Tsunami

Those of you that have followed the blog for awhile might remember Mrs. SkunK and I have a small place on the Pacific coast in Japan.  We normally send some pictures when we get out that way.  Well, Mrs. SkunK was on advance party when the 9.0 earthquake hit. Doing some volunteer work at a kindergarten she rode it out under some tiny desks with the kids. 

Parents immediately picked up their offspring and with the tsunami warnings blaring over the town's warning speakers, she was able to hoof it back home in time to take this picture.  The walk back was difficult since numerous huge aftershocks kept her from walking in a straight line.  I missed out on my big chance to utilize my years of stumbling experience and training.  

Thanks to the blocking effects of Cape Inubō, the tsunami was only three meters or about ten feet in the local area.  As you can see the local fishing fleet had scrambled out of the harbor and rode the tsunami out just off shore.  You can see the water has pulled out and the wave is approaching.  It ran up the local river and soaked a parking lot, with little or no local damage.  There were a few more tsunami, but I think this was the largest.  Aftershocks - in reality major earthquakes - continue even now.

The trains soon stopped running in our area to save electricity and gas was still short due to disruptions and the refinery fire in Chiba.  Although wanting to stay, there wasn't much she could do locally except consume scare resources.  So Mrs. Skunk caught a bus to where the trains ran and then caught a flight home.  Just in time to put another log on the fire.  We both look forward to visiting Japan together - hopefully in the not too distant future. . 

SkunK