Here is s fun fact for everyone, Japan experiences about 1,500 earthquakes a year. Since Dan and I are both from the Midwest we had no idea what to expect when we first moved to the Pacific Ring of Fire. Our experiences with earthquakes was limited to one that struck Chicago, well Southern Illinois, two years ago. (A mere 4.3 on the Richter Scale).
In the time we have spent in Sendai we have experienced around 25 earthquakes, mostly small but also a couple bigger ones. The small ones feel like a semi-truck driving by our apartment and rocking it a bit (or for those of you living in Chicago, it's the same as the "L" passing by your window and shaking your apartment). The bigger ones cause our building to rock a bit, we first notice our heater/ac unit swaying back and forth and the our tv shakes. Really though, it's not scary! For the most part they only last a couple seconds. Anyone can handle a train or a semi-truck passing by their apartment once in a while, right?!
What do you do when the earth starts moving? Remain calm, ride it out, and carry on.
If you are inside, stay away from objects that can fall on you. Most earthquake related deaths happen when one is not paying attention aka objects falling from above. The safest places are doorways or underneath tables, etc. If you are outdoors, watch your surroundings to make sure nothing is crumbling above you. Buildings in Japan are designed to handle the constant movement of the earth and unless another 8.9 strikes most building won't show signs of damage.
Two bigger earthquakes struck Japan in the last 24 hours, one near Tokyo (6.1) and one in Northeastern Japan (6.8). Here in Sendai we felt the Tokyo one, it lasted about 15 seconds and since we were far enough from the epicenter it felt pretty small.
We do want to assure our family and friends that we are all safe and sound. Earthquakes are not as scary as they seem, then again we have never experienced an 8.9, but the ones that did happen in our stay here have been very manageable.
So fear not! Stay calm and carry on :)
In the time we have spent in Sendai we have experienced around 25 earthquakes, mostly small but also a couple bigger ones. The small ones feel like a semi-truck driving by our apartment and rocking it a bit (or for those of you living in Chicago, it's the same as the "L" passing by your window and shaking your apartment). The bigger ones cause our building to rock a bit, we first notice our heater/ac unit swaying back and forth and the our tv shakes. Really though, it's not scary! For the most part they only last a couple seconds. Anyone can handle a train or a semi-truck passing by their apartment once in a while, right?!
What do you do when the earth starts moving? Remain calm, ride it out, and carry on.
If you are inside, stay away from objects that can fall on you. Most earthquake related deaths happen when one is not paying attention aka objects falling from above. The safest places are doorways or underneath tables, etc. If you are outdoors, watch your surroundings to make sure nothing is crumbling above you. Buildings in Japan are designed to handle the constant movement of the earth and unless another 8.9 strikes most building won't show signs of damage.
Two bigger earthquakes struck Japan in the last 24 hours, one near Tokyo (6.1) and one in Northeastern Japan (6.8). Here in Sendai we felt the Tokyo one, it lasted about 15 seconds and since we were far enough from the epicenter it felt pretty small.
We do want to assure our family and friends that we are all safe and sound. Earthquakes are not as scary as they seem, then again we have never experienced an 8.9, but the ones that did happen in our stay here have been very manageable.
So fear not! Stay calm and carry on :)
Also, earthquakes are a good thing! It means that the plates are moving and energy is getting released. If there are no earthquakes for a while that causes the next one to be stronger and more severe, such as in the instance of the 8.9 on March 11, 2011.
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