2011 Japanese Disasters Resources

A magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck near Sendai, Japan, on March 11, spawning a series of other disasters, including a tsunami, a dam break, and the shutdown of a nuclear power plant. The following news, resources and information might be useful in understanding the impacts of this catastrophic series of disasters.

Earthquake

News and Commentary

Articles and Other Media of Interest

U.S. Sees Array of New Threats at Japan’s Nuclear Plan, New York Times, April 5

In Wake Of Nuclear Crisis, TEPCO's Plans Questioned, NPR, April 5

Japan Disaster Sparks Social Media Innovation, Associated Press, March 31

Blindsided by the Ferocity Unleashed by a Fault, New York Times, March 21

The Best-Laid Plans..., Slate, March 17

Size of Quake Surprises Seismologists, Los Angeles Times, March 11

Japan's Strict Building Codes Saved Lives, New York Times, March 11

Commentary

Affordable Earthquake Insurance, Los Angeles Times, March 19

On Earthquakes, Warming and Risk (Mis)Perception, Andrew Revkin, New York Times, March 12

Did Engineering Save Lives in the Japanese Earthquake?,The Atlantic, March 11

Articles featuring comments by Hazards Center Director Kathleen Tierney

After the Flood: Triage for Disaster Recovery, New Scientist, March 18

Quake is 5th Biggest, but Japan Best Prepared, Associated Press, March 11

Web Resources

Mega Disaster in a Resilient Society
This report, produced by Kyoto University in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami, has information on the event, damages, and an especially interesting section on response.

Japan Earthquake: The Aftermath
Science has compiled a collection of articles and resources, including answers to commonly asked questions.

The Honshu Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Clearinghouse
The Earthquake Engineering and Research Insititute has posts from engineers, reports from the field, and links to a variety of online resources that help in understanding the many facets of the disasters in Japan.

USGS Japan Earthquake Information Page
This U.S. Geological Survey page has historical and current information on Japanese earthquakes, institutions specializing in Japanese earthquake hazards, and maps and tectonic information.

The International Institute of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering Tohoku Earthquake
This site has information on the March 11 earthquake and resulting tsunami, including animations and other resources.

Earthquake-Report
This site, which bills itself as "probably the best (non-governmental) earthquake reporting Web site in the world," does a pretty good job of living up to its claims. With data, articles, and preparedness resources, Earthquake-Report offers a lot of information on historical and current events.

Incorporated Research Institute for Seismology (IRIS)
This site offers scholarly research, education, and earthquake-hazard mitigation information. IRIS is a university organization that collects and distributes research on the Earth's interior.

MCEER Information Service
This is a comprehensive source of information on earthquake engineering, hazards mitigation, disaster preparedness, and additional related topics.

Natural Hazards Center Earthquake Resources

Natural Hazards Center Library Bibliography
A brief bibliography of earthquake resources available in our library.

California Shakeout Scenario Supplementary Reports
These supplementary reports to the California Shakeout exercise examine potential vulnerabilities such as fire following an earthquake, the performance of concrete buildings and unreinforced masonry, compromised hazardous materials and pipelines, and other concerns.

Natural Hazards Center Earthquake Resource Page
A wide collection of online resources ranging from earthquake science to preparedness and response.

QR166: Damage Assessment After the Paso Robles Earthquake: Lessons for Emergency Management
A look at how damage assessment facilitates response and recovery efforts.

QR160: El Salvador Earthquakes: Resource Loss, Traumatic Event Exposure, and Psychological Functioning
An examination of psychological response to earthquakes by people existing in an already traumatic environment.

QR102: First Aid Response to the Kobe Earthquake
A brief survey of medical treatment provided by healthcare workers and lay people in the hours after the Kobe, Japan, earthquake.

QR83: Response to a Damaging Earthquake in an Environment of Political Turmoil
Using the 1995 Dinar, Turkey, earthquake as a backdrop, the author examines the impact of an earthquake on a community already experiencing political, financial, and religious strife.

Tsunami

News and Commentary

Articles and Other Media of Interest

Japan Rethinks Tsunami Safety, Los Angeles Times, March 29

Japan: Warning System Worked but Tsunami Was Too Powerful, Wales Online, March 16

In Onagawa, Japan's Tsunami Destroys Community, Washington Post, March 15

Japan Tsunami "Could be 1,000 Year Event," BBC News, March 15

Japan's Top-Notch Tsunami Preparation May Have Prevented Worst, AlertNet, March 12

Commentary

Get Ready for Disasters, The Jakarta Post, March 31

Web Resources

Mega Disaster in a Resilient Society
This report, produced by Kyoto University in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami, has information on the event, damages, and an especially interesting section on response.

EERI's Tohoku Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Clearinghouse
This site has a wealth of information ranging from geotechnical quake data to the social and economic impacts. New posts and early reports from the earthquake- and tsunami-affected areas are added often.

NOAA Center for Tsunami Research Honshu Event Page
This page has tsunami-specific information, including models, animations, early warning data, references, and media contacts.

Esri Tsunami and Earthquake Resouces
This compilation of resources includes Twitter feeds, live news streaming, maps, volunteer resources, and various webcam, radio, and video sources.

Tsunami Maps
The International Charter Space and Major Disasters and the Asian Institute of Technology have compiled a large collection of maps showing the extensive damage cause by the tsunami. Earthquake damage is also shown in some cases.

The Honshu Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Clearinghouse
The Earthquake Engineering and Research Insititute has posts from engineers, reports from the field, and links to a variety of online resources that help in understanding the many facets of the disasters in Japan.

Natural Hazards Center Tsunami Resources

Tsunami Survivors Tell Their Tales: Learning From the Neighbors, Natural Hazards Observer, May 2010, p. 1

'No Messenger Is More Credible …,' Natural Hazards Observer, March 2010, p. 5

Tsunami Timelines, Natural Hazards Observer, January 2009, p. 3

Nuclear Hazard

News and Commentary

Articles and Other Media of Interest

Water Pumping Begins at Japan Nuclear Reactor, New York Times, April 19

Tokyo Utility Lays Out Plan for Its Reactors, New York Times,

A Wary Drive up to the Gate of Fukushima, Los Angeles Times, April 15

Fukushima's Bio-Robots, Slate, April 11

U.S. Healthcare System Unprepared for Major Nuclear Emergency, ProPublica, April 7

Special Report: Japan Engineers Knew Tsunami Could Overwhelm Fukushima Plant, Reuters, March 30

Grim Living Conditions Add to Misery of Japan's Nuclear Plant Heroes, Reuters, March 29

Gaps in U.S. Radiation Monitoring System Revealed, Associated Press, March 26

Nuclear Power's Global Fallout, Science, March 25

Nuclear Power Report: 14 "Near Misses" at US Plants Due to "Lax Oversight," Christian Science Monitor, March 18

In Japan, Radiation Concerns Are Ingrained in Experience, Washington Post, March 17

Nuclear Experts Explain Worst-Case Scenario at Fukushima Power Plant, Scientific American, March 12

Commentary

Who's to Blame for Fukushima?, Los Angeles Times, April 1

Japan's Nuclear Crisis: 6 Reasons Why We Should—and Shouldn't—Worry, Christian Science Monitor, March 18

Articles featuring comments by Hazards Center Director Kathleen Tierney

Japan Crisis Spurs Survival Planning by U.S. Mormons, Reuters, April 2

Web Resources

Public Health Preparedness: Developing and Acquiring Medical Countermeasures Against Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Agents
This report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office how the Department of Health and Human Services develops and obtains countermeasures in case of biological and nuclear emergencies, as well as the challeges it faces in doing so effectively.

Radiation at Fukushima: Basic Issues and Concepts
This brief offers good information on radiation, health, and the impacts of the situation at Fukushima. Definitions of types of radiation and other terms are especailly useful.

NPR's Tracking the Latest at the Fukushima Nuclear Plant
This continually updated site lists Fukushima information by reactor and includes graphics illustrating current issues.

Japan GeigerMap
This map relies on crowdsourced Geiger counter readings from across the country to provide up-to-date information about radiation levels in Japan. You can also keep track of the Pacific Coast with the U.S. version here.

CDC Radiation Dispersal from Japan Information Page
This site provides basic information on radiation exposure specific to the Japanese nuclear crisis. Visitors will learn about particulates, contamination, routes of exposure, and more.

International Atomic Energy Agency Emergency Incident Center
The IAEA Emergency Incident Center focuses on international nuclear and radiological response and preparedness. Their site contains resources on general preparedness, the international response system, and the Japanese situation in particular.

World Nuclear News
This trade newspaper focuses on all aspects of nuclear energy and includes the latest on energy and the environment, safety and regulation, exploration, and other topics.

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness Special Nuclear Preparedness/Radiation Issue
This special open-access issue focuses on public health challenges facing responders, medical personal, and others after a nuclear detonation or radiation release.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's What You Need to Know About the Japan Nuclear Crisis
In this document, the NRC answers commonly asked questions about risk of exposure, the health effects of radiation, radiation monitoring, and other topics.

CDC Resource on Radiation and Potassium Iodide
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has compiled this information on the use—and dangers of—potassium iodide in protecting the thryroid from radiation exposure.

Natural Hazards Center Nuclear Hazard Resources

Natural Hazards Center Library Bibliography
A brief bibliography of nuclear/radiological disaster resources available in our library.

The Revenge of the Nukes, Natural Hazards Observer, March 2011, pp. 8-9

The Memories Linger On ... and On …, by RoseMarie Perez Foster, Natural Hazards Observer, November 2010, p. 1.

Phase Out Nukes? The Answer Depends on Where You Live, Natural Hazards Observer, November 2010, p. 5.

Economics, Aid, and Recovery

News and Commentary

Articles and Other Media of Interest

Disaster in Japan Exposes Supply Chain Flaw, Los Angeles Times, April 6

Online Mapping Shows Potential to Transform Relief Efforts, New York Times, March 28

From Society's Shadows, Yakuza Among First with Relief Supplies, Reuters, March 25

Lessons for Japan's Survivors: The Psychology of Recovery, New York Times, March 19

Stress Test for the Global Supply Chain, New York Times, March 19

Commentary

Creative Destruction, The New Yorker, March 28

Japan Is a Humanitarian Disaster, Not a Global Economic Crisis, The Atlantic, March 15

Web Resources

Japan Economic Overview
This early report by Namura Financial and Economic Research Center speculates on the economic impact the earthquake and resulting tsunami will have on Japan.