Homeville

[see317]

As the day goes on, we're all likely to hear a lot more about this.

Japan got hit by an earthquake that registered 8.9 on the richter scale.
Then, it got worse as a massive tsunami hit. sweeping debris miles inland.
So far, 5 confirmed deaths and several injuries have been reported

So, thoughts for Japan. Prayers if they're your style. The same for Hawaii, as the tsunami is likely to deal some frightening damage there fairly soon (actually a few minutes ago if I've got my time zones right). With the west coast of North America getting hit fairly soon afterwords.

Link to MSN story:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42023385...fic/?gt1=43001
_________________

[Tulsileaf]

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usc0001xgp.html
http://www.weather.gov/ptwc/
_________________
Use your powers for gazpacho.
Donate and earn the right to say, "Tulsileaf exists thanks to me!"

[XiaoCaity]

The reactor that was in trouble this time yesterday has blown. Time will tell what the effects are, but I think we all agree this is BAD.
_________________
Gryphons are better than dragons. Gryphons PURR.

[Tulsileaf]

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS_Battle_to_stabilise_earthquake_reactors_1203111.html
http://twitter.com/arclight/status/46504474772127744 this is the current guess
_________________
Use your powers for gazpacho.
Donate and earn the right to say, "Tulsileaf exists thanks to me!"

[young]

Yea, it's crazy, 10k plus lives lost. My thoughts are with all those affected by such an incident.

It's been a crazy year with such things. Japan, Australia, Haiti.

I'm sure the church is just screaming this is the beginning of end times.

[Zela]

Well, my church isn't talking about end times, so don't roll yer eyes at me, laddie. XD
But don't forget New Zealand! They had an earthquake too! Or is that the same as the Australia one? (I don't listen to the news )
I'm convinced that the west coast of North America's next on the Ring of Fire, and since that's where I live...
<_<
>_>
*hides*
_________________
The rain, it raineth every day
Upon the just and unjust fella;
But more upon the just, because
The unjust hath the just's umbrella
-Ogden Nash

[XiaoCaity]

We've had floods and a frighteningly powerful cyclone here in Australia. New Zealand just got hit by a quake that came THIS close to wiping Christchurch right off the map. Looks like they're going to have to demolish a big chunk of what survived, too.

Earth is apparently royally pissed at us right now.
_________________
Gryphons are better than dragons. Gryphons PURR.

[b4k4-chan]

Well, whaddaya know...looks like the Mayans were right!

Good thing that also means that 2012 is the year everything starts to change for the better :3

I hope Japan and all the other places that were hit with the same or similar things will be okay soon ♥
_________________
Goth, 'e cuz bee shown 'n!

[young]

[MrPasserby]

Earth's no angrier than usual. As the human population grows, we're packing more and more people into places we know are dangerous. It's just a matter of statistics: the location, frequency, and intensity of earthquakes can be offset by disaster preparedness, but the fact remains: the more people are in an area, the more casualties you're going to get.

I understand that Japan is very good with disaster preparedness, but they just had rotten luck this time. They came out remarkably well from the shaking itself--at 9.0 (yes, it's been upgraded) it's the 4th largest ever recorded--but being so close offshore meant there was very little time to prepare for the tsunami, which is almost certainly what caused most of the deaths.

(I also had some comments on weather-based disasters and the 2012 silliness, but decided to remove them. This is enough of a lecture as it is. That's bad enough in school, let alone from random people on the Internet!)

Zela: I wouldn't be concerned that you're "next"... but you should be prepared anyway. If you're already prepared, you're precisely as safe as you were before. If you're not, well, you should take it as a wake up call! Do some research on the type of home you live in, evaluate the safety of your furniture (install latches and bolt things down where appropriate), learn the location of your utility cut-offs, keep a "disaster kit", and MAKE A PLAN! The USGS website has a good FAQ to get started.

Actually, everyone should do a little disaster planning, no matter where they live. There are very few completely safe places to live on this planet--and they're probably boring.

My thoughts have been with the Japanese ever since I heard about the quake. The devastation is heartbreaking, and they're not through yet. I just hope that the nuclear situation doesn't get any worse, though that seem unlikely at present. (Two reactor explosions, high possibility of a third soon, US Navy redeploying warships away from a radiation plume, and now the wind is turning back inland... doesn't look good.)

Man, there's no good way to end a post like this. Just... be safe, all of you, OK?

edit: Apparently I'm farther behind the news that I thought. (That's what I get for avoiding TV.) For those of you who haven't been following the situation, there was a third explosion (at the most worrisome reactor) and 90% of the emergency personnel have been pulled from the site. They've basically given up. This is really, really bad.
_________________
'Tis time, 'tis time!