> TEOTWAWKI Blog: Japan 8.9 Quake

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3/11/11

Japan 8.9 Quake

Prayers out to the people of Japan in this time of crisis. The quake was one of the largest in recorded history, and the scope of devastation is not yet fully known. Japan is luckily pretty well equipped to handle massive earthquakes, and their buildings are built to stand up to pretty bad quakes. The Japanese people are also, in general, not the kind of people to turn to rioting, looting and violence in the chaotic aftermath.

We're now watching the aftermath period, with people trying to get home, find shelter, evacuate or reunite with family. Here are a few tweets from Wall Street Journal's LiveBlog:

"The roads are not moving at all. The people streaming by who are walking are moving faster than those of us in cars. The car navigation systems are indicating that almost all entry points to the highway are closed. Children are walking back from school, some wearing protective head gear that resemble a cone."

"Many Tokyo residents found themselves unable to get home as public transit in the city was halted...residents purchase bicycles in order to get home from a retailer in the Shimbashi area of central Tokyo."


"About 60,000 to 70,000 people were evacuated from the Sendai area, according to Kyodo News


"As mobile phones remain down in Tokyo, Twitter is proving to be one of the best ways to contact loved ones and get updates on the quake."


"Immediately after the quake, thousands of business people in central Tokyo's main business district fled their skyscrapers for the streets. Many clustered in groups of 10 or 15, some wearing white protective helmets or with silver-colored backpacks marked "For Use in Emergency." 


"Unable to use cellphones, many used their smartphones to tune into television broadcasts and find out what had happened.It's very convenient being able to watch live TV when the phones are down," said Minori Naito, an employee of Royal Bank of Scotland in Tokyo. "Otherwise, we'd have no idea what is going on.""


"Walking near Tokyo Station, windows were falling out of a building and glass shattered on the sidewalk. People were streaming out to the street, with no way to get anywhere but to walk. No available taxis, buses. No trains working."


"With many in central Tokyo facing either a very long walk home or hours stuck in the office, convenience stores in central business districts like Otemachi are already starting to run low on supplies as city dwellers stock up. Soft drinks, sandwiches, pre-packed snacks—even instant dried noodle packs—all dwindling."

This is how we know the aftermath unfolds...traffic jams, people struggling to get home or evac.

Definitely reminders to have a basic "get home bag" or at least keep some basic supplies (food, water, flashlight, FAK etc.) at work and in your vehicle, and bug out bags ready to go if you are evac'd from your home.

Footage of the devastation is pretty amazing. Pray for the Japanese as they recover!