Quick Answers for the Earthquakes and Tsunami in Japan

Quick Answers for the Earthquakes and Tsunami in Japan

Some of this info cannot be guaranteed as correct, but everyone is doing their best to get reliable information gets out. If you have new information feel free to post it (sources are a great addition!) in a comment and I will add it!

Also, much thanks to Katz and all the people on the feed at Yokosonews.com/live!

Note: Times are all in Japanese local time.

I want to help Japan what can I do?:
Check out the Red Cross, and be careful with donations so you avoid scams - http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=38380

help_japan is going to start taking auction donation items beginning on Monday the 14th.

Apple is accepting donations through iTunes - http://www.tuaw.com/2011/03/13/apple-now-accepts-donations-to-red-cross-japan-relief-fund-via-i/

Timeout Tokyo Article with ways to help - http://www.timeout.jp/en/tokyo/feature/2532/japan-earthquake-how-you-can-help



How to donate blood in Japan:
http://www.kenketsu.com/en/e281.html


Japanese news feeds:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tbstv
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nhk-gtv2
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/japanhelpchannel


English translation of Japanese news:
Official NHK World ENGLISH Feed - http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nhk-world-tv
Katz @YokosoNews - yokosonews.com/live
Press conference translations - http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/topics/2011/earthquake2011tohoku.html


English Live News Feed:
http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/



English News Site:
http://english.kyodonews.jp/


Japanese News Site:
http://www.nikkei.com/


I can’t get a hold of someone in Japan:
The phone lines are being used for emergencies, please try to contact friends and loved ones via Skype, Twitter, Facebook, e-mail etc. People in Japan should be able to use paid phones for free. But only some allow international calls.

Goggle People Finder - http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com
English version - http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=en

Google Crisis Response - http://www.google.co.jp/intl/en/crisisresponse/japanquake2011.html

Disaster Voicemail Services
NTT Disaster Voicemail Service - How-to's

NTT Docomo - http://dengon.docomo.ne.jp/top.cgi

AU by KDDI - http://dengon.ezweb.ne.jp/

Softbank - http://dengon.ezweb.ne.jp/


Where are the effected areas?:
Iwate, Fukushima, Miyagi (Sendai is one of the hardest hit areas) some parts of Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures. (Basically most of Northern Japan’s main island of Honshu) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Regions_and_Prefectures_of_Japan.svg


What about Sendai?:
Rescue teams are focused on finding missing people who were affected by the tsunami and earthquake. Roads are damaged which is slowing down supplies to the region.


What about Tokyo?:
Public transit is back up though there are still power outages and phone outages. There were some buildings that collapsed or caught fire, but overall, Tokyo fared well. French citizens in Tokyo are being advised to leave as of Sun. Also Tokyo is not in danger of any radiation from any of the plants at the moment.


What is the status of the Fukushima nuclear plants?:
During the first quake, reactors all over Japan shut down automatically. The Fukushima plants failed to cool down properly. The Japanese released vapours to help the cooling process in the 2 o’clock hour on March 12th. At 3:30-ish the #1 Fukushima plant had an explosion and radiation in the area increased. Levels increase to 2 times the National Safety level, however was not lethal yet. Current evacuation radius is 20KM. Rescue teams were sent around 3 to the area. 4 workers that were injured have regained consciousness.

The explosion is reported by the Japanese PM to be the result of pressure build up and did not damage the reactor. Only the concrete casing was damaged in the explosion. They are going to use ocean water to help cool the reactor farther and expect no risks, though the evacuation radius was expanded to 20KM just in case. Radiation has decreased as of 6:50pm to 70.5 microsievert from a high of 1000 microsievert.

NOTE: There is a fake fallout map circling...

So far there is no radiation increase. And repairs are being started. Vents have malfunctioned and caused possible hydrogen leak which caused the explosion on Saturday.

Fukushima #1 Reactor - Explosion broke the concrete containment wall but it is under control at the moment.

Fukushima #4, #5, #6 Reactors - Already shut off for normal maintenance, but being watched.

Fukushima #2 Reactor - Back up precautions failed, trying to repair problems with sea water coolant system.

Going to be screening people in Fukushima for radiation. It will be voluntary. And they will be able to decontaminate on site.

12:00 am Monday Update
Dai-ichi: #1 Reactor - Sea water not having results they want.
#3 Reactor - Rods not fully underwater.

Tepco English Press Releases - http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/index-e.html


What about other plants?:
The Onagawa Plant is perfectly fine.
Radiation was detected at the Tokai Plant, but there are no risks for the public.


What about blackouts now?:
8pm Sunday Press Conference: May be facing nation wide blackouts because of damaged reactors in Tokyo as well. Will make scheduled black outs (Ibaraki, Tochigi, Chiba, Gunma, Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Saitama - East of the Fuji River), to save remaining power for hospitals and rescue attempts. The scheduled black outs will start at 6:20am on Monday.

Some Sebu trains will also not be running to save power.

Group lists (I'll get an English list up as soon as I can get translation) (English Translated PDF Link):

1st Group - 6:20am - 10:00am & 4:50pm - 8:30pm (if demand isn't down yet)
▽栃木県さくら市、宇都宮市、益子町、塩谷町、市貝町、真岡市、大田原市、那珂川町、那須烏山市、那須町、日光市、芳賀町

▽群馬県みどり市、伊勢崎市、吉岡町、玉村町、桐生市、高崎市、高山村、渋川市、榛東村、前橋市、中之条町、東吾妻町、藤岡市

▽茨城県かすみがうら市、つくばみらい市、つくば市、阿見町、稲敷市、下妻市、河内町、牛久市、境町、茎崎市、結城市、桜川市、取手市、守谷市、常総市、水海道市、筑西市、土浦市、八千代町、板東市、利根町、龍ヶ崎市

▽埼玉県さいたま市、ときがわ町、ふじみ野市、横瀬町、皆野町、寄居町、狭山市、坂戸市、三芳町、志木市、所沢市、小鹿野町、小川町、新座市、川越市、秩父市、朝霞市、鶴ヶ島市、東大和市、東秩父村、入間市、飯能市、富士見市、嵐山町、和光市

▽千葉県野田市、流山市、柏市、白井市、松戸市、我孫子市、市川市、浦安市、千葉市、大網白里町、八街市、東金市、山武市、長南町、市原市、長柄 町、睦沢町、茂原市、木更津市、白子町、袖ヶ浦市、君津市、富津市、鋸南町、南房総市、鴨川市、館山市、勝浦市、大多喜町、御宿町、いすみ市、船橋市、 鎌ヶ谷市、八千代市、四街道市、佐倉市

▽東京都武蔵野市、三鷹市、西東京市、東久留米市、新座市、小平市、東村山市、清瀬市

▽神奈川県逗子市、横須賀市、鎌倉市、藤沢市、茅ヶ崎市、相模原市、座間市、海老名市、綾瀬市、平塚市、寒川町、厚木市

▽静岡県御殿場市、裾野市、小山町

2nd Group - 9:20am - 1:00pm & 6:20pm - 10:00pm (if demand isn't down yet)
▽栃木県佐野市、小山市、野木町

▽群馬県太田市

▽茨城県古河市

▽埼玉県川口市、さいたま市、蕨市、鳩ヶ谷市、戸田市、越谷市、吉川市、松伏町、三郷市、春日部市、宮代町、杉戸町、川越市、狭山市、鶴ヶ島市、 日高市、飯能市、入間市、坂戸市、川島町、毛呂山町、越生町、ときがわ町、騎西町、幸手市、大利根町、白岡町、北本町、蓮田市、伊奈町、鴻巣市、桶川市、 上尾市、加須市、久喜市、五霞町、行田市、熊谷市、羽生市、深谷市、所沢市

▽千葉県千葉市花見川区・美浜区・中央区・稲毛区・若葉区、習志野市、八千代市、印西市、我孫子市、白井市、栄町、成田市、神崎町、香取市、多古町、芝山町、佐倉市、市川市、松戸市、船橋市、野田市、流山市

▽東京都東村山市、清瀬市、東大和市、国分寺市、府中市、小金井市、八王子市、国立市、小平市、西東京市、武蔵野市、三鷹市、調布市、立川市、昭島市、武蔵村山市、多摩ニュータウン、町田市、狛江市、多摩市、日野市、稲城市

▽神奈川県横浜市鶴見区・港北区・南区・保土ヶ谷区・戸塚区・神奈川区・瀬谷区、厚木市、海老名市、座間市、伊勢原市、茅ヶ崎市、寒川町、二宮町、平塚市、大磯町、秦野市、中井町、大和市、相模原市、川崎市多摩区・高津区

▽山梨県笛吹市、市川三郷町、甲府市、中央市、鰍沢町、増穂町、韮崎市、

▽静岡県熱海市、長泉町、清水町、沼津市、御殿場市、裾野市、三島市

3rd Group - 12:20pm - 4:00pm
▽栃木県宇都宮市、鹿沼市、小山市、栃木市

▽群馬県太田市

▽茨城県水戸市、ひたちなか市、常陸大宮市、常陸太田市、那珂市、土浦市、つくば市、かすみがうら市、牛久市、龍ヶ崎市、稲敷市

▽埼玉県さいたま市、春日部市、朝霞市、和光市、志木市、新座市、富士見市、越谷市、川口市、戸田市、蕨市、幸手市、蓮田市、上尾市、桶川市、深谷市、本庄市、伊勢崎市、熊谷市、行田市

▽千葉県成田市、富里市、佐倉市、八街市

▽東京都八王子市、日野市、東村山市、清瀬市

4th Group - 1:50pm - 5:30pm
▽栃木県栃木市、佐野市、足利市、板倉町、明和町

▽群馬県館林市、邑楽町、千代田町、伊勢崎市、桐生市、みどり市、太田市、大泉町

▽茨城県水戸市、那珂市、ひたちなか市、大洗町、城里町、笠間市、桜川市、石岡市、茨城町、小美玉町

▽埼玉県本庄市、熊谷市、長瀞町、皆野町、秩父市、嵐山町、横瀬町、寄居町、深谷市、神川町、小川町、鳩山町、東秩父村、ときがわ町、毛呂山町、 越生町、飯能市、入間市、坂戸市、日高市、東松山市、滑川町、吉見町、川越市、鶴ヶ島市、川島町、狭山市、桶川市、富士見市、さいたま市、新座市、朝霞 市、和光市、ふじみ野市、戸田市、蕨市、川口市、上尾市、久喜市、北本市、加須市、鴻巣市、蓮田市、伊奈町、白岡町、幸手市、宮代町、春日部市、杉戸町、 松伏町

▽千葉県習志野市、船橋市、千葉市

▽東京都荒川区、立川市、昭島市、国立市、日野市

▽神奈川県川崎市、横浜市

▽山梨県甲府市、甲斐市、中央市、笛吹市、市川三郷町、昭和町、南アルプス市、山梨市、甲州市

5th Group - 3:20pm - 7:00pm
▽栃木県宇都宮市、矢板市、さくら市、芳賀町、市貝町、真岡市、益子町

▽群馬県前橋市、高崎市、安中市、富岡市、藤岡市、神流町、神川町、下仁田町、南牧村、臼田町、草津町、中之条町、嬬恋村、長野原町、美九里、玉村町、甘楽町、上野村

▽茨城県石岡市、小美玉市、茨城町、鉾田市、行方市、潮来市、神栖市、鹿嶋市、かすみがうら市、土浦市、稲敷市、牛堀町、佐原市、香取市、波崎町

▽埼玉県川口市、越谷市、三郷市、草加市、八潮市、熊谷市、行田市、鴻巣市、本庄市、上里町、深谷市、美里町、神川町

▽千葉県流山市、野田市、柏市、我孫子市、鎌ヶ谷市、白井市、松戸市、香取市、神崎町、多古町、東庄町、銚子市、旭市

▽東京都町田市

▽神奈川県横浜市、川崎市、相模原市、鎌倉市、横須賀市、三浦市、葉山町、逗子市、大和市

▽山梨県甲州市、山梨市、笛吹市、大月市、都留市、西桂町、富士吉田市、富士河口湖町、鳴沢村、忍野村、山中湖村

▽静岡県富士宮市、富士市、沼津市、函南町、三島市、伊豆の国市、熱海市、伊豆市、伊東市、東伊豆町、西伊豆町、南伊豆町、松崎町、河津町、下田


How many Earthquakes & aftershocks have there been?:
The first quake was a 8.8 via Japanese news (8.9 as listed by most world news). It was off the shore of northern Japan. Since then there have been quakes in northeastern and in western Japan, as well as in Tokyo. There have been too many to count, but if you want more information see: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2011/usc0001xgp

NHK has upgraded the quake from 8.8 to a 9.0 magnitude as of Sun.

CNN reports that Japan has moved 2m.

Mon: Officials saying 70% chance of M7.0 within the next 3 days.


What is the status of the Tsunami?:
Many warnings were downgraded to watches in Japan. Many warnings and watches were taken down around the Pacific, check your local news if you live on a Pacific coast for warnings.

One man was rescued 15KM out in the ocean after being swept out to sea by the tsunami hitting Fukushima Prefecture.

Sun - Tsunami warnings have all been lifted for the coasts of Japan.


What is the death toll?:
8pm Sunday - 10,000 still missing and feared dead in Miyagi prefecture.
9pm Sunday - 1900+ confirmed deaths so far



What about the missing passenger ship?:
80 person ship found without injuries.


What about the missing trains?:
3 of 4 of the missing trains has been found.


Is foreign aid on the way?:
Yes, several countries are sending help to Japan. NHK reporting 6 countries including the US, China and Korea are sending aid as of 8pm on Sun.


Did a volcano erupt!?:
Yes, Shinmoedake on Kyushu, the southern island of Japan erupted around 9:40am on Sunday. Its also been errupting since mid January...on and off.


Is Tokyo Tower really bent?:
Yes, the top of the antenna was bent during the earthquake.



I don't care about the Tower, I heard the Gundam Statue collapsed!?:
All information I have heard about the Gundam is that the photo(s) are fake. And it is still fine and standing.


I'm worried about a Japanese celebrity...:
Check for Facebook and Twitter updates there is also some information being posted in LiveJournal communities. Sorry I don't have links!
Anime News Network's List of Manga-ka, Seiyuu, etc - http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-03-11/anime/manga/game-industry-members-check-in-after-quake

Info on Celebs - http://www.journalfen.net/community/fandom_lounge/1092287.html


I'm supposed to go to Japan soon...:
If you're worried about it, cancel your trip. US officials are telling Americans not to travel to Japan before April 1st. France is also telling citizens not to travel to Japan at the moment.



RP Friend Ken has also posted some info:
http://infinityblade.livejournal.com/39778.html