Earthquake Update -24 hours later, March 12

Things have changed a little around here. We continue to have aftershocks, we've had over 130 since the big quake yesterday and we can feel some of them, some are strong enough to wake us up from sleep.

I (Amanda) helped at the evacuation center on base for 2 stranded commercial planes, little over 500 people needed a place to stay so we opened the ballroom and they stated about 15 hours total before they could head back to a different but open airport to continue on their journey.I got home at 2 am and updated those I could with communications still a mess. See the link to Yokota Air Base below for more info on that.

This morning the news was regarding the damaged nuclear power plants. One did explode, but it was only the outer shell not the inner shell that houses the core. Some radiation escaped, but not a dangerous level that will effect us. The power plant is located up by the epicenter which is about 250 miles north and east of us. The prevailing winds are carrying most of the damage and radiation out to sea. We are really in no danger of the radiation, maybe an x-ray dose if that.

As for us, we are getting around fine, there hasn't been much if any damage in the area here so its a little bit business as usual. Our mail service is going to be a little rough until things get better. We may start experiencing blackouts because of the power plant accident, but we can handle that.

Tokyo in general is still in fairly bad shape. The airports are slowly coming back, the mass transit that was at a complete standstill yesterday is slowly coming back as well. They are inspecting all the rail lines but hand and walking all the miles of lines so that takes a massive amount of time. This is the link to the subway and train system:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://speedymole.com/Tubes/Tokyo/tokyo-subway-map.gif&imgrefurl=http://speedymole.com/Tubes/Tokyo/tokyo-subway-map.html&h=1019&w=1440&sz=400&tbnid=hvQ0OiNhoWwxwM:&tbnh=106&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtokyo%2Bsubway%2Bmap&zoom=1&q=tokyo+subway+map&usg=__AwPqz4HXYjJ-AgD0F010og7XLZ8=&sa=X&ei=WHl7TZDbLIfyvQPN2eDnBw&ved=0CD4Q9QEwAg

So that is what is currently happening. The base is preparing for the US response by getting housing ready for those helping, Aaron still hasn't been called up for flying responsibilities, they will probably use him on the ground for plans and procedures.

All in all, we are completely blessed and God's protective hand is settling on our family in incredible ways. We are together, safe and are able to help in many ways. Please continue to pray for the Japanese and the devastation currently, it is like nothing I've ever seen. It is heart breaking and overwhelming. Japan has been brought to it's knees. Also please pray for our military spouses, many of who have small children and are dealing with the stress of a natural disaster without their husbands home. As if the military community hasn't been and extended family, it is now even closer. Please pray for us that we can continue to have the strength to be the hands and feet, hugs and tissues for those you would like to be.

We love you and are so grateful for all your prayers and encouragement.

The Miners

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12720219 (power plant info and explosion video)
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ (worldwide earthquake epicenter action)
http://www.yokota.af.mil/news/index.asp (Yokota website)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBZGH3yieLc (tsunami map)