one thing I don't get though...when we had katrina, hardly any countries came to help...Japan got 70 countries...we just got the cousins, England and Canada! well anyway thanks England, at least someone stepped up

I agree, it is a powerful photo. All that damage, especially juxtaposed against the gorgeous, serene scenery which seems completely unscathed...

collegegal, that is not actually true. First, we accepted offers of assistance from the European Union, with the British representative as the main contact. The EU represents 27 countries. Dozens of other countries offered help and the US accepted, refused, or refused initially and later accepted, as was the case with France. China, Russia, the Netherlands, India, countries in the middle east including Iran (offered to send crude oil) and Iraq (a million dollars through the Red Crescent).

Collegegal, believe it or not Mexico sent a group into the U.S. with water, food and clean-up of the Katrina disaster.

However distasteful they are with their U.S. immigration entry policy, you do have to give them some credit.

Wow, that's just sad, really. Japan's in ruins and you're keeping score? What are you, like a whiny kid? "Japan got icecream and I didn't get any." Wah! I mean really, it's people like you that make me wish I was from Europe. They all failed you didn't they? Those elderly Japanese, the sobbing teenagers, the people man! You're really going to sit there and whine? God what is wrong with you? Why don't you go look at the video again and then reexamine your life. Seriously, just think about the bitterness welling inside you that makes it possible for you to point that little tidbit out at a time like this. You could have commented on the lack of looting or the heroics of the rescue workers and those trying to advert an even greater disaster from fully developing at the Fukushima Di-ichi plant. But then its all about you isn't it sweety?

WOW! I've been reading down this page and am shocked at how far off track so many of the comments are! This shows an example of how much devastation has taken place in Japan. This is not about debating over whose tragedy is worse or whose government does what! There were whole towns wiped off of the face of the planet here just as with so many other natural disasters during the course of history. No one is immune to tragedy. It can strike one person (say, killed in a car accident) or wipe out entire civilizations. Who really knows when or how their time will come? Have compassion for others whoever or wherever they are in their time of desperation. Yes, we live on a planet that has been in and always will be in a state of change, and nature can deal out some pretty harsh blows too, but on the whole the earth is a beautiful place to live and human beings are only temporary dwellers here. Enjoy your existence here and just be as "prepared" as so many are squabbling over as realisticly possible. Be willing to help whoever you can whenever you can just as you would like others to help you in your time of need. Right now my heart is breaking for all the people that not only lost all their possessions but more importantly that that their source of livelihood and most importantly their families, friends and other loved ones. My mother always told me we don't cry over "things" for they can be replaced, people cannot!

He's just wanting to whine & complain about SOMETHING, don't pay any attention to him. Ths type litters the internet & aren't real concerned about making accurate claims .... but rather just MAKING claims.

hey collegegal , the bush administration turned down help from many , many countries during katrina. why i dont know.

I don't really think this is something to feel sorry for ourselves about how other countries didn't step up for Katrina. Have some compassion. Katrina is over and done with...let's just think about how other people are suffering and how you can help.

Here is an article that lists all of the countries who supported the USA during Katrina. Why does everyone think that we did not receive any aid during our time of crisis?

get ur facts straights

over 70 countries offered help to US with the donation of over $600 million dollars

talk about ignorance

The world does help those countries in need, but sometimes people in the country take the help for themselves.

collegegal get over it............you had katrina and are still collecting we had ike and got nothing and didn't whine about it........you don't see the japanese whining they are doing what needs to be done same as we did w ike pick yourself up dust yourself off cry for a moment and do for yourself and if help comes great.........but no one owes you anything.................we could all learn from the japanese..........they arent looting and complaining...............

We are all people, the greatest commendment is love God with your whole heart, your whole mind and sole and the second is unto it, love they neighbor as thyself. How about we all give thanks that we are warm, full and able to comment. May God bless all these effected by this and instead of complaining send a $1 or 2 to help

It pains me deeply to see the devastation of any people. The whole world should ache for the pains of our fellow man. This is what God feels when He looks at our broken lives, only more deeply than we could ever feel it because God's love is selfless & pure. So many of our song writers have written about peace and unity - if anything came out of the Vietnam War, it was song extolling peace and unity - I pray that someday we'll love each other deeply from the heart so we can realize these dreams for mankind.

In responst to Collegegal2120811...

Nearly 100 countries gave aid to the U.S. post-Katrina not including organizations like NATO, OPEC, and the OAS. I think the issue is more to this: Of the $854 million pledged by other countries, only 5% was collected. You can check this out on Wikipedia and the sources provided.

Other countries DID offer help to the United States. Much of the help was refused.

Everyday I say a prayer for Japan to recover from so much human and economic devastations. People

who have so much dignity, patience and unity. No looting, no break-ins, no whining.

No where in the world is equipped to handle anything Japan is currently trying to deal with. 8.9 quake would completly destroy everything in a 50 mile radius and give extreem damage up to 200 miles away. If that were to happen in San Fran it would make the 1988 tremmor seem like a hiccup. If the San Andraes has a full blown quake that is comparable in magnitude to the other 3 on the same techtonic plate. San Fran will be gone.

If the Cascadia fault goes then it would create about a 15 foot tsunami that would devastate the entire West coast and Alaska. Not to mention heavy quake damage on the Washington and Oregon coasts.

3 of the 4 corners have released their pressure the only one left now is the US corner wether that be San Andraus or Cascadia or god forbid both. The US corner will be the last one needed to release pressure and should happen within a year from now. 2012 anyone?

I absolutely agree with you, if we get hit anytime soon, our country will go into a catastrophic plunge, many people that I work with and speak to have no concern at all of what is going on in japan or across the world. It sickens me to think that none of my friends have any concern, they just party and look forward to having more money. So I kinda have hopes that maybe if a tragedy hits U.S that people will stop being greedy. Then again we already had Katrina and oil spill nothing has changed.

wow Gator, you need new friends, really

haha, well I mean there like O damn that sucks, but it's like no passion what so ever. Completely numb to everything, you know its normal news. I mean I do understand that were all freshmen and college and popularity is a big thing but it just upsets me that any one I talk to about is not intrigued by what's going on and I swear its the majority of American teenagers. I feel like I'm the only sane one who is worried about what is going on.

I was very happy to see my teenage nephew note Japan's crisis on his Facebook page, saying he was keeping them in his prayers...

I gave money last week to International Medical Corps. I don't have much to give, but I'll find something each paycheck. Prayers are fine --although I don't believe in them--

And not to say that you or your nephew are in any way wrong in sending your prayers (I just call them intentions and leave it at that, but that's me)

How about encouraging your nephew to get together with his friends and send money? Good works are as important as good intentions.

Just this morning I was listening to the news as I readied my 5 year old grandson and myself for our trip to his preschool.

He came up to me and said, "Grandma, I'm so so sad about the people in Japan. I wish I could go there to help."

So, OhioGators, take comfort that there are younger people out there who care. I know of many. What a monumental tragedy. They deserve the help of all countries.

The information I found states that the megathrust quake in Sumatra in 2004 was between 9.1 and 9.3 on the Richter Scale and created a 100ft tsunami. The Cascadia Subduction Zone is quite capable of popping a minimum 9.0. If that happens, the entire west coast from Cape Mendocino to above Vancouver Island is in danger of being submerged by water and covered with pyroclastic flows if the volcanoes erupt and melt the glaciers.

Check out the article I wrote and the poll I included on Are We Ready for a Big Quake in the Pacific Northwest?

I work with teens, 17 - 20, and I have to agree with Ohio Gators. Generally, teens have no time for their parents, teachers, or anyone outside their Facebook/tweet/phone list. they're too wrapped up in themselves. Of course, they're not interested in religion of any kind - yet. I personally know of beautiful exceptions to the rule, and they are Christians.

Ohio Gators, you will keep/hold your compassion within your heart always. I think you're a gem amongst a lot of gravel. Bill you are so right about most teens today. I am glad my 18 yr. old son feels compassion as Gator does and is empathetic towards others pain and trials. Maybe I am wrong but I feel parents have quite a lot to do with how their kids react to others sufferings and trials. He has grown up seeing his Dad struggle after being in an explosion and terribly burned. He never knew his Dad as 'normal' but always disabled. So he has learned compassion and was taught at a young age about being kind to others no matter their physical state, social status etc. But that's another topic. Bless the people of Japan and may they have strenght to get through this disaster of epic proportions.

The eyes cannot always see. We must SEE with our hearts!

Nobody can be prepared enough for something of that magnitude.

I don't know what "prepared enough" means, but I do think that we could certainly have done a lot better in NOLA. That disaster was not unpredictable The hurricanes are annual events and there is always a possibility for a category 5. Most people knew the levees would likely be overwhelmed by that, and what would happen if they failed. Yet no one had any idea what to do. Many people in Japan were saved because of the tsunami warning system, sirens and knowledge about what to do. They have disaster planning and preparation there.

We had nothing in NOLA, and then compounded the problem by doing an abysmal job responding. Part of the problem is that if you don't believe in government you don't staff government agencies with competent leadership. FEMA is a case in point, and Michael Brown was not qualified to do that job.

Although this is about the damage to Japan and by the way instead of listing their shortcomings how about looking at their sucesses? I do have to note that most people lump the local, state and federal governemnt into one group. However, the federal government can't intervene unless and until the local (read city and state) governments ask for their help. Initially New Oleans Mayor Nagin and the Gov said they had the situation under control and didn't need the Fed help..... so..

To my point above, given the magnatude of this tragedy kudos have to go to the Japanese for their preparedness. It's easy to judge what they don't have but how about what they do have??? The USA should take lessons from the Japanese preparedness and ALL Americans should take note of the behavior of the Japanese people.

FEMA should get schooled by the Japanese on preparedness, logistics and coordination from the Japanese. The USA would unfortunately, be lucky to do half as well as the Japanese are doing given the scope of the damage.

Problem with Katrina was this - Everyone in NO had 3 - 4 days to run for it and quite a few decided to stay behind and "ride-it-out" - The magnitude of Natural Disasters can be devastating to say the lesat - the way the "locals" handle it afterwards can be even more damning!

Traveler, You could contact the International Red Cross.

There would be a way to be prepared if we would set aside the flipping politics, greed, and 'worrying' about spending too much money. The Japan incident is bad because they weren't prepared for the tsunami. Which poses the question: How much is the well-being of a country's people worth? A lot in my book.

G-rant, they were prepared, just not for one of that level. If they were totally unprepared, the devestation would have been on the order of the 2004 tsunami most likely, as this quake was almost as powerful, and possibly had as big of a land displacement as the Sumatra quake.

I have an extra room. If anyone can connect the dots, I would be happy to sponsor a child refugee until s/he could return home. I'm sure many Japanese parents would want their child to be safe, (well, as safe as one can be in Ohio,) while they work on rebuilding. Does anyone know how this can be facilitated?

g-RANT I beg to differ Japan was very prepared more than most and it still overwhelmed them. You seem to think that throwing money at it is the answer, so how much is enough? How much are you willing to set aside say more than 60-80 percent of your income (not talking disposable income) are you willing to put your money where your mouth is?

Grant, I take all precautions in my home where fire is concerned but mother nature may have other ideas like a lightning strike. So no matter how prepared we are for anything in life there is always something that can come along and knock us right off our feet. Basically the people of Japan have one option to make themselves totally prepared and that is leave the island all together. But who is to say if they move here they won't be killed by a tornado or a car accident?

Zapper, Try the International Red Cross or even the United Way. I think that is very generous of you and I think maybe you must have a little Japanese in your blood too due to your compassion. Good luck and I hope you can help.

G-rant, I don’t think anybody could have foreseen having such a large section of land literally dropping two feet downwards.

But of course there have been talks about California breaking off and dropping into the sea for decades so now maybe they will take it more seriously.

Naw, I’ll take that back, they won’t take it seriously.

There are too many idiots there that won’t accept the depreciation of their real-estate value and they will try to debunk the possibility of it.

grump, that is because Japan has been hit with earthquakes and tsunamis since before America was discovered by Columbus. The Japanese as a whole are not as emotional as Americans. They see what has to be done and they get to doing it.

States other than Louisiana have had hurricane damage and have taken care of it themselves, by pulling on their own bootstraps.

If you want a good explanation of how tough the Japanese are, look at before and after photos of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and see what they were dealt, and how beautiful those cities are now. They know how to rebuild. They have dedication, unity and respect. Wow! What do we have like that? Nobody's dedicated (generally speaking) to our country; with all the "little countries" within the US (Mexican - American, African - American, Irish - American, etc.), there is absoluty no unity - everyone is pushing their own agendas; respect - just watch what happens at nearly every disaster in the US - LOOTING! So many people think the world owes them a living. Sad.

You got it right. There is no money to be made in disaster relief. Look at who is skating though this current financial crisis without a care in the world. People who are connected to the government. This includes all the ones working in our military hardware industries. If that is the price one must pay for security I'll pass.

And invest in "precious metals" like lead and brass. Gold won't buy you anything.

Years ago I worked for OEP...which today is FEMA. The problem is they have politically appointed heads with no clue. The first thing is get the people out. Remove them from harm as quickly as possible. Then you go in and looking to help those who may be left. It is a matter of organization. There is no excuse for any country such as the U.S. and even Japan to be running out of food and water. During the 50's and 60's the gov. here stock piled food for such an emergency, they do not do that anymore saying it is too expensive to maintain. I say bah humbug to that. While Rome burns Nero fiddles...or plays golf or goes to Rio. Figure it out.

Being prepared for such tragedies is not one of the fundamental objects of the "Federal" government; hence, the "Federal" government is not, and cannot be, the first line of defense or responder, but rather the individual States, as the true sovereigns in this Union, are.

The People and their individual States foolishly (and unconstitutionally) put too much faith in the "Federal" government to dig them out of problems that either they create themselves or for which they failed to prepare for due to their own negligence and mismanagement -- things for which this Union was not formed and for which the "Federal" government was not created -- things that one State has no right to demand of another any more than Japan has a right to demand of California or Iowa.

Extremely powerful images, my heart breaks for the people of Japan.... With so many earthquakes, floods, tornados and even a few tsunami's I sure hope everyone is right with God.

Japan is much more prepared than the United States. An earthquake (ranked #3 of all time), a sunami, four reactors in various states of meltdown and they are doing more than we did after Katrina.

Such a powerful picture. The first thing I saw as I panned out were the childrens book. To think that could have been my children. My thoughts and prayers are with them in this impossible and trying time.

Is anyone ever truly prepared for such a disaster. Even with all our handbooks and disaster drills, ain't nothing like the real thing especially Mother Nature at her worst

The only way to be prepared is to be ready to meet the LORD JESUS CHRIST EVERYDAY and EVERY HOUR. We may meet GOD any day ready or not. I fear many were not. But those of us who are alive need to pray and get all SINS covered by the blood of JESUS CHRIST. Things of this world may pass away by any numberof disasters and truly this shows an indescribable magnitude of horrible but our souls will live on either in Heaven with God or forever banned from HIS presence in Hell. Piles of metal can be made into something new, but lost lives are always gone. Yes take precautions for possible disasters, but greater yet is the need to be prepared for our last breath and eternity.

Jo-411, that is the kind of ideological nonsense that gets people killed. Sovereign states my a**. The states are not able to accept foreign assistance, for one thing, only the feds can do that. So the billions the US received in aid from various countries would not have been available for Katrina. And the states have extremely limited financial resources for responding to disasters, that is why the first thing the governor does is declare a disaster so they can get federal funds and federal personnel and assistance.

This is not the 50-states-that-can-do-whatever-they-want-within-a-loose-framework. This is the United States of America. We are all governed by one constitution, and one unifying body of law and if you can't get behind that, then at least try to realize that the argument you are putting forward has been soundly whupped. The idea of sovereign individual states was utterly rejected by the founding fathers, and defeated in the Civil War.

.

hey old senior! funny you said "on your own" ! i seriously think our federal govt plan is called, "the on your own plan."

I feel the loss of life and property and can relate somewhat to their pain. We survived Katrina, Rita and Ike. I disagree about most Americans not having the constitution to withstand these events. Even though we got very little Federal assistance, the local cities, governments, churches and people came together like a well oiled machine to get through these disasters. Our true colors showed when we were most down the most.

I also cannot comprehend this and the ignorance of the Gilbert Gottfrieds, Glenn Becks, and Rush Limbaughs of the world in the face of this atrocity. We have @!$%# millionaire football players and owners whining about how tough they have it. They don't make enough money. I know that may be a bad example, but I just don't understand how the world will ever be the same after something like this, yet some people seem to have no sympathy or understanding besides their own sense of entitlement. They only see their narrow and greedy little lives. I'm glad we live in a country where people can be free to be idiots (and be financially rewarded for it), but how can you not just stop and realize life is precious, and you never know when something like this could happen to you. Do you want to be remembered for trying to help people. Or do you want to be remembered for helping yourself?

Sorry Hurricane Survivor but we have more than 10 minutes notice of a hurricane unlike a sunami. They had 0 minutes notice of a devastating earthquake and then throw in a nuclear disaster to boot - no comparison.

@LaLa - I live alone in a 2 bedroom townhome in Seattle. I could host a young couple. I think that's a fabulous idea. What I am most intrigued about, is the peoples manners and integrity. They don't loot, push and shove each other out of the way. Pull guns on others to get their food...in other words, it's not New Orleans. it's truly amazing how these people are handling this. Personally and honestly, if it were me, I would have rather died than have to face the tasks that would require rebuilding my life. At the age of 50, I've lived a good life.

Yes, The people in Japan are acting like the people did in IA and ND when they had their floods. They just rolled up their sleeves and started fixing things. No looting, shooting or raping. Too many people just want to sit and wait for a handout.

Please don't take this the wrong way. I did a little research and found the following: Hiroshima (Little Boy: 90,000 - 166,000 dead) and Nagasaki (Fat Man: 60,000 - 80,000 dead). The dead in those two cities were mostly innocent women, children and men at the beginning of their work/school day. Also, the bombing missions were executed just hours after an "all clear" signal was announced. That's not to mention injuries, future health problems encountered by survivors, or the death tolls from earlier non-nuclear bombing missions carried out by B25b Mitchell and B29 Superfortress aircraft.

In comparison, the overall death toll at Pearl Harbor reached 2,350, including 68 civilians, and 1,178 injured.

Hi Steve, I must have missed something. What does that have to do with the earthquake and tsunami last week?

The numbers I mentioned were from 'initial blasts', not the deaths from lingering effects.

Yeah, Steve, real inequities there. When fighting a war it is important to keep tabs on the casualties and make sure that you keep it even. Never mind that an entire horrible war ensued between Pearl Harbor and bombing Japan, just keep comparing your apples to your oranges if it makes you happy.

John, Japan is a very small country, and you may have noticed that it is composed of islands. People really don't have much choice but to live near the water. Most of those people were farmers and fisherman, not rich people living at their seaside mansions.

I think you are right. We are no match for mother nature. It's who we are as a people that matters after the fact.

c-1197682:

Yes of course every country has a different culture but to suggest that Japan has no government programs helping out in this disaster is just plain... well I'll be nice, wrong. They are definitely depending on the government for help as well as helping themselves. Don't forget, for example Japan has a heavily subsidized national health program where the government pays 70% of your insurance. Sounds civilized.

Click on LOL's name and read his posts. Enlightening. The guy's a troll.

Jimbo, where are you getting information that these people will flee their country and come to america?? Why would they? to live n a well intended rv?? didn't you learn from Katrina??

only americans believe that their government SHOULD, COULD AND WOULD BE PREPARED "IF ONLY".

Human nature will decide who will and won't overcome. Case in point - Katrina!!

I agree with you 100%!!

Read about Teddy Roosevelt and the San Francisco Earthquake. He got it done without the benefit of planes, helicopters, or any other modern technology. We are too busy being nasty naysayers and afraid to help each other that we are no longer a great country. Heck, we aren't even good enough to be mediocre.

Dear c-1197682 --

I suspect that Americans do not really believe that their government should, could. would be prepared. It's really a blame game. No one could be prepared for what mother nature has to offer.

It is just so convenient to blame somebody -- usually someone from the "other party" or maybe someone with lots of money (sue them and maybe get some of it seems to be the theory). Blame, blame, blame. Even the media gets in on the blame game and creates controversy out of thin air. I suspect the public really knows better, in general. Although, to be sure, there are those people who really do believe that their unhappiness and misery is all someone else's fault. It isn't, of course.

wow!!!

oh yeah how much did you give

WinkWnk donated $2,500 to the Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami fund. And how much have you donated LOL-919751?

Here's your chance....

http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main&s_src=RSG000000000&s_subsrc=RCO_ResponseStateSection

Joe - to your point.. some communities are better than others when it comes to helping their neighbors and themselves. Unfortunately the ME ME ME entitlement mindset is more prevalent, but you are right, the differences are night and day. Take a look a the political differences between those states, it's eye opening...