On the Japanese Earthquake

I’ve been watching the devastation over in Japan for the last two days, absolutely horrified. The earthquake damage-the quake itself now being listed as a 9.0-was bad enough; but the tsunami damage is worse. The USS Ronald Reagan is there to give aid, and while I’ve been watching the news off and on all weekend, I have not heard the extent of foreign aid they will receive to this point.

I grew up in earthquake country. I’m used to seeing earthquake damage. I live in an area with a little something called the Cascadia Subduction Zone. When it lets loose, as I’ve heard repeatedly, we can expect the same kinds of widespread damage.


I’ve also spent a good chunk of my life exploring the Japanese culture, both pop and formal. I’ve been to Japan, and while that trip is many years in my past, the impact it made has lasted this long. Yes, the Japanese are probably better prepared for the kind of damage than we are.


No, it doesn’t make it any easier. In a lot of places, if the earthquake and aftershocks didn’t destroy things, the resulting surge did.


So...I’m asking those of you read this to respond. Consider it a form of paying things forward, if you would. Contact your local Red Cross for details, or go here: http://www.redcross.org. I’d consider it a personal favor if you did.


Thanks!


Enough for now.