Tiffany Robbins

06.2: Japan Tsunami and Nuclear Disaster

2/25/16
Japan is just south of a major earth quake fault, 65 miles away. In this document it
explains that the Pacific Plate is forced under the Eurasian Plate. With all that force, these faults
could cause a 7.8 earthquake or greater. With that magnitude, a tsunami would definitely be
generated. Because of Japans region it makes this wonderful place prone to devastating natural
events. The first map below shows Japan and the trench along the east side of the country.
The Japanese are definitely thinking ahead when it comes to being prepared, especially when
it comes to their seawalls, With more than 7750 miles of tsunami seawalls protecting about 43
percent of Japans coastline, the country has invested billions of dollars on these concrete
barriers to minimize the tsunami risk With more than 7750 miles of tsunami seawalls
protecting about 43 percent of Japans coastline, the country has invested billions of dollars on
these concrete barriers to minimize the tsunami risk. They werent prepared for the amount of
force that hit them March 11th. They did their homework on the faults and keeping them in check.
So the magnitude of 9.0 earthquake was a total surprise.
The Japanese people are very well educated when it comes to earthquakes and tsunamis but
they see the wall as what they want it to do. The seawall is sometimes seen as a giant security
blanket, people over estimate its power and underestimates the damage a tsunami can do. The
tsunami that happened on Marth 11, 2011 was over 30 feet high, completely clearing the sea wall
and in local parts it reaching 130 feet in height.
Other hazards were the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station. Which is one of six that is
located on Japans east coast. People were evacuated that lived within a 2 mile radius. The
tsunami had a definite impact on that station. The cooling system was a place of concern,
Although backup power generators for the reactor cooling system were functioning within 2
minutes of the automated earthquake shutdown procedure, less than an hour later tsunami waves
breached the power stations seawalls, flooding the generators. Because of the flooding,
several massive hydrogen gas explosions within the containment building led to release of
radiation into the atmosphere. Four hours after the first explosions people were evactuated that

lived within 13 miles of the stations. This map below is showing that 13 mile radius around the
plant. This event evacuated 200,000 people
This article explains that when a catastrophe first occurs, people are most likely to freeze,
which can cause even more damage especially for lives. The longer you sit the faster the disaster
can get to you. Some people are unable to do anything but sit, such as the elderly, nearly 25
percent of the people in Japan are over age 65 The article also gives an example of being in a
hospital and trying to move from a secure place to a makeshift area. No running water and no
electricity or heat can also be major affects in catastrophes. During the video, Japan Tsunami
Documentary, we see their seawall get completely destroyed by the Tsunami within seconds but
studies suggest that some seawalls delayed coastal inundation by the first tsunami wave by
several minutes. Although minutes seem like no time when thinking about a tsunami this had
saved countless live. So although some people that were recording in the documentary thought it
wasnt doing anything because of what they could see, it might have saved their lives. After this
disaster happened and the population started to get back on their feet they started to rebuild the
barrier again. The question that will always stay in mind is will it be strong enough for the next
tsunami?