Japan rocked with 8.9 earthquake.

[wombat2u2004]

ETA: This probably is an incorrect figure, since I'm not seeing that reported anywhere. Perhaps the reporter added one zero too many, as 1000 seems to be more accurate.

I don't think so. Because of the population densities in those areas, I'd say the death toll will rise much greater than 10,000. Just my opinion from seeing the aerial shots of the scenes. I hope I'm wrong.

[pomtzu]

I don't think so. Because of the population densities in those areas, I'd say the death toll will rise much greater than 10,000. Just my opinion from seeing the aerial shots of the scenes. I hope I'm wrong.

I don't doubt that, but they reported this a.m. that it was already that high. This was a verbal report that I heard, but I don't see it in print anywhere.

Sorry I confusigated you........

[Karen]

Sadly, the difference between the two figures is "confirmed" deaths, as opposed to likely deaths. I wouldn't want to jobs of the people who are having to count and identify all the bodies washing ashore in the northern prefectures, but I also know how important that job is for those loved ones anxiously waiting for some word of their family's fate.

[IRescue452]

I don't know that we'd have such a panic about food. I mean, we tend to stock our homes up here. Some people in parts of Japan, on the other hand, don't have huge fridges in their apartments and houses because they're always on the go. Plus we have tons more land space as our own country than they do in Japan. We have lots more options for food coming from elsewhere within the counry. Imagine how much food is within their island nation on any given day as compared to how much is within the continental US.

[Kirsten]

I don't know that we'd have such a panic about food. I mean, we tend to stock our homes up here. Some people in parts of Japan, on the other hand, don't have huge fridges in their apartments and houses because they're always on the go. Plus we have tons more land space as our own country than they do in Japan. We have lots more options for food coming from elsewhere within the counry. Imagine how much food is within their island nation on any given day as compared to how much is within the continental US.

I remember that back in 1986 after the Chernobyl incident, a lot of food had to be destroyed. All our harvests that year; and we were not allowed to drink milk, or eat dairy products; I remember that things like nuts, mushrooms and many other things were taken off the market. And we were in Germany, more than 1,000 km away from Chernobyl!

[pomtzu]

What good is all that food in the fridge and freezers, when there is no electricity to power these appliances to keep the food from spoiling??? Think about it............

[caseysmom]

My family could live off our pantry for weeks...

[Grace]

On September 1, 1923 an earthquake hit Yokohama, Japan. It registered just 7 on the Richter scale, but caused immense damage.

Here is a blog from the NY Times about that quake. 145,000 people died back then.

[Karen]

My family could live off our pantry for weeks...

But that assumes you could get to your pantry ... and many of these people's whole houses are in rubble.

I think most New Englanders would live off their pantry supplies for at least a week, but that doesn't stop everyone from running to the store every time a big storm is forecast!