Friday, March 11, 2011

After the Quake (I'm OK)

A liquor shop which we walked by after the quake. It smelled intensely of beer because of broken bottles. They were trying to clean it up and pushing liquor soaked water out the door in addition to discarding damaged bottles and their boxes in a pile in front of the store.

First of all, thanks to the folks who have expressed concern about my well-being after the quake. As I type this, we're still experiencing aftershocks and I'm developing some post-traumatic stress. The quakes were strong, long, and scary, but my husband and I are okay. Things fell from shelves in our apartment, and my husband's work canceled the rest of the day's work because of the transportation disruption, but so far things are okay and I hope we have seen the last of it (save the aftershocks which seem endless). The hardest hit areas were coastal ones due to tsunami and some areas with fires. Fortunately, Tokyo seemed pretty well prepared for this and was far enough from the epicenter that damage wasn't as bad as it might have been.

I am truly grateful to those who felt concern for my well-being. I'm sure that all of us are hoping the best for those who have been harmed and that the damage and deaths are at a minimum. I feel deeply for those who have seen some pretty devastating damage and sad at seeing the news coverage of the hard-hit areas. I hope all of my readers who live in Japan have been as lucky as me and have also come out unscathed.

30 comments:

Unknown said...

I'm only a casual reader, but I had you in my thoughts. Glad to hear you're OK. Stay safe and strong.

Paul said...

It was scary :( I was on a train that was stopped at a station, but it was an elevated platform. Thought something might happen and the train would fall :(

Rusty said...

I'm just watching the coverage on BBC news at the moment. I'm glad to hear you're ok, it's lucky Japan is so well prepared for things like this. Good luck and keep safe

Rusty said...

I'm just watching the coverage on BBC news, and I'm glad to hear you're ok. It's lucky Japan is so well prepared for something like this. Good luck and keep safe.

Michelle said...

Oh thank the gods. I'm glad to hear that you are okay :D
I was really scared that somthing might have happend.

Patzie said...

I'm glad to hear that you are safe. The news on NHK freaked me out so much. Glad to know that people I know are all safe. Please take care!

Hirayuki said...

I'm glad you're okay. I've written to all my clients and friends in Tokyo; they seem to be all right, too. I'm worried about my friend up in Fukushima, though, right where the quake hit.

Stay safe!

p00lriah. said...

hang in there!

- said...

I'm glad to hear you're fine!
I'm following everything on a livestream right now...
My thoughs to everyone there (><)

Blue Shoe said...

Glad all is well!

Norri said...

I'm glad you are okay I hope it stays that way now I am just waiting to hear what will happen to my grandma in california. I hope things calm down and you don't get too stressed. Hope things get better soon

J said...

I thought of you today when I heard the news. Even though I don't know you personally I'm really glad you're okay. Stay safe.

BradleyNASH said...

Thank goodness... as an AVID reader... I am happy to hear you're doing well. Take care and stay safe in the recovery.

Anonymous said...

what a terrible disaster! the footage is unbelievable.

stay safe.

Unknown said...

Great to hear you are OK !
Following all the news on live coverage through TBS .
Thinking of all the people there ...

Robyn said...

Really glad to hear both you and your husband are okay. After spending three months last summer up where the tsunami hit I was very distraught to hear the news. My thoughts are with you and all of Japan.

tracylee said...

I've been thinking of you as I watch CNN coverage here in the States. Thanks for getting online and letting us all know that you're OK!

Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies said...

I love your blog and when I heard about the earthquake, I thought about you--I'm so glad that you and your husband are safe.

Dani said...

So, so, SO glad to learn that you and your husband are okay! I feel absolutely terrible for Japan, and especially those individuals and families in the hardest-hit areas.

Anonymous said...

Glad to know you and other bloggers are safe. Hope everyone else is too! Hope this disaster passes over soon. :(

Sophia Lee said...

I don't know you personally...but I'm just SO glad you're okay!!!!! This event is horrible and I couldn't go to sleep last night. My friends and I got together and prayed for Japan this afternoon.

Serena said...

Glad to hear you're okay!!!

Kasia said...

It is good you are safe! I just found this page: guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/12/japan-earthquake-tsunami-aftermath-live, they apparently have even live coverage about all that over at Guardian, and Google has about 5000 articles on the subject. It is good you are not near the coast, but I am really concerned because of that nuclear power plant explosion :( Knowing the Japanese media I am not sure how the information is distributed, maybe the Western media even have better coverage. I still remember the horrors of Chernobyl, I hope you follow the news very dilligently and prepare for any possible scenario. I was so glad that the nuclear radiation was only "minor" as they say and the actual reactor did not explode, but there are seemingly still large aftershock quakes (Guardian says magnitude 6). Please stay safe!

Orchid64 said...

Thanks to everyone for commenting and being so kind. I really do appreciate it!

Kasia: I think you may be right about the nuclear situation not being properly reported in Japan. In fact, they may be covering up the worst of it (many people suspect this is so since it has happened before). I'm relieved to be relatively far from the plants that are having problems, but no one is really safe when it comes to the possible threat of radiation (since material can carry on the wind). I will certainly do as you say and be diligent, and definitely follow the Western media as they are showing and telling more than the Japanese!

Thanks again to all! You're so very kind and compassionate!

Toni said...

I'm glad to read you both are safe.

Ikkin-bot said...

I am glad you are alright. I have a lot of friends stuck over there right now because the airport was shut down.

Kasia said...

Here is the official Google Japan emergency page with telephone numbers: google.com/crisisresponse/japanquake2011, I hope it helps

Unknown said...

Keep safe.
And please if possible keep updating the blog - it doesnt have to be about food!

Unknown said...

I'm very glad to hear you and your husband are okay. Stay safe!

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad to hear you're okay! It is good that Japan is handling it so efficiently. The loss of life is astounding and saddening. Hopefully the recovery will continue going smoothly.