8.9 earthquake and tsunami in Japan!

[Feralpeg]

They are now saying that four different nuclear reactors have stopped working. There is nothing to keep the core from overheating. This is very scary!

There has also been a dam burst that has washed away several neighborhoods.

I just don't know how these people will recover from such widespread damage.

 

[DisMN]

They just reported that a man was swept out to sea in California. He was on the beach taking pictures of the waves. They have started a search for him. Why or why don't people listen to what the authorities say? Do they think it doesn't apply to them?

They also said there has been some damage in Hawaii. One hotel lobby is filled with water. So far, no injuries reported there.

I am very conerned about the nuclear reactor that is overheating. They plan on venting steam to keep it from blowing.

Hillary Clinton announced not to long ago that we have already sent *coolant* to Japan to help keep the reactors from overheating.

 

[S. C.]

I work for our state's Attorney General's Office. Just a word of caution. If anyone contacts YOU about giving a donation to help with disaster relief, don't give them any of your personal information or make a donation of any kind. Organizations like the Red Cross will not call for donations. You must contact them to give a donation Sad to say, disasters like this is when scammers come out and prey on innocent victims. Use the link Lights_Out provided. Make sure you donation lands up in the right hands to help all these poor victims.

Thank you for the reminder.
Putting this on Facebook to remind others.

 

[SaraJayne]

Hillary Clinton announced not to long ago that we have already sent *coolant* to Japan to help keep the reactors from overheating.

I thought the coolant was just water. Is it a special liquid?

 

[SaraJayne]

Yes, I know that's a stupid question...please don't mock me.

 

[IdesOmarch]

I thought the coolant was just water. Is it a special liquid?

I was always under the impression that it is water as well. The danger is due to power outages and not being able to control the mechanics. Why there wouldn't be an emergency generator that was contained in a secure building for such purposes I don't know. However, alot of this could be dis-information. I'm about 99% sure that all nuclear reactors in at least japan, US, Britain etc., do have back up generators that are in safe locations to prevent against such things. So I wouldn't believe any nuclear horror stories until its definitely confirmed. Someone was reporting one of the nuclear reactors were on fire, with video, but it was false, it wasn't a nuclear plant on fire it was an oil refinery.

 

[mrsv98]

Boss called from Tokyo, exhausted but safe. He is sleeping on the floor of the airport and hopes to be home tomorrow. He says he felt several aftershocks during the night. Poor guy, I think a comfy bed and pampering from his worried wife are in order!

 

[Mickeyistheman]

This is just so upsetting.

I can't wrap my head around this at all. Looking at these pictures, it just breaks my heart.

I am very concerned about the nuclear plant though.

 

[Jennasis]

This has been a roller coaster of a day. I've been just sick over all this all day long (and sick with the flu).

I just can't wrap my mind around the devastation.

 

[RadioNate]

Nuclear reactors are supposed to shut down in disasters. I'm not terribly concerned about that. The one that is concerning is because there is damage to the structure and they are having trouble pumping water in. The good news is that this is Japan not Russia. Japan has stringent nuclear standards and strict building codes.

 

[beaucoup]

As much as their buildings and their people seem prepared for this, and how calm they seem in footage, I still can't get over the devastation.

Having a really difficult time watching anymore.

My prayers go out to all of them and hope they get aid they need asap.

 

[CandyMandy]

Historically, loss of life estimates that come out right after major earthquakes are usually below those in the final tallys that come out weeks or even months later.

This headline just came out -- and given the above -- is beyond frightening:

Nearly 88,000 people are reported missing, according to the official Kyodo news agency.

 

[Feralpeg]

My friend, Mihoko, is beside herself. She cannot reach her mother who is in northern Japan. I can't even imagine what she is going through.

My heart breaks for these people.

Thanks for the info, everyone, on the nuclear plant thing. I keep thinking of the movie "The China Syndrome". The whole idea scares me.

 

[monkeybug]

Does anyone know if you can contact the Embassy to find out if they have heard from Americans living in Tokyo? Do they have a record of every US citizen living there? We have friends that moved there last summer (they live just south of Tokyo). She is from Japan, and her family lives right on the coast, but he is from America and has a job teaching. He just retired from the Navy and was waiting on a job with the government. We are obviously very worried and can't get a hold of them. Really praying they weren't at her parents house today, and praying her parents weren't either.

 

[Swalphin]

My nepew has been in Tokyo since last Saturday. He was able to get one text out to his sister hesaid is OK. We have heard nothing else just the one text.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My heart reaches out to you with loved ones over there.

I am watching the devastation in horror all day.

 

[RadioNate]

The 25 year old man who was washed out to sea in California while trying to photograph the tsunami has been confirmed dead. I hope his family isn't watching CNN because they've all but directly called him an idiot.

The ***ushima reactor is showing higher than normal radiation levels which may indicate a leak of radioactive material. Now it is getting scary! ETA - they have just increased the evacuation zone around the reactor from 3 kilometers to 10 kilometers, that is NOT good at all.

I guess this one has a pretty solid post-Chernobyl containment system but still!

This is going to be VERY VERY bad. Very bad. They are 'scared' that the death toll will be more than a 1000 and I can't imagine it being that low. Horrible. The tsunami was 30ft and came more than 6 miles ashore. The video is beyond shocking. Whole towns are gone.

I think the girl on CNN said that 3 bullet trains are totally missing.

 

[Cat0727]

Just got home after reading news articles all day and I'm watching CNN now. My heart goes out to everyone over there, so sad

 

[beaucoup]

OMG. Anyone just catch the woman in CA too emotional to be able to speak about the wave that damaged her leisure boat?

O.M.G.

 

[happygirl]

This is the last thing this poor people need.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/03/11/japan-issues-emergency-nuke-plant-leak/