Tohoku Earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear Disaster!!!

[Yokohammer]

So 'hammer what's your take on whether or not the worst struck areas in Tohoku have received funding for cleanup and rebuilding efforts from the government and/or NGO's? Is money getting to where it's needed most or what?

I wish I could give you an informed answer to this, but I can't. The inner workings of the system are too opaque.

I can tell you what I'm seeing though.

I'm seeing close to 1,000 temporary housing units in my town, which are now pretty much occupied. I believe that was mostly taken care of by the prefectural and municipal governments though, so I don't know how much of it was financed by the central government.

I'm seeing fleets of huge trucks all over the darn place, transporting debris from the cleanup, plus materials and equipment for the rebuild. The cleanup is definitely progressing, and in many places that were just piles of wreckage there is now ... nothing. Nice and clean, but what was originally there has not been replaced. Way too early for that, and there are many places where rebuilding will be prohibited. All that wreckage is being piled up along the coast in what can only be described as manmade mountains. The things are huge. Apparently some of that debris will be used as fill for new seawalls, etc.

I'm seeing people rebuilding their own lives, and communities rebuilding the necessities for life, which is very impressive, but I'm guessing they're doing that under their own power.

So yeah, it's coming along, but it has only been 7 months and it's going to take a lot longer than that. I think the heaviest application of government money, whether sourced from taxes or contributions or whatever, will come later when it's time to actually build new roads and infrastructure. I've seen some of the plans, and they look very impressive, but the rebuild can only begin on a large scale when the cleanup is pretty much done.

Getting there.

[canman]

Jack, my only point in the post was the fact that Tohoku Denryoku didn't do the research before they built the plant, and the information was only released now, so I doubt if they did build the plant to withstand a major tsunami, since they didn't even know the area had been hit before.
Also, if you remember about a week after the initial quake, we had another large aftershock, and both nuclear facilities in Aomori, were knocked offline, and the power cut for a short time, and those aftershocks were only level 4, which scared the hell out of a lot of people up here!

[Bucky]

Has cronyism wrecked Japan's long-term repair?

"It's mostly a result of Japan being unable to think outside the box," says Japanese construction industry insider Steve Yamaguchi, who runs a building firm in Yamagata prefecture north of Tokyo, just outside the Tohoku disaster zone...

Steve Yamaguchi got some PR on the CBS Evening News on Sunday

[2triky]

I wish I could give you an informed answer to this, but I can't. The inner workings of the system are too opaque.

I can tell you what I'm seeing though.

I'm seeing close to 1,000 temporary housing units in my town, which are now pretty much occupied. I believe that was mostly taken care of by the prefectural and municipal governments though, so I don't know how much of it was financed by the central government.

I'm seeing fleets of huge trucks all over the darn place, transporting debris from the cleanup, plus materials and equipment for the rebuild. The cleanup is definitely progressing, and in many places that were just piles of wreckage there is now ... nothing. Nice and clean, but what was originally there has not been replaced. Way too early for that, and there are many places where rebuilding will be prohibited. All that wreckage is being piled up along the coast in what can only be described as manmade mountains. The things are huge. Apparently some of that debris will be used as fill for new seawalls, etc.

I'm seeing people rebuilding their own lives, and communities rebuilding the necessities for life, which is very impressive, but I'm guessing they're doing that under their own power.

So yeah, it's coming along, but it has only been 7 months and it's going to take a lot longer than that. I think the heaviest application of government money, whether sourced from taxes or contributions or whatever, will come later when it's time to actually build new roads and infrastructure. I've seen some of the plans, and they look very impressive, but the rebuild can only begin on a large scale when the cleanup is pretty much done.

Getting there.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I figured you might have a perspective that would allow you to share some insights not readily reported in the media...given your location & all.

Obviously any effort to rehabilitate those communities devastated by the triple disaster, to whatever extent possible, will take a long time but it's illuminating to see that the legendary bureaucratic inertia that the government is infamous for hasn't completely hampered efforts at the local level.

[rooboy]

Yokohammer - where eggxactly are you? Sorry for missing that info, you must have posted it on fg. Damned worried about the radiation around you and your fam if you are living in one of the affected areas.

[Yokohammer]

Yokohammer - where eggxactly are you? Sorry for missing that info, you must have posted it on fg. Damned worried about the radiation around you and your fam if you are living in one of the affected areas.

I'm in Watari. It's on the Miyagi coast about 20 km south of Sendai, and about 70 km north of the Fukushima nuke plant.

[Yokohammer]

... it's illuminating to see that the legendary bureaucratic inertia that the government is infamous for hasn't completely hampered efforts at the local level.

Yes, and that is what has impressed me the most. The people up here have simply gotten down to it (not that they have much choice) while the government has spent most of their time squabbling amongst themselves. The people here don't really expect much from the central government, so they're not sitting around waiting for handouts. At the same time some seriously big financing will be required for the rebuild. The government will have to cough up the cash when the time comes.

[Mike Oxlong]

[Ganma]

My favorite quote:

Tepco set a new low for corporate behavior

[Thug4Life]

Sunday, October 9, 2011

(UPDATED) Strontium-90 Discovered in Yokohama City, 245 km from Fukushima I Nuke Plant

Details in the mail magazine by the independent journalist Yasumi Iwakami (paid subscription). I'm asking if I could translate and post it here.

The number is 195 becquerels/kg, more than 150 times more than the background (1.2 becquerels/kg).

This is probably the lower of the two samples; the other sample is currently being analyzed.

As far as the Ministry of Education is concerned, the southern most detection of strontium-90 was in Shirakawa City, 79 kilometers from the plant. The Ministry doesn't have a plan to test for strontium or plutonium outside the 80 kilometer radius.

On September 30, a government radiation expert appeared on NHK News to tell the viewers that strontium had not flown to the Tokyo Metropolitan area, and the only radionuclides people had to worry about were cesium-134 and cesium-137. In the video clip, the expert looks nervous, so does the male NHK announcer trying to wrap up his remarks.

September 30 was the day when the Ministry of Education and Science released the map of plutonium and strontium in the 80-kilometer radius from the plant. It was also the day when the Japanese government abolished the "evacuation-ready zone" in the area between 20 and 30 kilometers from the plant.

[matsuki]

I wish I could give you an informed answer to this, but I can't. The inner workings of the system are too opaque.

I can tell you what I'm seeing though.

I'm seeing close to 1,000 temporary housing units in my town, which are now pretty much occupied. I believe that was mostly taken care of by the prefectural and municipal governments though, so I don't know how much of it was financed by the central government.

I'm seeing fleets of huge trucks all over the darn place, transporting debris from the cleanup, plus materials and equipment for the rebuild. The cleanup is definitely progressing, and in many places that were just piles of wreckage there is now ... nothing. Nice and clean, but what was originally there has not been replaced. Way too early for that, and there are many places where rebuilding will be prohibited. All that wreckage is being piled up along the coast in what can only be described as manmade mountains. The things are huge. Apparently some of that debris will be used as fill for new seawalls, etc.

I'm seeing people rebuilding their own lives, and communities rebuilding the necessities for life, which is very impressive, but I'm guessing they're doing that under their own power.

So yeah, it's coming along, but it has only been 7 months and it's going to take a lot longer than that. I think the heaviest application of government money, whether sourced from taxes or contributions or whatever, will come later when it's time to actually build new roads and infrastructure. I've seen some of the plans, and they look very impressive, but the rebuild can only begin on a large scale when the cleanup is pretty much done.

Getting there.

Would be interesting to see how much of the land is prohibited for rebuilding. This is a pretty good chance to force (at the very least residential ) further inland and avoid reliving this all over again in the future.

[Yokohammer]

Would be interesting to see how much of the land is prohibited for rebuilding. This is a pretty good chance to force (at the very least residential ) further inland and avoid reliving this all over again in the future.

That is precisely the idea. Down along the coast in my area the plan is to move the previous residents to higher ground and use the coastal land for some industrial stuff, but most tellingly, to fill most of that area with solar panels. Cool, ne?

They're also going to raise some of the existing coastal roads to serve as further tsunami protection.

[IparryU]

They're also going to raise some of the existing coastal roads to serve as further tsunami protection.

so how many decades of failure will this take to implement?

PM Noda: Lets do this!
next PM: Lets try this?
next PM: We should try this! (PM Noda's gig)
next PM: Lets all share the contaminated remains!
next PM: (same as previous PM)
next PM: ... what should we do?
...
...
...

[matsuki]

That is precisely the idea. Down along the coast in my area the plan is to move the previous residents to higher ground and use the coastal land for some industrial stuff, but most tellingly, to fill most of that area with solar panels. Cool, ne?

They're also going to raise some of the existing coastal roads to serve as further tsunami protection.

Wow, that's amazing! Is this what happens when they take the useless J-Gov out and take action locally? I rike it arot! Solar panel forest is also a great idea!

[Greji]

but most tellingly, to fill most of that area with solar panels.

Hey Hammer!
Will they have all the panels pointed downward?

[IparryU]

Hey Hammer!
Will they have all the panels pointed downward?

no... they will point them at each other in hope that they will figure out the best angle themselves by asking the panel next to them...

[Thug4Life]

The shit is about to hit the Japan fan once and for all.


European Mediterranian Seismological Center Latest data contributions

2011-10-10 02:46:08.8 40.48 N 141.17 E 1 mb 5.7 A NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN MSO
2011-10-10 02:46:07.8 39.86 N 141.37 E 30 A EASTERN HONSHU, JAPAN GFU
2011-10-10 02:46:05.0 39.38 N 139.68 E 33 mb 5.4 A NEAR WEST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN LDG
2011-10-10 02:46:01.4 37.88 N 139.31 E 33 mb 5.7 A EASTERN HONSHU, JAPAN NOR
2011-10-10 02:46:01.3 37.89 N 138.98 E 25 mb 4.9 A NEAR WEST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN NEWS
2011-10-10 02:45:59.6 37.63 N 141.21 E 71 mb 5.6 M NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN MAD
2011-10-10 02:45:59.0 37.69 N 139.49 E 25 mb 5.2 A EASTERN HONSHU, JAPAN NEWS
2011-10-10 02:45:58.6 37.51 N 141.23 E 51 M 5.5 M NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN GFZ
2011-10-10 02:45:58.2 37.60 N 141.40 E 53 Mw 5.4 A NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN BGSG
2011-10-10 02:45:57.8 37.58 N 141.24 E 44 Mw 5.7 M+ NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN INFO
2011-10-10 02:45:57.7 37.69 N 141.22 E 29 mb 5.8 A NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN SC3
2011-10-10 02:45:57.7 37.55 N 141.22 E 43 Mw 5.7 M NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN NEIR
2011-10-10 02:45:57.6 Moment tensors M# NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN MT
2011-10-10 02:45:57.6 37.55 N 141.22 E 43 M 5.7 M NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN NEIR
2011-10-10 02:45:57.2 37.44 N 139.66 E 25 mb 5.2 A EASTERN HONSHU, JAPAN NEWS
2011-10-10 02:45:55.8 37.67 N 141.24 E 33 mb 5.7 M NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN GSRC
2011-10-10 02:45:51.7 37.40 N 141.03 E 5 mb 6.3 A NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN GSRC
2011-10-10 02:45:50.1 35.76 N 142.19 E 50 mb 5.6 A OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN ZAMG
2011-10-10 02:45:48.0 35.00 N 142.00 E 1 mb 5.7 A OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN LED
2011-10-10 02:45:47.7 36.62 N 142.97 E 25 mb 5.6 A OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN BEO
2011-10-10 02:45:47.6 35.57 N 141.87 E 30 mb 5.9 M NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN BUC
2011-10-10 02:45:17.0 34.00 N 147.60 E 9 ML 6.1 M OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN RSSC

If you stay in Japan you will be dead soon.

[Greji]

2011-10-10 02:46:08.8 40.48 N 141.17 E 1 mb 5.7 A NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN MSO
2011-10-10 02:46:07.8 39.86 N 141.37 E 30 A EASTERN HONSHU, JAPAN GFU
2011-10-10 02:46:05.0 39.38 N 139.68 E 33 mb 5.4 A NEAR WEST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN LDG
2011-10-10 02:46:01.4 37.88 N 139.31 E 33 mb 5.7 A EASTERN HONSHU, JAPAN NOR
2011-10-10 02:46:01.3 37.89 N 138.98 E 25 mb 4.9 A NEAR WEST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN NEWS
2011-10-10 02:45:59.6 37.63 N 141.21 E 71 mb 5.6 M NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN MAD
2011-10-10 02:45:59.0 37.69 N 139.49 E 25 mb 5.2 A EASTERN HONSHU, JAPAN NEWS
2011-10-10 02:45:58.6 37.51 N 141.23 E 51 M 5.5 M NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN GFZ
2011-10-10 02:45:58.2 37.60 N 141.40 E 53 Mw 5.4 A NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN BGSG
2011-10-10 02:45:57.8 37.58 N 141.24 E 44 Mw 5.7 M+ NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN INFO
2011-10-10 02:45:57.7 37.69 N 141.22 E 29 mb 5.8 A NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN SC3
2011-10-10 02:45:57.7 37.55 N 141.22 E 43 Mw 5.7 M NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN NEIR
2011-10-10 02:45:57.6 Moment tensors M# NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN MT
2011-10-10 02:45:57.6 37.55 N 141.22 E 43 M 5.7 M NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN NEIR
2011-10-10 02:45:57.2 37.44 N 139.66 E 25 mb 5.2 A EASTERN HONSHU, JAPAN NEWS
2011-10-10 02:45:55.8 37.67 N 141.24 E 33 mb 5.7 M NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN GSRC
2011-10-10 02:45:51.7 37.40 N 141.03 E 5 mb 6.3 A NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN GSRC
2011-10-10 02:45:50.1 35.76 N 142.19 E 50 mb 5.6 A OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN ZAMG
2011-10-10 02:45:48.0 35.00 N 142.00 E 1 mb 5.7 A OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN LED
2011-10-10 02:45:47.7 36.62 N 142.97 E 25 mb 5.6 A OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN BEO
2011-10-10 02:45:47.6 35.57 N 141.87 E 30 mb 5.9 M NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN BUC
2011-10-10 02:45:17.0 34.00 N 147.60 E 9 ML 6.1 M OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN RSSC

many were at different depths too! It won't be much longer from now when a huge nuclear

Wow, it must be nice to have such a good and important hobby!

At 0245 this morning I was trying for all I was worth to talk a young Roppongi denizen out of her shorts. Just think, I could have been home taking important readings instead.........

[Thug4Life]

Wow, it must be nice to have such a good and important hobby!

At 0245 this morning I was trying for all I was worth to talk a young Roppongi denizen out of her shorts. Just think, I could have been home taking important readings instead.........

You should've stayed at home cause you did not get fucking layed. Duh.

[Yokohammer]

no... they will point them at each other in hope that they will figure out the best angle themselves by asking the panel next to them...

OK IPU, you've outdone yourself this time.
Still haven't stopped laughing at this one.

[matsuki]

You should've stayed at home cause you did not get fucking layed. Duh.

Greji's got a better chance of dying in a massive 10M earthquake than he does of getting laid at home. At least he's not paying for it

[Yokohammer]

If you stay in Japan you will be dead soon.

You might as well come over and join the fun then.
Nothing that happens here could possibly make your brain any more lifeless.

[Greji]

You should've stayed at home cause you did not get fucking layed. Duh.

There is no such verb as not getting "layed" to a cash carrying customer in Roppongi. You might strike out if you're an "only for free purist", but money talks and bullshit walks. I was knocking the head cheese off my johnson on the bed board and out the door looking for breakfast before the chicken clucked. What time did you finish your readings and were you able to save the world?

[Coligny]

Wow, it must be nice to have such a good and important hobby!

I sort of...

envy him...

You insensitive clod...

[Coligny]

but money talks and bullshit walks.

I am soo going to try to use this sentence one day... if I find people to talk to me...

I was knocking the head cheese off my johnson on the bed board and out the door looking for breakfast before the chicken clucked.

Can somebody make an infographic depicting this situation, because I can't even get what the first statement really means...

[Coligny]

The shit is about to hit the Japan fan once and for all.
European Mediterranian Seismological Center Latest data contributions
If you stay in Japan you will be dead soon.

The site linked is a goldmine...

But you seems to miss the point that all those reading are just the precise description for 1 event as viewed by different data monitoring stations...

[IparryU]

Can somebody make an infographic depicting this situation, because I can't even get what the first statement really means...

i am sure greji can send you a pic he took on his phone when he was doing it... but then again he prolly wouldn't give it to you cause you would put it on the net for monies...

for those who doubt big daddy G... your dumb... big pimp in roppongi.

dont know this for sure... but i believe he may be the founder of the Roppongi Raw Dogs...

The site linked is a goldmine...

But you seems to miss the point that all those reading are just the precise description for 1 event as viewed by different data monitoring stations...

for someone on the net all fuggin day... you double post a lot...

[Coligny]

for someone on the net all fuggin day... you double post a lot...

Try multiple copy/paste with ADD on an IPad... and tell me... aww looky a butterfly, I must feed the cats before, and change the litter if not they will, I must put the laundry to dry too.

And it's not double posting if the text is different you n00bz...

[IparryU]

Try multiple copy/paste with ADD on an IPad... and tell me... aww looky a butterfly, I must feed the cats before, and change the litter if not they will, I must put the laundry to dry too.

And it's not double posting if the text is different you n00bz...

[Coligny]

Burning (probably radioactiv) debris:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20111013f3.html

Not on purpose though...
at least...