Tsunami

Hey guys,

Unless you have not turned on the television during the past four days, or have in some way avoided all human contact, then you are aware of the devastating events unfolding in Japan. 

But just in case…

On Friday an 8.9 earthquake (later reclassified as a 9.0) off the northern coast of Japan triggered a deadly tsunami which hit the coast of Japan with horrific results.  (The quake was so strong it actually affected the rotation of the Earth)  Thus far the estimated dead is above 10,000 with thousands still missing.  Potentially worse still, Japan is dealing with the possibility for a nuclear catastrophe as several of its cooling systems for their nuclear energy reactors shut down. 

Images and video footage of the deadly waves coming in have been playing constantly over the past weekend and one cannot help but be in awe at the power Mother Nature can wield. 

Japan is no stranger to earthquakes and tsunamis; the country has several small earthquakes each year, most not causing any significant damage.  Video footage from Tokyo illustrates how the buildings in Japan are constructed to withstand a quake, as huge skyscrapers sway back and forth, designed with absorb the shocks of major earthquakes.

As far as the tsunami, Japan has been dealing with the deadly waves for centuries as well, with the first recorded one hitting the island nation in the seventh century.  Tsunami, which mean harbor wave is a Japanese term, and the Japanese are internationally considered to be the country best prepared for earthquakes and tsunamis.  But as the video footage reveals, no amount of preparation can protect everyone from such an event.

The people along Japan’s coast had an estimated ten to fifteen minutes on the average warning that the deadly waves were on their way.  It was enough time for millions to find some sort of safety as they fled to higher ground.  However for some, like in the small village of Minamisanriku, fifteen minutes was not enough as the entire town was wiped off the map.  The tsunami and quake were so strong, it actually moved the entire central island of Japan (Honshu) eight feet to the west!

Facebook, Twitter, and other social media websites have proven once again that they are good for more than just updating your relationship status, as they were instrumental in helping rescue workers reach survivors as well as contacting loved ones around the world to let them know they had survived.  With all cellular and telephone service down in most of the affected areas, social media was the only means of contact proving once again (along with the revolts in Arab World) the true value and power these sites can have

In fact one avid anti-Facebook educator had to admit “Maybe Facebook is not the devil”!

As the days go forward we are most likely to learn of even more massive loss of life, and Japan will need help from the international community as they face their worst disaster since World War II.  I encourage anyone who can help to do so… even with small donations to the Red Cross.  Please keep in mind Japan was one of the first to help the U.S. during Katrina as well as lend aid during September 11.

For news coverage you can go to MSNBC.com or BBC.com … both sites have links with information on how to help.

(FYI)

The last major tsunami to cause such extensive damage and loss of life was in 2004 when an earthquake in the Indian Ocean triggered a tsunami killing an estimated 250,000-300,000 in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, and Somalia