From the day of the earth quake, those people who escaped to evacuation site, they are still suffering from not having enough food, heat and medicine so forth. Many people just lost everything they had, family, house, vehicle....EVERYTHING. I cannot imagine myself loosing everything what I have right now. However, there is a hope, they are still not giving up, they stay in a line to receive so little food (for examples: rice balls, a piece of bread, instant ramen noodle, 3 strawberries for each person), or water remaining calm even the evacuation site is cold and uncomfortable. Not only having enough food, toilet papers, diapers, and blankets are the items they need most.
This affected area located in northern part of Japan, because of not having enough fuel, they cannot run much of heater at the evacuation site either... Most of people basically just had to left the house without having time to prepare to evacuate. Unfortunately, it got snowed a few days ago, and still it's pretty cold out there. So many people, especially elderly are suffering being cold without enough blankets and clothes...
Good news I heard so far was that even middle school students are trying to help out voluntarily at the site. Some news of survivors, cheer everyone up.
Having a patient and a cohesion is Japanese strength and I am so proud of them. I read a few other foreign countries' article that complimenting victims well behaver at evacuation sites.
Near the area, people didn't have to evacuate from their own houses, yet some of them still not having water, electric, or gas and phone line. The damage by direct earth quake broke those pipes and lines. The road got messed up and that's still causing delay of everything to get fixed or delivered. The lack of fuel is causing everything to get delayed as well.
We all know that there is a threat by nuclear plant, but there is no gas to run their vehicles for people wants to evacuate from the area. There is barley any evacuation plan run for people who live just outside of alert area where people were force to leave by the government. The government recommended to not go to out side for the particular area. (as of today, 18th March 2011, finally Minami-Souma city where is the nuclear power plant is located, decided to provide buses for evacuation to take citizens to other cities.)
Shortage of gasoline, created by damage on the oil plant causing lots of people's daily activity, including going to work. Even in Kanto region (near the Tokyo area), there is planed blackouts to save electric, therefore, transportation is not running as normal. Near the Tokyo area as well as the afflicted area, many of gas stations are closed or running but have limitation about $10 for everyone. My father went to one of a gas station and waited for 4 hours but still could not get it. I've told them, just stay home might be better because they are wasting gas to get gas! They barley use the vehicle anyways. However, it causing many people's commute. This can cause brings down Japanese economy.
In Northern part of Japan is well known for daily products. Milk is threw out or use as compost, and some of the farm suffering because equipments has been damaged by the earthquake thus, I am not sure exactly what area but at least in Kanto region, milk and eggs are hard to get at the stores.
Delivery system barley running because of the gasoline shortage, not only trucks are not able to deliver essential goods to victims, many products got out of the circulation. I guess the same reason-not having enough daily products- breads are all out from bakery as well. Plus, rice are gone from stores as well, so people started depend on other than rice such as bread. So it is just a bad cycle. Some people saying it is like oil shock... But still it is better than loosing everything, that's how people participate, even the planned black out or shortage of gasoline, people started walk, not using public transportation which uses tons of electric or vehicle to not waste gasoline.
I found out that my father was in a train near Tokyo, the time earth quake actually happened. He could not get out from the train for 40 minutes while it still waving by earth quake, yes, not shaking, it felt like waves he said. After it simmer down a little, all the passengers had to walk on a rail road, to get to next station. And waited and waited till close to mid night, and train finally ran again a little. So he jumped on it, but it didn't take him to his home town, then many of them just stayed on a station and waited until train started ran normally till early morning.
My mother on the other hand, she was at home and power was shut down on phone line got disconnected soon after the earth quake. So all the news we were able to watch, she didn't have no clue how bad it was. My brother who lives near Mt. Fuji, he got contact with my mother right after the shock, and let my father knows that she was okay. Cell phone was busy for a few hours but text messaging was a lot better to communicate after all, but my mother is anti cell phone, so I've tried call her at home and finally let her know where my father located at the moment, soon after phone line and electric started running 13hours after the earth quake. She was very happy to hear from me. We have relatives in Miyagi prefecture, where tsunami hit directly. Luckily, they were little bit away from the fishing town and got saved.
Many organization started collect donations, many artists, companies contributing big time and I can't thank enough to all of you already made contributions and all your prayers. But people are still suffering, I really hope anymore damage won't be made and no more people has to suffer and get helped.
I don't tweet, but this is a tweet page that people read and stay motivated in Japan.
It's English version. http://prayforjapan.jp/message/?lang=en
Lady Gaga sells wrist bands, and money goes to Japan relief effort.
http://store.universal-music.co.uk/restofworld/artists/lady-gaga/icat/ladygaga/
American Red Cross through out Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=2673660011
Other ways to help
http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/03/11/6246445-japans-earthquake-how-to-help
AT&T and Verizon, Cox are helping us unique way
http://gizmodo.com/#!5781617/att-customers-can-call-and-text-japan-for-free
I really can't do anything being here just watching news and feel like my country is getting damaged pretty bad... it is really frustrating, but at least I can tell the facts what is going on in Japan besides major news and broadcast we see on American shows. Remember, natural disaster can happening in your area, but it is in Japan this time. It can happens to anyone in the world.
Please help, even for $5, and pray for everyone out there to be safe...Thank you so much....
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