Sendai Earthquake a 8.9 Record Breaker in Japan

We have all seen and heard more about this devastation than one would want to know. I was at work when I heard that a 8.9 Earthquake rocked Northern Japan this past week. If this was just all that happened, it would be bad. The continued after shocks and warnings however, just make sure you don't forget and wonder what is next.

It is the worst on record and has even been mentioned that it out shadows the issues after WW2. The pictures and video's we have all seen are heart wrenching and give you a moment of pause. There is even word that the Nuclear Plants along that coast may be having issues and we could see an even more disastrous calamity soon.

Instead of showing pictures of the wreckage that this left in its wake, I have posted a couple maps. I feel that we have been overloaded with the horror that this caused and you can Google for all that you want. I have decide it is best to show where this started and how it actually affects more than we could imagine.

In the one map (on top right), you can actually see that this started as an earthquake at sea and thus it created the tsunami that took out whole towns. It was felt as far as Tokyo and beyond that even.

What you may not be aware of is just how much more this affected other regions of the world and how fast this thing can move. On the left side, you can see a full color map showing the wave height as it moved away form Japan. This caused damage even on the California coast of the US.

For those asking, what can I do to help, check the info below. I have made a donation of $23.00 ($20 for Japan Earthquake Relief Fund and $3 for them for what I am guessing is operational costs).

Do something nice for Japan as they have been giving us so much enjoyment.

Make a Donation

As we know, every little bit helps no matter the amount. It will be months, even years before this is all fixed, but your small donation can help get that moving in the right direction. You can even donate via your cellphone (as long as it has texting), so it can't get any easier than that.

All the sites below I got from legitimate organizations that you can donate to.

American Red Cross or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific.
Convey of Hope or text TSUNAMI to 50555 to donate $10 to Convoy of Hope’s Disaster Response efforts.
Global Giving or US Residents can text JAPAN to 50555 to donate $10
Japan Society
Peace Winds Japan (in Japanese)
Salvation Army or text JAPAN or QUAKE to 80888 to donate $10
Save the Children or text JAPAN to 20222 to donate $10
World Relief or text WAVE to 50555 to donate $10 to World Relief

For those texting in the funds, charges will appear on your wireless bill, or be deducted from your prepaid balance. All purchases must be authorized by account holder. To stop a payment, just enter STOP and the text number you dialed. More info on texting a donation is at mGive Foundation.

Contacting and Finding Friends & Family in Japan

As we have heard in the news, please do not attempt to use your phone to contact them. They need to keep the lines open for emergency crews and local personnel. Please use, Facebook, Twitter, Skype or any internet based social site to see if you can get word or receive word from them.

Here are some things that I found over at Japan Society that might prove helpful.

Google Person Finder: Google has launched its Person Finder for the Japan Earthquake. Users can input information about someone in the service or search it to see if any information is available about someone who might have been impacted by the tsunami. The resource currently has 6,900 records, but it's growing quite rapidly.

NTT Docomo Safety Response: One of Japan's mobile-phone providers is allowing users to input a loved one's mobile phone number into a search to confirm the safety of that person.

KDDI Disaster Message Board: Like above, this lets people place messages on its service to find out about a loved one's condition. That loved one's safety can then be confirmed via mobile phone or on a personal computer.

Softbank Message Board: Like the others, this allows users to post a message to loved ones, which can then be viewed on the person's mobile phone. They can respond from that device to confirm they're safe.

Japan Shelter Map : A Google Map has been created for around Tokyo, listing lodging places for people who have been affected by the tsunami to stay the night.

To everyone in Japan, our Hearts and Prayers go out to you in this time of need.