Earthquake

**Update: Just thought I'd check in and let you know we're still OK. Aftershocks are still coming but here in Tokyo they're very mild. We're well-stocked in anticipation of rolling blackouts, and happen to have a very good number of emergency evacuation shelters nearby if it comes to that. Somewhat concerned by the problems with the Fukushima nuclear reactors. We were planning to visit the in-laws in Osaka in about a week, and it's tempting to head there earlier to put a little extra distance between us and any possible radiation leaks.

Good English information can be found on the new blog The Tokyo Post.

Earthquake info in 27 languages: Multingual Twitter Feed.

(Updated on 9:15am Sunday, March 13th, Japan time)**

 

Just in case you were wondering, Shuma and I are OK. Have heard from Hideaki and in-laws and they're OK too, but with the trains in Tokyo down it looks like Hideaki will be spending the night at work. Which I'm sure his company will be delighted with.

The aftershocks are endless and terrifying, and I'm so tired of grabbing Shuma and heading to the door. But we're very lucky to have no damage and still have all utilities, I've heard lots of folks in Japan are without electricity.

Phone lines are jammed. It looks like Facebook, Twitter, and Skype are the way to go if you're trying to contact someone in Japan. People in Japan can get news here: Live News Feed for Japan Earthquake Updates via Al-Jazeera. Also, BBC has a live news feed.

Update: more good English info here: http://www.timeout.jp/en/tokyo/feature/2530/Japan-earthquake-live-report and really good updates here: http://gakuranman.com/great-tohoku-earthquake/

Comments

[Hayley]

Very glad to hear you and your family are OK. Hope that everything continues well for you all, and that all of your friends are doing OK too.

[Rose]

so relieved to hear you are ok!!

[illahee]

i'm glad to hear you are ok, and your family, too! take care!

[Masa]

I'm a regular reader of your blog..
This is my first comment..
I'm glad to hear/read you're OK.
Take care please.
My parents live in Kanagawa. They are OK too.

[Leslie]

Glad you're ok!

[tofugirl]

Glad to hear that you and your family are okay! We're watching the news reports here and the footage is just unbelievable.

[Jocelyn]

Glad to hear from you! Good luck and stay safe.

[RK]

I'm relieved to hear that you and your family are okay. Take care!!

[Pei]

Yes. I was worried. Glad to hear you are OK. Hope this is the last of it.

[Julie]

I'm so glad to hear you're OK!
Please take care!

[penny]

very happy to hear. google has a people finder http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=ja (there's english for it too)

{hugs}

Thanks for the info! -Amy

[Dee]

So glad you are all OK. I don't have the privilege of knowing you but you, your husband and adorable baby were the first people I thought about when I saw the news this morning.

[m]

i'm so happy to read your post. i thought of you when i heard the news. i'm a regular reader but this is my first time to post a comment. take care and sending your warm thoughts from toronto!

[Daina]

I'm also a regular reader and glad to hear your family is OK!

[Amy McPherson]

I'm also a regular reader who's never commented before but I was concerned about you and your family. I'm glad you are all okay.

[lilian]

one of your regular readers. i am just glad your family is ok!

[Mary]

Thanks for posting - thought of you and your family this morning while watching the news. So devastating! Take care,good thoughts to you.

[Sara]

Very glad you are OK, though I wish Hideaki was home with you.

[Véronique]

I as well never commented before, but I thought of you as soon as I heard the news. I am glad you are all OK, and lets hope the situation improves. Shuma is the cutest!

[Unnamed]

I'm another of your regular readers who's never commented before. I love your blog and your pictures and Shuma is adorable. I'm glad you're all ok.

[jessica]

really good to hear that you and your family are alright. stay safe!

[Jeanie]

I am so relieved. A regular reader of your blog (have posted comments a few times before.) I was also worried because you posted about your brother-in-law in Hokkaido. You and your beautiful family are in my thoughts. How terrifying to be at home alone without your family of origin nearby!

My mom's family is from Hakodate city and we haven't been able to be in touch with them.

Thanks for thinking of us. My BIL has since been transferred to Tokyo. He and his fiance in Kushiro were OK. I'm sure your family in Hakodate were fine, Hokkaido was mostly unaffected. -Amy

[Claudine Co]

Also a regular reader of your blog, first time commenter. Glad to hear you and your family are ok. Please keep safe and do let us know if we can be of any assistance!

[Kylene R]

Regular reader, first time commenter as well. Oh, thank goodness. I'm so glad, as soon as I heard it I was worried about you guys! I hope the rest of your family in Japan are ok!

[Diana]

Glad to read that you and your family are ok. Stay safe, all the good vibes from Mexico City ;)

[Danny Dawson]

Yet another regular reader here thankful for the update, thankful to hear you and yours are safe.

[enigma4ever (allie)]

so glad you are ok and baby and hubby too....have been thinking about you ....have read blog since 2005....many good thoughts and prayers to all in Japan....be safe...please know that the world is sending much Light and love to Japan....

[lisamzim]

so glad that you and your family are safe. thinking of all of the people in Japan...

[KristaBob]

Take care, Amy Bob, Hide Bob and Baby Shuma Bob. I'm so glad you're ok. Love to you all!

Thanks Krista Bob! -Amy

[Anika]

I am very glad you and the family are OK! Best wishes to you all.

[Victoria]

I'm so relieved to read you and shuma and hideaki are all well and the extended family as well. Very scary times!

[lily]

It is so good to hear that you and your family are doing well. When I heard it this morning, it was like: Oh Nu!

But, you posted/updated -- it was such a relief!

Best wishes to all!

[Thazin Khin]

I'm one of your regular readers, but this is my first comment.

I'm so glad you've found the time to post a blog to keep us updated. I'm very relieved that you and your family are safe, and I wish all the best for you and the rest of the world.

[Lori]

I am so glad you and Shuma (and Hideaki) are okay!

[Oanh]

I'm glad everyone in you family are okay.

[lex]

glad you're ok. internet or not, it's great to be seeing the "we're ok" posts.

[Charmayne]

Glad to hear you and your family are okay.

[Lili]

Glad you and your family are safe!
That's terrible., heartbreaking...
God bless you, Japan and all Japanese people !

[Su-Lin]

So glad you're safe! I hope that Hideaki gets home to you both soon.

[Marijoe]

So happy you guys are safe!
The images are hearthbreaking

[Account Deleted]

So good to hear you, Shuma, Hideaki and his family are all safe. I hope you'll manage to stay safe during all those aftershocks. Thinking of you.

[KasiaBajka]

I am glad you are safe! Here is another official emergency page from Google Japan with telephone numbers and all current energy shutdowns etc: google.com/crisisresponse/japanquake2011. Please stay safe and watch rather the Western news, the Japanese seem to be quite "diplomatic" and may leave important parts out

Thanks for the links. I found that watching/reading both the Japanese and western news to be best- the latter was too sensational, the former was, as you said, diplomatic. The truth seems to be somewhere in between the two. -Amy

[mumuchan]

I'm a regular reader and it's my first comment. I'm really glad you're all ok.

[catherine]

Je suis soulagée de voir que tu vas bien ainsi que ta pte famille,courage,courage!!!

[Jackie]

I am glad that you and your family are well. Be strong

[Carlyn]

Oh, Amy...so relieved to hear that you and your family are well albeit jumpy ....I have been spending the last 2 days trying to contact my family in tokyo...all is well.I am saddened by the devastating photos and film that has been coming thru.My thoughts and prayers are with everyone. Stay safe!!!!!

[Takashi]

You're in Tokyo i knew you were safe. Sometimes we must sacrifice some for the greater good of many.

[Minke]

What a relief to hear that you and your family are OK. When I first heard of this horrible disaster, you were the first to come to mind.
It does sound like a good idea to speed up the visit to your in-laws.
Take good care.

[Kris B]

Take good care. Thoughts are with you!

[Kavs]

Take care - glad that you guys are okay. Our prayers are with Japan.

[stephanie]

Hi,
I love to read your blog but don't leave comments as I really don't have much to say. Comments I want to leave are usually left by others already. I just want you know I thought about you and your family when the news broke. Thanks for letting all of us know your current situation. And SO GLAD to know that you all are safe. Prayers are with you and your family and the people of Japan. God bless!

[Carol-Anne Conway]

Very pleased to hear that you are all safe. I hope that you and Hideaki are reunited soon and able to travel to the in-laws. Thoughts and prayers are with you.

[Keetah]

So glad you and your beautiful family are okay. I feel sick for everyone effected by this devastation.

[AJ]

I'm glad you and your family are alright! Stay safe! ♥

[nilly landao]

glad to hear that you and your family are safe.

love your tasty blog

[Albany Jane]

Glad to hear you guys are heading somewhere safe! Thanks for keeping your blog buddies updated. Safe thoughts for you guys.

[pockosmum]

Hi, Amy. Re:aftershocks-you will learn to differentiate between the ones you need to hide/run for and those you don't. I remember after the Hanshin quake, being terrified of every rumble...you will get used to it, and you will know by the sound whether you need to take action or not. A skill we're all better of without ;-D but this is Japan. I feel for you, I remember how we were on edge all the time. I hope it settles down for you soon.

Oh man, you lived through the Hanshin quake! I guess your son was a little one then, it must have been terrifying. Thanks for the encouragement. -Amy

[Lauren Dunn]

OMG I'm so glad you and little Shuma are ok, and that your in-laws and husband are ok too. Many prayers are sent your way!

Thank you! -Amy

[Amy]

Thank you for the comments, prayers and good wishes.