Thoughts for Japan

[velessa]

To all of my friends in Japan, I hope you and yours are all safe and okay!! I stayed up late last night glued to the news. The tsunami footage is terrifying, I hope you were all well inland...same to everyone in the coastal regions of the Pacific.

Here they've closed the Pacific Coast Highway and other coastal areas, but it seems to be more to keep people from GOING TO WATCH the tsunami waves hit! What kind of idiot would want to run TOWARD a killer wave? *facepalm*

I shudder to think of the enormous loss of life and damage the earthquakes and tsunamis have already wreaked, with more to come as the aftershocks are still going on now, 11 hours later. I live in earthquake country, but what Japan is being hit with is on a much bigger scale than any of the ones I've been through, even the one in 1989. The first thing I'm going to do when I get home is put together an emergency preparedness bag; I haven't had one since I was a kid, which is unacceptable. This is just another reminder that Mother Nature can make us all her bitch at any given moment and not to take anything in life for granted.

Comments

[assassingalaxia.livejournal.com]

What kind of idiot would want to run TOWARD a killer wave? *facepalm*

I have never understood that. It's the same mentality that compels people to just stop and watch the wildfires, instead of leaving when told to leave.

And yes, please please please please have an emergency kit prepared. I know I catch a lot of flak for always having one, but I really think everyone should have one. Red Cross is a good site to reference in making your kit. And when putting together your kit, don't forget your pets!

[velessa.livejournal.com]

There's already a report out that at least one person died and a few others were swept out to sea in Crescent City because they went to take pictures of the waves. People astound me.

[clevortrevor]

Yesterday I was on a conference call with a few folks in CA and HI, and they were talking about how they would be so scared to live in Atlanta because we have tornadoes. Then I wake up today to find out they're all under a tsunami warning.

I'm not sure there's anywhere in the world where there's nothing catastrophic to worry about.

[velessa.livejournal.com]

Ugh, I think tornadoes are the scariest kind of natural disaster ever! I'll take earthquakes and wildfires over a tornado any day. Nothing seems to completely obliterate quite like a tornado. Plus wind is my most hated of all weather, followed by rain.

[clevortrevor]

lol - you're so California! At least the ground stays where it's supposed to be!

I grew up in Oklahoma and Alabama, two of the worst tornado states, so I'm a little too cavalier about them. They're incredibly random in what they choose to destroy or pass over. But at least you get a little warning that one's coming.

[toshirodragon.livejournal.com]

D'you know if Michele is anyway near there?

[velessa.livejournal.com]

She's not particularly close to the epicenter (Chiba, maybe? somewhere about an hour from Tokyo), but close enough to get rocked pretty well. She's fine, though; she was at a school at the time.

[toshirodragon.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yeah, I just got to her journal and saw that she's fine.

Thank heavens both of the ladies I know in Japan are far enough away to be safe.