Japanese earthquake disaster facts emerge

Japanese earthquake disaster facts emerge

Japan remains under its worst threat to an ever rising toll, widespread destruction, power, fuel and water shortages follow the massive earthquake, tsunami and failed 40-year old nuclear power station.

IARU Region 3 Secretary, Ken Yamamoto JA1CJP said the Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) HQ station JA1RL and other amateur stations are maintaining their effort to support the disaster relief operation.

Ken JA1CJP said, ''In less damaged areas, the electric power supply is being restored gradually and local amateur radio club members have started to establish stations at shelters."

The information is being coordinated as part of an organised rescue and relief effort. It seems likely to continue for some weeks and months to come.

The 8.9 on the Richter scale quake hit off north-eastern Sendai and triggered a ten-metre tsunami on Friday.

Ken JA1CJP quoting local news sources said, "The situation is getting worse. On March 15, police announced that 2,414 people have been killed (up from 1,627 24 hours earlier) and 3,118 are reported missing (about double in the same period).

"Some 55,380 houses/buildings were damaged by the earthquake and 3,000 houses washed away by the tsunami."

Rescue teams have arrived and started their activities in the affected areas. They came from many nations including Korea, Singapore, New Zealand, China, USA, Germany, Switzerland, Australia and Russia.

In all the Japanese government has received help from 91 nations and territories and nine international organisations.

Ken JA1CJP said another worry is leakage of radio-active gasses at the Fukushima nuclear plant which was damaged by the earthquake and tsunami.

A shortage of fuel, disruption to rail and road transport have been reported from many affected areas still recovering from the worst earthquake in 140 years followed by a widespread tsunami that swept away so much.

JA1RL continues to operate under instruction to be an emergency traffic centre and increasingly receiving help from JARL members in the affected area.

It is using the 7 MHz SSB, 144 MHz SSB/FM and 430 MHz SSB/FM.

Many other stations are active and are using various frequencies including some battery powered and others using small generators to exchange rescue and disaster relief operation information with JA1RL and others.

While 3525, 7030, 7043 and 7075 have been mentioned as in use, it's wise to keep those and all of the Centre of Emergency (CoA) clear of normal and non-urgent traffic. There is no call for additional foreign radio amateurs.


Jim Linton, VK3PC
Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee.






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Our thoughts and prayer's are with you. Japan has some great operators and I'm sure their help is of some comfort to those in need.

 

I am listening to NHK.
according to that, they have problem of distribution of food, water, and gasoline, and other good such as toilet papers, batteries, flash light,

I suppose in that case 72 hours storage of food, water were not enough, it sound more like it need to be 2 weeks storage.
for HAM need to prepare if involved in emergency comm. to be self sustain for more than 1 week such as large battery, or generator as well as storage of fuel to last.

also heard store plastic wrap, can be used to keep warm, wrap around plate, bowl , and throw away wrap, to keep plate clean.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I think I'll listen for NHK. Here's a freq chart: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/radio/shortwave/all.pdf

Here's a news link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42084187/ns/world_news-asiapacific/

I'm not saying that they shouldn't be pouring seawater on the reactor to cool it, but it appears to me that those efforts are just delaying the inevitable: a worse nuclear disaster than they have now. Sure hope I'm wrong about that.

 

yes, according to NHK, they have build nuclear power plant with earth quake proof, but did not make it water proof.
they says controls such as closing / opening of values, turn on / off motors, and all of their diesel generators are not working because they got wet. I guess computer control has some weakness.

 

I have been hearing a news from Japan ( NHK ) I guess their news are more detail compare to US media.
they says 72 hours storage is not enough, it should be at least 1 week, more like 2 weeks storage.
that include, water, batteries, flash lights, generator, fuel for generator, fuel for car, warm clothes, food, medicine, fast aid kits, food does not need to cook.

also, they recommend , many copies of picture, name , contact info of each family members, it help to show people asking if they have seen them and posting on bulletin boards.

I wonder if there is good way to store gasoline ?

 

Jerry cans.

 

If you have a Twitter account you should follow W7VOA

Not only is he a ham, but he is a Bureau Chief with the Voice of America and is tweeting every development and first hand account from ground zero in Japan.

 

Thanks for the update, Jim.
ALE Emcomm network remains active 24/7

 

This is what happens when corporate world tells us something is 100% safe.

 

according to Japanese news paper, they say radiation level is too strong, so they can not come close to reactor / power plant. they seems like they are just looking reactor from far distance.
mean while, they have detected neutron at power plant.

radio active cesium 134, 137 and iodine 131 are detected as far as 200 - 300 km away. also detected in drinking water. they says level are detectable, but small enough does not effect health immediately.

in the shelters, initially many of them had no method of communications or stored water, food, generator, blanket, etc.
I think lessen learn from this disaster that is,

at designated shelter, we should have ham radio setup with HF, VHF, packet. along with good size several hundred AH storage batteries. generator, fuel for generator, blanket, water, food, medicine, flash light, bunch of batteries for flash lights.

people who have 4WD, should store enough fuel. car , 2WD is useless because road is no good. off road motor cycle is find out to be useful.

 

Stihl MotoMix. Good for 5 years in the can, two years in equipment.

 

Hahahah, friggin' expensive though! I use Stihl machinery all the time for work, and wouldn't dream of stumping up that sort of money. For those with loads of money there's also Aspen fuels. Personally though, normal unleaded petrol does the job. I've always got 5 jerry cans full and every now and then just empty one into the car and refill it. That way, it's always fresh.

 

All I can say, is it is more then heart breaking to see the anguish and pain and suffering...our prayers go out to all the people in Japan.

I watched in very great sadness, to see one man, who, as a firefighter, went out to close a flood gate, when the water hit his town, and washed his dear wife, his son and his family and the 4 grandchildren away...he regrets doing his job and being left behind, all alone now.

It breaks your heart and you wish you could be there physically to comfort the hurting and to help...

God be with you all !