the big one ........

[ArmandV]

ArmandV, you made me smile....the pressure being released...I was told the exact same thing here. I don't buy it!

So for everyone who lives in Japan or other earthquake prone areas (like ArmandV in CA) how do you deal with the thought of a devastating earthquake? Are you afraid? Do you think about it...a little...a lot? :?

Believe it or not, although scary, the energy from a quake does help to relieve inner pressure underground.

I've already dealt with a devastating earthquake: the Northridge Quake from 1994. I was about 6-7 miles from the epicenter. It was like Linda Blair's bed in The Exorcist. My bed was basically jumping around and I could not get out of it. I was more concerned for my daughter (she was 7 at the time) in the next room.

One can't constantly live in fear, but should be prepared for the time a big one comes. Since 1994, I have earthquake kits containing water and food provisions, flashlights, etc. Earthquakes don't kill people, it is falling structures and things and fires.

When one hits, get under a strong desk or table or go into the smallest room available.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Mars Man is fine !

Heard from Mars Man last night and he is just super busy. As soon as he gets his busy life in order, he'll be back on JREF. Sure was glad to hear from him.

Uncle Frank

 

[Elizabeth]

ArmandV, you made me smile....the pressure being released...I was told the exact same thing here. I don't buy it! I have truly come to the realization that I am terrified of earthquakes. I haven't been able to wrap my head around all of the emotions that I go through, before, during and after even the tiniest of tremors or quakes. I have become supersensitized. I don't like the building I am in to groan and creek and make bizarre noises or the feeling of it swaying. I was so panicked, but I just stood there wondering if this was going to be the big one. Just how safe are the tall buildings here, well any buildings?

I don't know exactly but I think the technical standard is designed to withstand a magnitude 7 or so (close to the Kobe, Niigata and Ishikawa quakes).

I can say as much as love it here, earthquakes are a major issue for me to consider living in Japan. Is everyone really that brave, or is everyone in denial? Or is it just that everyone has given up because they know there is nothing they can do about it!?

Earthquakes are a fact of life everywhere, unfortunately. There really isn't anywhere to run, at least for those folks that want to stay within their own borders. I don't know how most people deal with it besides making sure their personal residence is up to code. There have been scandals involving shoddy contractors recently so that might be something important to check. How does your husband react ?

There are around 3,000 earthquakes a year in Japan with only 2 in the last 80 + years (Kobe and Niigata) leading to significant loss of life. Just take Armand's advice about going to an safe, interior room and hope the big one doesn't come at night, which happened in Kobe. Under the right conditions and with all the safety measures in place there is a high probability that the damage around Tokyo will be fairly contained.
Ganbattene !

 

[Goldiegirl]

At least it sounds good that the buildings can tolerate a 7 earthquake. Thanks for the info Elizabeth! BTW my husband doesn't react. He just says it's an earthquake and if it gets bad to duck and cover....but don't do anything unless it gets bad...it's like a wait and see approach. I still am on high alert, although I am starting to relax because I didn't feel anything move today. Oh ArmandV, you are right...sometimes when a quake happens it does relieve tension and built up pressure in the plates. My apologies at not believing you and to my Japanese friends too! Sorry. (However....that's not true in every case. ) I did some reading today on earthquakes thinking it would help. It didn't but I feel smarter! ( a little )

 

[Elizabeth]

At least it sounds good that the buildings can tolerate a 7 earthquake. Thanks for the info Elizabeth! BTW my husband doesn't react. He just says it's an earthquake and if it gets bad to duck and cover....but don't do anything unless it gets bad...it's like a wait and see approach. I still am on high alert, although I am starting to relax because I didn't feel anything move today. Oh ArmandV, you are right...sometimes when a quake happens it does relieve tension and built up pressure in the plates. My apologies at not believing you and to my Japanese friends too! Sorry. (However....that's not true in every case. ) I did some reading today on earthquakes thinking it would help. It didn't but I feel smarter! ( a little )

It is preferable to have several small earthquakes than to have no activity over a long period. The reason being because frequent, small earthquakes release energy in little bursts, instead of building up the pressure to release in one giant tremor. So you might want to start an earthquake calander, Goldiegirl, just don't include the one this week since Tokyo happens to be on a different fault line...

 

[Cue]

I don't mean to scare you Goldiegirl, but I experienced the Kobe earthquake myself, and I thought I was done for. xD
Like ArmandV mentioned, I couldn't even get up. I still remeber my mother screaming my name and my younger brohter's so loud. We lived on the reclaimed land right across the Osaka-bay from Awaji-shima island(epicenter), and lived on the 11th floor, so it swayed much more than other Osaka area... All the dishes on the cupboard fell off, so did books and CDs and stuff on the shelf and some shelves themselves, ugh, it was a big mess. We left those broken glasses on the floor as they were for a couple of days, as we thought even if we cleaned it, the aftershock would cause another mess anyway. We were so scared that we left the all the lights on when we sleeped...
I haven't experieced big one since then, but still I'm scared even if it's a small one...