| Author | Message | ||
| Agapetos Registered user Username: Agapetos Post Number: 2025 Registered: 10-2002  |
Hi everyone, Here is a letter I sent out to family and friends, followed by some comments I put on my facebook page. Thanks for all your prayers! In Jesus, Ramone ***** Just wanted to let you all know we're okay... there was a giant earthquake in Miyagi prefecture, which is quite far from us. The earthquake was an 8.9, and shook a lot of buildings there and even caused some fires in Tokyo (which is a distance southwest of Miyagi). Reports are still coming in now of tsunami damage... we're seeing things on TV now of cars being tossed around in waves, etc. You'll see it on the news today, probably. Anyway, just wanted to let you know we're okay. I was at home when it struck (2:46pm), but I think we didn't feel it here in Osaka until about five minutes later or so. I was on the phone with the post office and felt suddenly drunk and realized what was going on. Yoko and the kids were out at a church function for mothers & kids, and they didn't feel it at all (but some other people there did feel it). Love you all & bless you! Ramone ***** My comments on Facebook: The earthquake was in Miyagi, some distance north of Tokyo, but we're just over halfway on the western side of the island. However, I actually *felt* it... For those wondering how far we were from the earthquake, Osaka is about 1000km (622 miles) from Sendai (the closest city to the earthquake, I think). In America it's *very roughly* similar to: Washington DC to Chicago (or to Portland, Maine, or to Nashville, TN), or Los Angeles to Salt Lake City. Sendai is 300 km (180 miles) northeast of Tokyo, by the way. We're all good. All of my extended family is here in the Kansai area, 1000km from the epicenter up near Sendai. I have several friends out in the Kanto/Tohoku area, however, so pray that they all are able to stay warm (it's cold here, and much colder up there!) and get water, etc. There are a lot of people walking to their homes, cell networks are down, and the fatality count is rising and rising. Once more: We're okay. We are 1000km (622miles) away from where it struck, and though the coast down south of Osaka near Wakayama has seen the tsunami, it hasn't been enough for us to hear news of yet. We don't live close to the ocean, either. ***** This comes from a friend in Chiba (not far from Tokyo) -- From the same friend, the next day:
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| Karethamiller Registered user Username: Karethamiller Post Number: 182 Registered: 8-2010  |
Ramone, I'm so happy to hear that you and your family are ok! We are all praying for the tragedy and the people who have been devastated by the loss of house, family, and so on. So sad  | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 9066 Registered: 3-2004  |
Thank you Ramone for keeping us updated. Praying for the whole situation. Diana L | ||
| Hec Registered user Username: Hec Post Number: 1669 Registered: 3-2009 |
Thanks for the info. We are praying for you. Hec | ||
| Indy4now Registered user Username: Indy4now Post Number: 1023 Registered: 2-2008  |
Thanks for your updates both here and on FB. I am praying for all of you. vivian | ||
| Agapetos Registered user Username: Agapetos Post Number: 2026 Registered: 10-2002 |
Here is a Christian disaster relief organization in Japan that is taking donations and mobilizing for relief efforts right now... http://www.crashjapan.com/ on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_109898789089909 | ||
| Leigh Registered user Username: Leigh Post Number: 226 Registered: 2-2003 |
Thanks for the post. I'm glad you and your family are safe. I was thinking about you all yesterday and couldn't remember where in Japan you lived. Praying for the people of Japan. | ||
| Hec Registered user Username: Hec Post Number: 1671 Registered: 3-2009 |
I Supposed that ADRA is very active there too. Hec | ||
| Agapetos Registered user Username: Agapetos Post Number: 2027 Registered: 10-2002 |
About the explosion at the nuclear plant: It doesn't appear to be half as bad as it sounds. You can watch it on TV or net. Not a mushroom cloud, nor like Chernobyl. It could get worse, but it's not there yet and even now the core is only partially melted. The outer wall of one of the buildings blew off but not the core inside. Here in Osaka we are 582km (362mi) from the plant. Tokyo is 216km (134mi) from it. Link: http://japantoday.com/category/national/view/explosion-heard-at-fukushima-nuclear-plant-4-injured-tepco I think TEPCO & the government have been a bit slow in releasing information, however I think they want to avoid a panic. From the news conferences it seemed like the plant staff/managers weren't shying from questions at all, but were terr...ibly busy and trying to do all they could. I've seen enough cover-up and denial in the past, so really seeing everyone scramble and being so forthright right now is actually really, really good. I haven't seen this before from official levels in Japan. I'm used to being a lot more cynical! Another link, which could make you a bit more nervous: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110313a1.html ...the problem is the subtitle of that article says the radiation is "spewing"... the choice of words in these reports & article...s really can change the way things sound, and the image people have of what's happening. Radiation is leaking, but not at catastrophic levels. The radius of the evacuation area has increased to 20km. Again, however, I'm moved to see how everyone is scrambling to do what they can. It's helpful to learn just a little bit of what caused the problem in the first place: the reactor core is kept cool with water, but the earthquake knocked out the power which cools the core. The backup is diesel generators, but the tsunami that followed damaged them and shut them down. Since the tsunami they've been trying to restore the backup generators and find ways to cool the core down. The core has been partially melted, but apparently not a complete meltdown yet. Since it's a light water reactor, experts are saying (so I've read) that the scope of a potential catastrophe wouldn't be as large as Chernobyl even if it escalated to the worst-case scenario. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 12361 Registered: 12-2003  |
Thank you for coming here and letting us know how you are, Ramone. We're thankful you and your family are safe, and we're also praying for the people in Japan. Colleen | ||
| Agapetos Registered user Username: Agapetos Post Number: 2028 Registered: 10-2002 |
On the nuclear situation... There is a lot of sensational, scary-sounding stuff going around in the media right now, and apparently it's very unscientific. The comparisons to Chernobyl are very innaccurate. It really is a good thing people over here aren't getting the same kind of inflated news or there would be a panic! Here is a link to an article, very in-depth, but very readable and laid out in an easy-to-understand way. A very good read, but get a cup of coffee first, and keep your brain turned on. =) https://morgsatlarge.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/why-i-am-not-worried-about-japans-nuclear-reactors/ Even merely scanning through it will help calm down fears of a Chernobyl-like (or Hiroshima-like) situation. Lots of people overseas are panicking and talking doomsday with this, so give it a read. You may not be able to quiet anyone that is hyped up about it, but at least you'll have peace about it yourself. Blessings & love! Ramone | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 2405 Registered: 5-2007  |
Ramone, Thanks for your level-headed words concerning Japan's nuclear reactors in the earthquake effected area. For many years I built, overhauled and refueled reactors for the US Navy so I am better educated than the average person on this topic. I get very frustrated by the idiotic things said in our media. While the reactors in northern Japan do have serious problems, the general US public doesn’t seem to understand that the Chernobyl reactor was of a totally different design and that accident could never happen elsewhere the way it did in Russia. Ironically, it was a design abandoned in this country because the experts understood its dangers. It is good to hear from you. But knowing where you live I never thought you were in danger. Praying for those who are. Fearless Phil | ||
| Skeeter Registered user Username: Skeeter Post Number: 1304 Registered: 12-2007 |
Praying. So sad for all the loss and so thankful to God for all those who were spared. I pray that many, many of those who were killed in this are now at home with the Lord. Francie | ||
| Agapetos Registered user Username: Agapetos Post Number: 2029 Registered: 10-2002 |
Amen, Francie! Phil, can I post your comment on Facebook? Or could you post it on my wall? Let me know, thanks! | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 2406 Registered: 5-2007 |
Ramone, Go ahead and post it on Facebook. PS On the shipyard I was a shipfitter so my part was structures but to work in a radiation area or where there were nuclear materials you had to be trained on what the real dangers were. Now days I make what we originally called fruit leather, a dryed fruit product. My specialty is the dryers which for me is just another kind of structure. Fearless Phil | ||
| Lifeanew Registered user Username: Lifeanew Post Number: 251 Registered: 10-2007 |
Ramone, We are praying for all in your part of the world. So happy to hear you and your family are ok. Jan and Bob |
