[PPRAANet] Fw: Update from Japan

[DickT-W0RAA]

What follows is an update from my very good Japanese ham radio friend.  He 
is there, but south of the tragedy.  Since he is in the "mix" so to say I 
hope you all will find his information to be interesting.  Mac & his wife 
Kay are one of the "lucky" ones.  If you care to forward this to anybody, 
please feel free to do so.  Leaving the names intact is OK.  Just remove any 
e-mail addresses.  Mac & Kay have been friends for over 30 years.  Mac & I 
used to chat on 10 meters every Saturday.  It was like talking on a 
telephone.  I sure hope 10 comes back to that level in the near future. 
They have visited us here in Colorado Springs and Woodland Park on 4 
different occasions.  Unfortunately we have never been to their home in 
JA-land, although we have a standing invitation.  Maybe someday...

Dick
W0RAA

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "DickT-W0RAA"
To: "Mac Maekawa"
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 10:36 AM
Subject: Update from Japan


> Dear Mac & Kay,
>
> Thanks for the update.  We are still following the tragedy that has struck 
> your country on TV.  It is continually on the National and Local news.
>
> I have yet to see a single report of looting and stealing by any of the 
> reporting networks.  Although the Japanese people have been devastated by 
> this terrible tragedy, they can stand tall that they are a proud nation 
> and looting is not tolerated.  I applaud the Japanese people.
> We have seen reports on TV that the death toll has risen to 10,000 plus 
> and the missing total is also close to that.  I don't think anybody really 
> knows what the official total will be for a long time.
>
> Mary & I watch the news and we have tears in our eyes from what we are 
> seeing.
>
> A lot is being learned worldwide about the construction of nuclear power 
> plants in all countries.  It's a difficult way to learn a lesson.  There 
> is a nuclear power plant in California that is constructed on a fault line 
> between Los Angeles and San Diego, CA.  It makes me wonder why a plant 
> like that would be constructed in such a dangerous place.  We hope that 
> the people working at the power plants will be able to quickly cool down 
> the reactors.  They are brave to be working in such an environment.
>
> The weather reports we are seeing for Japan indicate that the weather is 
> very cold.  We are having unusually warm weather here in Colorado.  It is 
> supposed to be in the low 70 degree F today and high 70 degree F tomorrow. 
> Very unusual for Colorado.  I'm sure we will have more snow before Summer 
> arrives. The wind is predicted to be very strong so I have lowered my beam 
> until the wind dies down.
>
> There have been radio frequencies designated as emergency frequencies on 
> the ham bands.  Are you aware of any amateur radio activity in Japan to 
> assist in emergency communications?  I have not heard any reports on TV of 
> assistance being offered by hams in Japan although I feel confident they 
> are helping.
>
> I find it hard to comprehend how one would have to wait for 2 hours to 
> fill the gas tank in our cars.  I guess we take a lot of things for 
> granted.
>
> As I said, we feel so sorry for the Japanese people who were affected by 
> this terrible event.  They are certainly in our prayers.
>
> I am forwarding your updates to various ham radio e-mail reflectors so 
> that the people who read them are seeing a first hand report from somebody 
> in the area and directly affected by the events unfolding each day.  I 
> have removed your e-mail address from the messages.

> Please continue to send the updates.  As I said, you and your countrymen 
> are in our prayers, tomadachi Mac-san.
>
> 73/88
>
> Dick & Mary
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mac Maekawa" To: "DickT-W0RAA" Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 6:24 
> AM
> Subject: Re: Update
>
>
>> Hi Dick and Mary,
>>
>> 5 days after earthquake, today we have good news and bad news.
>> Good news is 2,000 residents who are in 10,000 missing persons are 
>> confirmed alive.

>> Bad news is it coming to seriously condition the nuclear power plants, 
>> the crisis team are working hard but they can't get cool down the system 
>> yet, 4 buildings of the nuclear reactor was broken by the hydrogen gas 
>> explosion, and the radioactive gas are leaking from there little bit.

>> Then the residents who are live within 12.5 mile of there take refuge 
>> from their home.
>>
>> We're doing well, no problem the water, gas and electric power supply 
>> here. But everything go to shortage, especially the gasoline, many gas 
>> stations have no gasoline now.  I had to refuel to my car, I found only 
>> one gas station in this morning, but there were very long line to get the 
>> gas, I had to wait for 2 and half hours to charge the gas to my car.
>>
>> It's come back the cold weather again in Japan, it's snow in the stricken 
>> area.  We concern the victims, they have no water, foods, heater and way 
>> to communicate enough.  How cold, helpless and lonely they are!!
>> Our guys, all Japanese cheer up them.
>> Please give your prayer for they will be survived soon.
>>
>> Your friends,
>> Mac and Kay