s of refugees in an area cut off by ground transportation.

9.0 & may get revised again higher as happened in `10 Chile, `04 Indonesia & Haiti (sensors close tend to be off & they recheck sensors around the globe to get the final magnitude); Japan Tsunami's up to 30-40+ feet in some locales (count the stories of buildings in the pix & videos then figure 10' - 12' or more per floor - some were very tall surges); 4 or more reactors & a spent fuel containment or more now in jeopardy; most road & train infrastructure in the northern region is out of commission - much of it permanently (i.e.: it will have to be torn out & rebuilt before use); rescue & aid services stretched beyond their limits & capabilities! This is very serious stuff that just keeps getting worse! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

You've got to admire their calm, working together, & no disorder over there. Heck, here in the USA there would probably be full scale looting, brawls in the lines, etc. - so you also have to admire those strong & cohesive people over there who just work together to help the whole community regardless of self sacrifice! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

Keep them all in your thoughts & prayers, as well as those further away affected by this catastrophe.

Tom
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