News >> Browse Articles >> Op / Ed

A Note from TheSarge: Tsunami - Showing Solidarity In Times of Disaster

Houses swept out to sea burn following a tsunami and earthquake in Natori City in northeastern Japan.

3/11/11 Shoulder-to-Shoulder with our Japanese and Hawaiian LEO brothers and sisters

A magnitude 8.9 earthquake — believed to be one of the most powerful quakes in more than a century — has rocked the northeastern part of Japan. The temblor, centered a relatively shallow 15 miles below the surface, caused a 23-foot tsunami that swept through coastal areas in Fukushima Prefecture, and a 13-foot tsunami in nearby Iwate Prefecture. Four other northern prefectures were hit with waves also up to 13 feet.

This earthquake is be said to be 10 times more powerful than the Loma Prieta Earthquake in San Francisco in 1989. I just spoke to a friend in Hawaii. Evacuations have taken place and for tourists, ‘vertical’ evacuations are in effect: Head to above the 3rd floor of your hotel.

Keep our Japanese and Hawaiian LEO’s in your thoughts and prayers. If they breeze through PoliceLink, let them know that we are supporting their efforts. Hawaiian police have already been ‘escorting’ local lookie-loos from danger areas.

Affects of the tsunami are trickling in on the California Coast at this time (0865 hrs PST) but have not seen the full affect.

For images coming in from Japan, click here: tinyurl.com/497xghn

TheSarge is a long-time member of PoliceLink and serves as the forums administrator.