Safe rooms are a worldwide necessity. On Tuesday, November 22, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck off Japan’s Honshu island. Tsunami warnings were quickly put in place as residents were forced to evacuate immediately to higher ground. The epicenter of the quake was very close to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which faced a meltdown scare during earlier earthquakes. According to CNN, many of the residents of the nearby towns of Namie and Miyagi immediately feared the worst once they felt the ground tremble and heard of the tsunami warnings.
The Raw Power of Earthquakes
Many of the people affected are likely survivors of the 2011 earthquake that struck the same region in Japan. Measuring in at 9.0-magnitude and lasting for nearly six minutes – the most severe to ever hit the country – the earthquake and subsequent tsunami claimed the lives of more than 20,000 people. Hundreds of thousands found themselves homeless, all of their belongings washed out to sea. Massive ships were tossed from the water and placed on land. Buildings and homes crumbled and were washed away from their foundations. Cars were hurled back and forth and carried away in the intense current.
During the disaster, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant lost power from its emergency generators, knocking out vital cooling systems. When this happened, the reactor fuel rods began to melt and leak radioactive material into the surrounding area. It would take another 88 days for the government to admit that a meltdown had taken place. It was the worst nuclear disaster since the Chernobyl meltdown in 1986. Experts estimate that the clean-up time for so much toxic material would be at least 40 years, with more than $1.5 billion already spent on removing radioactive soil.
Safety for the Future
Since the Fukushima meltdown, there has been staunch public opposition towards nuclear power. A resource that once provided 30% of the nation’s power has been wiped-out. Now, Japan imports close to 80% of its energy. Many people argue that the technology and infrastructure of Japan make nuclear energy an attractive energy solution. However, with so many risks involving earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes, there is simply no safe location – geologically – for a nuclear plant in Japan.
The uncertainty of earthquakes is certainly something worth taking notice of if you live near an active fault line. However, you can take precautions to protect your family during the event of a devastating earthquake. Here at U.S. Safe Room, we want to protect you from the raw, destructive power of these tremors. While they may not protect you during a tsunami, our safe rooms can handle the most extreme earthquake conditions and events to ensure the safety of your family and loved ones.
