For all those interested in what is going on in Japan, the Stars and Stripes has an up to the minute play by play of what is happening with this disaster. Please use this information in correlation with what you are receiving from your chain of command.
http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/earthquake-disaster-in-japan/up-to-the-minute-1.138447#
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
To Stay or Go
Its been five days since the massive earthquake and really in some ways it feels like it hasn't stopped since then. Just last night there was a 6.0 aftershock centered in Tokyo that gave us a really swift jolt. There is still steady shaking and conditions here are deteriorating, even if it is slower than up north. Radiation was detected by the USS George Washington yesterday (the carrier in Yokosuka) and we were advised to stay in doors and to close all windows and doors. They told us that the level was not high enough to cause us harm but enough to be cautious. It has been reported by many sources on the news and Internet that food and water are running low in the city and surrounding areas of Tokyo. Gas is sold out on the base and many gas stations out in town are as well.
Many families are sending their dependents home to the states. Although no evacuation has been ordered, many feel it is wise to leave before it gets to that point. Right now we are not in immediate danger, but we are living in fear of the unknown.
Ships have evacuation systems to protect those who serve upon them. If something was to happen they can easily pull out to sea and go to a safer area. Those of us on land would have to deal with the radiation, earthquake, tsunami or what not as best as we could and as best as they could help us. One good thing to keep in mind is that the base IS prepared for disasters. They can and will help you with what they can. If you or your family is coming here or already here I urge you to stock up on bottled water, non perishable food, first aid supplies and invest in a hand cranked radio and flashlights.
My husband, my family and I decided it would be best if I went home and stayed there until I delivered our twins in the summer. Radiation is most harmful to pregnant women and their unborn child. Hopefully conditions will improve here enough that I can return back in the fall. My heart breaks for Japan. I have really come to love this country and I am truly sad to be leaving.
Many families are sending their dependents home to the states. Although no evacuation has been ordered, many feel it is wise to leave before it gets to that point. Right now we are not in immediate danger, but we are living in fear of the unknown.
Ships have evacuation systems to protect those who serve upon them. If something was to happen they can easily pull out to sea and go to a safer area. Those of us on land would have to deal with the radiation, earthquake, tsunami or what not as best as we could and as best as they could help us. One good thing to keep in mind is that the base IS prepared for disasters. They can and will help you with what they can. If you or your family is coming here or already here I urge you to stock up on bottled water, non perishable food, first aid supplies and invest in a hand cranked radio and flashlights.
My husband, my family and I decided it would be best if I went home and stayed there until I delivered our twins in the summer. Radiation is most harmful to pregnant women and their unborn child. Hopefully conditions will improve here enough that I can return back in the fall. My heart breaks for Japan. I have really come to love this country and I am truly sad to be leaving.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Earthquake Q&A
I have had a lot of people ask me questions about this whole fiasco and although I really don't have many answers, here are the answers I do have. For any other questions you may have, you should look to CNN or other news outlets that you normally watch.
Q: How far away are you from the epicenter and the nuclear plant?
A: We live in a city outside of Yokohama Japan and we are about 160 miles from the plant and 200 miles from the epicenter.
Q: Could you really feel the earthquake even though it was so far away?
A: (the only annoying question) YES! If California was getting tsunami waves from this earthquake you better believe we felt it here 200 miles away. At the epicenter it was a 9.0, here it was a 7.5. That was followed by two other 7.0 range after shocks.
Q: Did your area receive much damage?
A: No, other than items falling down, there was no damage in my area. I have not been out in the city since the quake but from what I can tell everything is OK.
Q: Are there still aftershocks?
A: Yes. On the day of the earthquake we were almost constantly having aftershocks with about a dozen over the 6.0 magnitude. Many of the aftershocks we are now feeling are around a 3-4 range. I would guesstimate that we get one every 4-5 hours.
Q: Are we being evacuated?
A: No. Right now we are not in immediate danger from radiation, tsunami or the volcano (in southern Japan).
Q: Did the tsunami reach your area?
A: No. We are next to Tokyo bay which has zigzag barriers set up through out the harbor to help break up the wave. So although a tsunami could hit us, it is far less likely.
Q: Do you have food and water available to you and the people in your area?
A: Yes, our area has plenty of food and water. Being part of a military family has benefits of knowing that if a food shortage or water shortage was to happen, they could help us rather quickly. So far we have not had any need for help from an outside source.
Q: Will the radiation fumes come to your area?
A: Right now it looks unlikely. The winds have luckily been blowing out to sea.
Thank you everyone for your concern, thoughts and prayers that have been sent our way. We truly do appreciate it.
Q: How far away are you from the epicenter and the nuclear plant?
A: We live in a city outside of Yokohama Japan and we are about 160 miles from the plant and 200 miles from the epicenter.
Q: Could you really feel the earthquake even though it was so far away?
A: (the only annoying question) YES! If California was getting tsunami waves from this earthquake you better believe we felt it here 200 miles away. At the epicenter it was a 9.0, here it was a 7.5. That was followed by two other 7.0 range after shocks.
Q: Did your area receive much damage?
A: No, other than items falling down, there was no damage in my area. I have not been out in the city since the quake but from what I can tell everything is OK.
Q: Are there still aftershocks?
A: Yes. On the day of the earthquake we were almost constantly having aftershocks with about a dozen over the 6.0 magnitude. Many of the aftershocks we are now feeling are around a 3-4 range. I would guesstimate that we get one every 4-5 hours.
Q: Are we being evacuated?
A: No. Right now we are not in immediate danger from radiation, tsunami or the volcano (in southern Japan).
Q: Did the tsunami reach your area?
A: No. We are next to Tokyo bay which has zigzag barriers set up through out the harbor to help break up the wave. So although a tsunami could hit us, it is far less likely.
Q: Do you have food and water available to you and the people in your area?
A: Yes, our area has plenty of food and water. Being part of a military family has benefits of knowing that if a food shortage or water shortage was to happen, they could help us rather quickly. So far we have not had any need for help from an outside source.
Q: Will the radiation fumes come to your area?
A: Right now it looks unlikely. The winds have luckily been blowing out to sea.
Thank you everyone for your concern, thoughts and prayers that have been sent our way. We truly do appreciate it.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Japan's Worst Earthquake Ever
Yesterday my husband and I were here to witness history as Japan experienced what is being said as its worst earthquake in recorded history. This is thought to be even larger than the earthquake in 1717 that later caused Mount Fuji to erupt.
At 2:45 pm on Friday afternoon Brett and I were recovering from my night in the hospital. I had been hospitalized the day previously for severe abdominal pain in my right side that turned out to be kidney stone. Brett was allowed to stay home with me after I was released on Friday due to the large amounts of medications that I was on. After we got home around noon, Brett helped to get me comfortable and at the time of the earthquake we were laying down for a nap in our room. The shaking started and I woke immediately. I woke Brett up and both of us knew that this was a huge earthquake. We put our shoes and jackets on and headed down the stairs to the outdoor playground outside our building where others were gathering. During the next couple hours earthquakes were almost constant and the first major 8.9 earthquake was soon followed up by a two 7.0 range earthquakes. We decided to return to our apartment to collect our documentation and some supplies and decided to wait until word came for what we were to do. About an hour and a half later one of the military police came to us and told us that we were to expect many more earthquakes throughout the day but it was safe to return to our apartments. When we re-entered our apartment we found that many of our pictures had fallen and some other items had also been thrown about. We took as many precautions as we could in our powerless home. We took down the remaining pictures, filled the bathtub, and packed a better bag to take with us if the need arose. Then we waited. Earthquakes were literally every few minutes and although none we nearly as strong as the first three, they were nonetheless scary. As of now, we are still experiencing some shaking. As I type there is another earthquake.
Brett is off to work today and unsure what the day will hold for him. There is no word on what the plans are for us as Americans here in Japan. We are safe but shaken. I just pray that it does not get worse than it already is. Keep us and those who are experiencing so much worse than us in your thoughts and prayers.
At 2:45 pm on Friday afternoon Brett and I were recovering from my night in the hospital. I had been hospitalized the day previously for severe abdominal pain in my right side that turned out to be kidney stone. Brett was allowed to stay home with me after I was released on Friday due to the large amounts of medications that I was on. After we got home around noon, Brett helped to get me comfortable and at the time of the earthquake we were laying down for a nap in our room. The shaking started and I woke immediately. I woke Brett up and both of us knew that this was a huge earthquake. We put our shoes and jackets on and headed down the stairs to the outdoor playground outside our building where others were gathering. During the next couple hours earthquakes were almost constant and the first major 8.9 earthquake was soon followed up by a two 7.0 range earthquakes. We decided to return to our apartment to collect our documentation and some supplies and decided to wait until word came for what we were to do. About an hour and a half later one of the military police came to us and told us that we were to expect many more earthquakes throughout the day but it was safe to return to our apartments. When we re-entered our apartment we found that many of our pictures had fallen and some other items had also been thrown about. We took as many precautions as we could in our powerless home. We took down the remaining pictures, filled the bathtub, and packed a better bag to take with us if the need arose. Then we waited. Earthquakes were literally every few minutes and although none we nearly as strong as the first three, they were nonetheless scary. As of now, we are still experiencing some shaking. As I type there is another earthquake.
Brett is off to work today and unsure what the day will hold for him. There is no word on what the plans are for us as Americans here in Japan. We are safe but shaken. I just pray that it does not get worse than it already is. Keep us and those who are experiencing so much worse than us in your thoughts and prayers.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Japan Has Earthquakes
Click here for video about the March 9 quake in Japan
http://cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2011/03/08/bpr.lah.japan.earthquake.cnn
If you did not know, yes there is a very active fault line that effects Japan pretty regularly. Today I got the chance to experience my first earthquake here. It was small and mild here in the Ikego housing area but lasted around 30 seconds. At the epicenter it was a 7.2. That's big! I don't know about you, but I am not a fan. Growing up in Southern California I have dealt with my fair share of earthquakes and I know what damage they can do. In fact the Whittier earthquake in the late 80's actually got my house to slide down a hill. Are earthquakes scary...heck yes. But one good thing to know is that Japan, just like CA has done its preparation for the natural events. Hills are reinforced, buildings are retro fitted and they have a system in place to help those who need it. I would much rather live here in Japan or California, a place that works to be prepared, than somewhere else that is not.
So what can you do to prepare for a natural occurrence like this?
One of the best things you could do is pack a 72 hour kit for each person in your household. Click here for a link to a list of items you should consider including in your kit. One great thing about being a military family is that the military is prepared for these things to happen and will do their best to take care of you and your family. BUT keep in mind, if you leave it up to them to help you, you may be waiting a couple of days before they get to you. There are thousands of people on the base.
Know the Red Cross number and talk to them to find out what you can do. The Red Cross is how members of our families can get in touch with service members in times of emergency.
Think about having a food supply that can sustain your family until help is reached.
I know, all these tips are for the worse case scenario, but do you really want to be unprepared if that time ever does come? I know I don't, especially in a foreign land.
For any questions or comments please email me at navywifeinjapan@gmail.com
http://cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2011/03/08/bpr.lah.japan.earthquake.cnn
If you did not know, yes there is a very active fault line that effects Japan pretty regularly. Today I got the chance to experience my first earthquake here. It was small and mild here in the Ikego housing area but lasted around 30 seconds. At the epicenter it was a 7.2. That's big! I don't know about you, but I am not a fan. Growing up in Southern California I have dealt with my fair share of earthquakes and I know what damage they can do. In fact the Whittier earthquake in the late 80's actually got my house to slide down a hill. Are earthquakes scary...heck yes. But one good thing to know is that Japan, just like CA has done its preparation for the natural events. Hills are reinforced, buildings are retro fitted and they have a system in place to help those who need it. I would much rather live here in Japan or California, a place that works to be prepared, than somewhere else that is not.
So what can you do to prepare for a natural occurrence like this?
One of the best things you could do is pack a 72 hour kit for each person in your household. Click here for a link to a list of items you should consider including in your kit. One great thing about being a military family is that the military is prepared for these things to happen and will do their best to take care of you and your family. BUT keep in mind, if you leave it up to them to help you, you may be waiting a couple of days before they get to you. There are thousands of people on the base.
Know the Red Cross number and talk to them to find out what you can do. The Red Cross is how members of our families can get in touch with service members in times of emergency.
Think about having a food supply that can sustain your family until help is reached.
I know, all these tips are for the worse case scenario, but do you really want to be unprepared if that time ever does come? I know I don't, especially in a foreign land.
For any questions or comments please email me at navywifeinjapan@gmail.com
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