[kerfwango]

<p>Never seen anything like this. Amazing, freaky-scary video. The magnitude and scale of the devastation are just unbelievable. My thoughts are with those affected.</p>

 

[GaReb770]

<p>Two runners in my running group left for Japan earlier this week to take care of some family matters.  I'm not sure what part of Japan they were going to.</p>

 

[mmoonptdeux]

<p>Yeah, I caught it as the initial wave was inundating the northern coast of Japan, and it was completely chilling.  The wave picked up every loose thing ahead of it (I saw things from big rigs to flaming buildings floating on top.)  It almost looked like people were driving around unaware of what was happening, sometimes heading toward the point where the road was about to be inundated. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Some folks were even getting out of their cars and running toward what they thought was some kind of higher ground, or gathering at the fence of their building parking lots as if they were mystified by what they were seeing (quite a few probably were.)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My best thoughts go out to all the people there and those affected</p>

 

[Brutal]

<p>A huge wave-s heading towards California? What the hell is going on?  Where's my Bible?</p>

 

[AdCo]

<p>Hey, it will float just like everything else for a few minutes, then you'll be just as screwed. </p>

 

[gretriever]

<p>The casualties may not be as bad as the quake/tsunami that hit Indonesia in 2004. Japan and the Rim have better sensors, warning apparatus, etc., than the Indian Ocean area did.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Still doesn't make it better for those affected by today's stuff. My sympathies and best wishes to them.  </p>

 

[mmoonptdeux]

<p>The waves aren't appearing to be such a big deal on the West Coast as it's turning out - I think it helped out that we are on a lowering tide cycle at the moment</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Still, it's not like it hasn't happened here before.  I drove through Crescent City on the north coast late last year, where in 1964 it was hit by a tsunami generated by the Good Friday Earthquake in Alaska (at 9.2, the largest ever recorded in North America).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>If you have the time, a fairly detailed six-part report by the local newspaper on the 30th year anniversary of the event details what happened - turned out it was the third & fourth waves that caused the most destruction</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.triplicate.com/20090328105491/News/Local-News/The-waves-of-destruction" target="_blank">Why Are We Tsunami-Prone: '64 Just The Worst One, So Far</a></p>

 

[mmoonptdeux]

<p>Crap, I spoke too soon</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-me-crescent-city-california-20110311,0,3043382.story" target="_blank">Crescent City, Santa Cruz Hit Hard By Tsunami</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>ETA New Link:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=127779&amp;catid=2&amp;sms_ss=facebook&amp;at_xt=4d7a7b0ba0bd3c33,0" target="_blank">Waves Sweep Four Out To Sea in Crescent City as Tsunami Surges Reach West Coast</a></p>
<p> </p>

 

[mmoonptdeux]

<p>Historically, tsunami waves that enter the bay lose a lot of punch due to the narrow opening in the Golden Gate, but this picture on one of the local news sites shows one of them that got through (this is taken from Berkeley)</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/78966/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="Tsunami600x336.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="16387" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/16387/width/600/height/336" style="; width: 600px; height: 336px"></a></p>

 

[Tech Tee]

<p>Just found out my b-i-l is in Japan.  No one has been able to reach him, but his company says that all employees are accounted for.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'm guessing it's difficult to get a phone call through over there at the moment.</p>

 

[gatorbob]

<p>The Earth really is amazing.  We humans fret about the damage that we do to the planet and to each other.  But Mother Nature can just snap her fingers and do more damage in an instant than humans can do with all the global warming and war and whatever else we can think of.  Wow...</p>

 

[Tech Tee]

<p>Like I mentioned before, my b-i-l is in Japan right now, and while he's not anywhere near the power plants, he is in an area that has power outages, etc.  His main comment...lack of information.  Cell phone access is limited because it is so overloaded.  Internet access is spotty, even when the power is on.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>He's coming home in a few days, but has mentioned that they (where he is, a bit south of Tokyo) have only dribs and drabs of info.  Didn't get to ask whether it was because there was no TV or radio available or otherwise.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It must be incredibly frustrating, particularly if that's your home.  I mean, he knows, at least in the short term, that he's coming home in a few days (although I'm sure he'll be going back, he works there all the time).</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>

 

[Buxtehude]

<p>...</p>

 

[GaReb770]

<p>We just heard this evening from the two runners from our group who have been in Japan since last week attending to family matters before the quake/tsunami.  They and their immediate family are safe.  I'm sure they will have some stories to share on our runs when they return. </p>