Japan Earthquake/Tsunami

There have been hundreds of aftershocks, many well above 5.0 and almost all of which have resulted in swaying buildings in Tokyo.

I give up. If you guys are dead set on reporting every event as though it's the preview to a Michael Bay disaster movie, I can't really stop you.

Panic away.

Oh, and I have some iodine tablets to sell you. PM me for prices or you and your entire family may die.

Seriously, I don't know how many quakes I've sat through at this point. Even sitting up here 47 floors up it's just like, ok, swaying swaying, stupid announcement, back to work.

As for the volcano, just for reference, this volcano already erupted a few times within the past month or two. It's also located nearly as far as you can get from the earthquake zone and still be on the main island chain. I'm sure the residents in the area are rather annoyed by it but Japan still isn't quite to the sinking into the ocean stage yet.

Funny you mentioned that. I was just reading an article about how sales for those pills have sky rocketed in CA.

The only thing that's even got me remotely concerned (Not for my own safety of course) is that Japan has asked the U.S. military to help stabilize the situation at Fukushima. Just considering how things have been there, and now they're asking for help, I don't know, maybe I'm just reading between the lines too much. Seems like if the prognosis was positive, they wouldn't ask for help.

No, you're right. People are only trying to help and I shouldn't have snapped at them.

I'm just very frustrated at the quality of reporting we've seen, and it's starting to get to me.

You mis-quoted the BBC:

Keep in mind you have had the technicians working for days/nights, multiple shifts, in a high-stress situation. At the very least the navy should be able to loan out some of its nuclear technicians in order to at least help reduce the workload/chance of human error.

There is a nice gesture! Awesome South Korea!

Its only b.c Jaerik, I guess ppl like to come here and get the reports, rather than trying to hunt them down themselves.

Mercy to the weak I guess.. LOL

Well, they did evacuate a lot of the workers (And recently returned them I think) so I'm not convinced it's as simple as a shift switch, though I do hope it is.

Oh, it is probably more. But its not like they are going to ask the US to bomb the thing.
I'd wager it is more along the lines of material/manpower support than anything else.

Guys, can anyone give me reliable info on what(how much) risks the workers in and around the plant are braving? Am a bit in the dark about this.

Btw, seriously, don't watch/follow CNN.

I'm in total agreement. I've heard more collective panicing from people in this thread alone than any Japanese person I've spoken to in the last 72 hours.

The only reason some Japanese feel slightly nervous and lied to is entirely because of the western news coverage being so bloody crap.

To bring it down to a simple level for anyone at CNN:



This =/= Japan right now, nor is it nuclear power in general.

u lie. u just want us all to die from radiation.


j/k

Nabis, for the sake of your (already ruined) reputation, our sanity, and our insulted intelligence; please shut the *** up.

QQ HARDER

My friend is Japanese, living in America and her mother lives in Japan. Have been watching their wall conversations on facebook.

Names changed out for obvious reasons

I lol'd.

So much fear mongering... and what's sadder is it's largely been working

Reading and keeping up with everything here.. I saw this on Sypmatico's front page... The nuclear power plant that is close to Toronto....

Ontario nuclear plant leaks demineralized water

On 73,000 litres of Deminerlaized water leaked, result of a pump seal failure...



Wow.. with all the talk in all, how is all the other Nuclear power stations near by everyone on here, are doing......

damn world is going to hell in a handbasket...if you ask me...


=/

From: Appendix A to Part 50--General Design Criteria for Nuclear Power Plants


Criterion 19--Control room. A control room shall be provided from which actions can be taken to operate the nuclear power unit safely under normal conditions and to maintain it in a safe condition under accident conditions, including loss-of-coolant accidents. Adequate radiation protection shall be provided to permit access and occupancy of the control room under accident conditions without personnel receiving radiation exposures in excess of 5 rem whole body, or its equivalent to any part of the body, for the duration of the accident. Equipment at appropriate locations outside the control room shall be provided (1) with a design capability for prompt hot shutdown of the reactor, including necessary instrumentation and controls to maintain the unit in a safe condition during hot shutdown, and (2) with a potential capability for subsequent cold shutdown of the reactor through the use of suitable procedures.

Applicants for and holders of construction permits and operating licenses under this part who apply on or after January 10, 1997, applicants for design approvals or certifications under part 52 of this chapter who apply on or after January 10, 1997, applicants for and holders of combined licenses or manufacturing licenses under part 52 of this chapter who do not reference a standard design approval or certification, or holders of operating licenses using an alternative source term under § 50.67, shall meet the requirements of this criterion, except that with regard to control room
access and occupancy, adequate radiation protection shall be provided to ensure that radiation exposures shall not exceed 0.05 Sv (5 rem) total effective dose equivalent (TEDE) as defined in § 50.2 for the duration of the accident.