Post by Dino on Mar 12, 2011 18:39:39 GMT -5
As many of you know, I live in Japan and I wanted to take a minute to talk about it.
The epicenter of the quake was off the coast of Miyagi prefecture, which is in northeastern Japan. The areas affected were among the most populous in the nation and the damage is mind-boggling. The death toll to date is remarkably low, thanks in no small part due to the quick response from the government and due to Japan's strict building codes. Over here, we experience a fifth of the world's earthquakes and especially after the disastrous Kobe quake in 1995, the country is well prepared for these catastrophes. I've experienced several tiny quakes ever since I moved out here three years ago.
Fortunately, my area was spared. I live in Kagoshima prefecture, which is on the southern island of Kyushu. So we didn't feel even a slight tremor out here. We are presently on a tsunami watch, but it's been downgraded from a two meter watch (around six feet) to below a meter (less than three). And it was mostly for the eastern coast of the Osumi peninsula. I live on Osumi, but I'm on the west coast near the bay. And tonight I'll be traveling to the other side of Kagoshima, so I'll be at even less of a risk.
But this is the biggest earthquake to ever hit Japan and one of the biggest the world has seen in a long time. The rebuilding is going to be very difficult on a lot of people, many have been left homeless and hundreds are still unaccounted for.
These types of disasters bring out the best in humanity, so many people are willing to do whatever they can, no matter how small, to help. Unfortunately, they also bring out the worst. Recent natural disasters have brought in a lot of scam artists who have made millions of dollars from false charities.
If you'd like to donate whatever you can, I strongly encourage you to. But I also ask you to research whatever charity you choose to donate to. The Red Cross has a site set up and you can find the link here: american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main&s_src=RSG000000000&s_subsrc=RCO_FrontPagePanel
Please do whatever you can to support this cause.
The epicenter of the quake was off the coast of Miyagi prefecture, which is in northeastern Japan. The areas affected were among the most populous in the nation and the damage is mind-boggling. The death toll to date is remarkably low, thanks in no small part due to the quick response from the government and due to Japan's strict building codes. Over here, we experience a fifth of the world's earthquakes and especially after the disastrous Kobe quake in 1995, the country is well prepared for these catastrophes. I've experienced several tiny quakes ever since I moved out here three years ago.
Fortunately, my area was spared. I live in Kagoshima prefecture, which is on the southern island of Kyushu. So we didn't feel even a slight tremor out here. We are presently on a tsunami watch, but it's been downgraded from a two meter watch (around six feet) to below a meter (less than three). And it was mostly for the eastern coast of the Osumi peninsula. I live on Osumi, but I'm on the west coast near the bay. And tonight I'll be traveling to the other side of Kagoshima, so I'll be at even less of a risk.
But this is the biggest earthquake to ever hit Japan and one of the biggest the world has seen in a long time. The rebuilding is going to be very difficult on a lot of people, many have been left homeless and hundreds are still unaccounted for.
These types of disasters bring out the best in humanity, so many people are willing to do whatever they can, no matter how small, to help. Unfortunately, they also bring out the worst. Recent natural disasters have brought in a lot of scam artists who have made millions of dollars from false charities.
If you'd like to donate whatever you can, I strongly encourage you to. But I also ask you to research whatever charity you choose to donate to. The Red Cross has a site set up and you can find the link here: american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main&s_src=RSG000000000&s_subsrc=RCO_FrontPagePanel
Please do whatever you can to support this cause.