Japan Earthquake Tsunami 2011 Update March 13 2011
by Michelle Carr-Crowe
On Thursday, March 11, 2011, a devastating 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit the east coast of Honshu, Japan. Following is a brief synopsis of reliable sources of news coverage in Japan along with places to look for, connect with and leave messages at for loved ones in the affected areas. Also included are places to verify any charity's records. In general you are safer donating to a specific fund for Japan within an already established charity rather than a new one unconnected with any existing philanthropy.
A good example of this is the $850,000 Japan Earthquake Tsunami fund established by Global Giving. You can text JAPAN to 50555 to donate $10 (the amount will show up on your cellular phone bill.) My prayers continue for Japan and all affected by this tragedy.
NASA satellite tsunami image
Reliable Sources of News in Japan
Stringers or freelancers working for the Associated Press (AP), Reuters or United Press International (UPI) are often the first sources for coverage in breaking news stories worldwide and in dangerous, war and crisis areas. Breaking news stories, including local news coverage for Japan can be found at:
Aid from the U.S., Great Britain and other allies has arrived in Japan. More than 45 countries, including some 68 search and rescue teams, have offered to help Japan, according to the United Nations.
Video (in Japanese) of Post-Tsunami Japan
Video: Video of cars, ships wrecked by tsunami waves after Japan earthquake
Currrently, as of March 13, many areas of Japan are still in danger from after effects of the quake and tsunami, most notably at Japan's nuclear reactor power plants.
In areas hit by the earthquake, 5.6 million homes were without power yesterday and more than one million households were without water, prompting fears over health.
Reportedly about 170,000 residents were evacuated following the blast at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant while the Japanese government aid it was to issue iodine tablets to those in the surrounding area in a bid to protect against the harmful effects of radiation.
The accident, thought to have been caused by a build of up hydrogen gas inside the building housing the plant's nuclear reactor unit 1, has been rated as among the five worst nuclear accidents in history after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and the Three Mile Island accident in 1979.
Seawater was being pumped into the reactor in an attempt to cool down the radioactive core.
Finding and communicating with loved ones in Japan
Red Cross family links website www.icrc.org/eng/familylinks-japan
Google people (or friend) finder service: japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=en
Facebook's Japan tsunami page: www.facebook.com/#!/japan.tsunami.2011
Updated Pacific Tsunami Warning Center statement here.
NO TSUNAMI warnings currently in effect.
BEFORE - FRIDAY March 11th
NOW - Sunday morning, March 13th
Please join me in praying for the people of Japan, the U.S., as well as everyone currently facing tsunami alerts and devastation.
Lord, I ask that you be with the people of Japan. Please assign your angels to be as lights in the darkness, guiding the helpers and rescue workers to get people to safety. PROVIDE SAFE DRINKING WATER FOR ALL. Assign ministering angels to comfort and uplift all those in distress and fear. Replace the spirit of fear and depression with your supernatural calm and courage. Let the light, love and truth of Jesus Christ SHINE FORTH thru this dark devastation. Let there be an outpouring of commitments to Christ and SALVATIONS. Hallelujah.
Father God, show your merciful love to all people who are suffering from the Honshu Earthquake and the resulting Tsunami, in Japan, California and throughout the world. I ask that you assign warrior angels to protect all people in the midst of these disasters in Japan and everywhere else on the globe, including Guam, Taiwan, Mexico, California, Oregon & Washington.
We specifically ask for lives and hearts to be saved amidst this 2011 earthquake and tsunami. I especially ask for your tender watchfulness over those I know and love in Japan, Taiwan and Hawaii right now.
Thank you for answering prayers and turning away the tsunami in Hawaii as easily as a human hand in the calm waters of a bathtub. Thank you for making this tsunami in Hawaii the same as in 2010, a result of mere inches instead.
Lord, I ask that you work with nature and the weather to supernaturally cool down Japan's nuclear reactors. Allow for heat and pressure to dissipate easily WITHOUT devastation. Protect the workers and those who live and work in the nearby danger zones.
Please facilitate communications between loved ones. I know you are able to work miracles and let people know their loved ones are safe. Please empower and enable communications, whether via satellite, radio towers, Morse code - however you deem fit, so people can connect again with the people they care about in Japan and anywhere else suffering from this 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami. Thank you, Jesus.
How to Help/Donations
Right now, there is still limited information on which reputable organizations will be the primary points for coordinating relief efforts, as the first relief ships from the U.S., Great Britain and others arrive in Japan.
The Red Cross is one of the best places to start, as they are usually first on the scene in disasters. The affiliated International Committee of the Red Cross offers the invaluable family links service, where loved ones searching and found can post messages online. There is no filtering or monitoring or verifying the accuracy or identification of posters, so use good common sense. Don't send money unless you've verified ALL is legit.
The best place to connect with and/or leave messages for family members during disasters is the ICRC Family Links site. The Kuala Lampur office reportedly covers Japan. Visit International Committee of the Red Cross Family Links to leave messages or look for info from people you know affected by the tsunami.
The family links site is in five languages: English, Portugese, Japanese, Chinese & Korean.
English: http://www.familylinks.icrc.org/web/doc/siterfl0.nsf/htmlall/familylinks-japon-eng
Portugese: http://www.familylinks.icrc.org/web/doc/siterfl0.nsf/htmlall/familylinks-japon-por
Japanese: http://www.familylinks.icrc.org/web/doc/siterfl0.nsf/htmlall/familylinks-japon-jap
Chinese: http://www.familylinks.icrc.org/web/doc/siterfl0.nsf/htmlall/familylinks-japon-chi
Korean: http://www.familylinks.icrc.org/web/doc/siterfl0.nsf/htmlall/familylinks-japon-kor
Please be aware that messages are left by individuals and are not vetted or checked by the Red Cross or anyone else. There are already reports of fake messages and what appear to be fraud or scams. Use extreme caution and verify all data as much as possible before sending any money.
(Click here for info on the February 22, 2011 Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake. )
You can also create a Google alert to be emailed when new information on how to help, donate or contact loved ones becomes available.
Do not send money to anyone, especially any organization without checking them out first! Well-known global relief organizations are listed here. Verify any charity's information and record, as viewed by a neutral third party, at one of these sites:
American Institute of Philanthropy Charity Watch
Places to get the facts on this and other earthquakes and tsunamis:
NOAA's National Weather Service, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center http://www.weather.gov/ptwc/
Federal Emergency Management Agency www.fema.org
Video (in Japanese) of Post-Tsunami Japan
Video: Video of cars, ships wrecked by tsunami waves after Japan earthquake
I will update via my blog at http://www.activerain.com/results. Thank you for reading, praying and being part of a caring community.
It truly is a small world after all. Go with grace and may God bless you today.
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