Danger?

A high school teacher was here for three days. He teaches earth science. We were talking about the quake and the plates that meet at Japan. It's practically a plate convention here. He said that the fault that let go on March 11 may trigger the other plates as well. There are a couple more earthquakes that are due any day now. 

Areas hit by earthquake damage alone are being ignored by the media. He reminded me of earthquake liquefaction, which is the odd and scary occurrence of solid ground being shaken into a liquid. And showed me pictures of damage further south in a town where the ground liquefied enough to topple structures and get vehicles stuck. The water, electricity, and gas have been restored, but not sewage. The sewer had been sloped from the town to the plant, and that slope is gone. Surveyors need a reference point to measure from, and they have no starting point. People are moving away. 

So. The devastation from the current disaster is bigger than any of us know. And this is a country on the Ring of Fire, where volcanos and earthquakes are frequent. Which means at least two more major quakes, plus the possibility of Mt. Fuji blowing that beautiful top. 

Do we fear? Prepare? How?

Having time to wonder is a luxury. 

Minutes ago, with the assistance center full, we had an earthquake, intensity 5. The lady next to me lost her house and town to the tsunami. Her terrified cries for help snap me back to reality. Don't borrow from tomorrow. Love her today. Keep her safe as long as possible. Reassure her. Make sure she knows that the tsunami warning is for a 50cm (one and a half feet) wave.  

A little one is enjoying balloons. Her fear is receding. And she'll be able to replace her broken rice cooker. She smiles. 

Life. Today.

Her apartment is by the ocean, behind one of the ancient pine groves. They took the brunt of the March 11 wave, far better than the modern breakwaters. Some pine groves are gone. This one held. 

Pray for her. Life must win.