Endo Miki - Tsunami Hero

Water contamination
The waterworks in Kanamachi, Tokyo area (which is not too far from Kashiwa) said today that water contamination has gotten better.

• two days ago, 3/23   :: 210 units
• yesterday, 3/24         ::190 units
• today, 3/25                :: 79 units

Water contamination is still higher in the more northern areas, much higher.

Area around Fukushima Plant
There is some talk on the news shows that the area around the Fukushima Nuclear Plant will have to be abandoned because of the radiation. I do not know if this is really going to happen. I believe that more tests need to be done, which is going to happen, I am sure.



Tsunami water breaks
In yesterday's news, the stories of several towns were presented. These towns knew that they were in line for a big tsunami if a big earthquake happened and they did their best to protect themselves. They build huge water breaks out in port area and along the shore. One small town went so far with this building that they were joking called the "Great Wall of Japan" after the Great Wall of China. 

Well, what happened? Basically, the water breaks were torn apart like so many Lego blocks. You can see photos from the air showing huge pieces of cement, that were tossed around like toys - some on the land and some flung about in the sea.

Miki Endo - Tsunami Hero
I found out the full name of this tsunami HERO. In the Japanese style: Endo Miki. She was just 25 years old. The office that she was broadcasting from had no windows and it was on the second floor. The city office for the town, Minami Sanrikucho,  was only several meters feet from the shore. She could not see the tsunami coming.... The city office lost 25 or so people in total.

The reporter at the site, found what looked like recording equipment.... but who can say if it is the one she was using....

Gas Shortage
There are still lines that seem to go on for several kilometers in Tohoku, north Japan. One reporter counted 400 cars. These people do not know if there will be any gas left by the time they get their turn. One little town has started handing out "tickets" for their citizens. You buy the tickets for 12 liters of gas and later it is delivered to you in a small gas canister. They are doing this to keep down the lines at the lone gas station. It seems to be working.

Because of gas shortages, people are walking up to two hours to their homes looking for still missing loved ones or trying to find any of their belongings. One lady walked a hour and found some of her clothes. Her husband is still missing and is most likely buried under their house, which was completely flattened in the quake.

Snow
All the snow has melted around Hakone and it is getting warmer by the minute. Yesterday and today will have no blackouts. You know, there is a world of difference from having a blackout scheduled and not having one. I felt so much happier yesterday because we were not going to have a blackout. I can't imagine what everyone in Tohoku, northern Japan, must be feeling everyday. So much stress and uncertainty! That is almost worse than anything else.