At 2:46 P.M. local time March 11, a magnitude 8.9 earthquake struck Sendai, a port city of one million residents in northeastern Japan. It was the largest earthquake recorded in Japan in the last century.

The earthquake razed entire towns, buckled highways and swayed skyscrapers as far away as Tokyo, 300 kilometers to the southwest. Four-meter-high walls of water charged through coastal cities, sweeping away cars and houses, and setting factories ablaze. Tsunami warnings were issued across the Pacific Rim.

View images and maps of the devastating events

1 Comments

1. 1. danielewilliams 03:19 PM 3/14/11

   adversity to opportunity - these are the only times when we can review how we do things and adjust our "standards". one such standard i would suggest is that all building along coastlines be built no lower on the land than 50'above mean sea level (varies depending on local conditions of soil, geology and function (such as buildings specific to the water connection). this standard accomplishes several things:
   
   1) assures communities and cites a considerable buffer from storms and tsunami.
   2) recreates the tidal and estuary zones which are highly productive and important to the health of the aquatic life.
   3) provides much needed openspace for the public.
   4) creates a climate change resilient zone so that sea level rise will not impact the built buildings and infrastructure for the next 100 + years.
   
   this is an example of post disaster planning which is best done before the event but is also critical while recreating patterns for human habitation out of harms way.
   
   we know what to do, we need elected leadership here!
   
   best, dan

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