Earthquake / Tsunami Update on a Fellow Toastmaster

We Shall Overcome

今村亮

Janifer, thank you for your concern and pray for the victims. Kyushu seems all right except the volcanic ashes from Unzen and some tidal wave effects. Northen Japan, called Sanriku coast, was terrible. 

I saw Sendai Airport isolated in the water. Sendai city caught fire in flames. Awful. Japan, right after New Zealand! Gosh!

rio 

When I found the name Kesennuma among the cities hard wrecked by the Tohoku Earthquake, I immediately thought of Daniel Ross, founder of Kesennuma Toastmasters. I met him years ago in one of the District Conferences featuring speech contests in Tokyo. His name card read "Owner of Pine Rock School". Perhaps it was before the Kesennuma club was founded. Quite a likable man. So I asked him “I only know Kesennuma by name as a famous fishing port of saury and the bygone gold mines. How do you Like it?” He told me that the city is small (pop. 73k) all right, but he likes it because it has retained a natural beauty and small town charm with all the amenities than a bigger city has to offer. 

I was happy to hear he was “OK” from a fellow Toastmaster. But that was just one word on the people finder website. Today, I got the newest message through the same source of information and felt really relieved to read it written by him. 

Partial quote from the message to his mother in Florida.

"We are OK. House is OK (on high ground). Japan’s relatives Ok except for one elderly aunt still missing. Big Earthquake, Humongous Tsunami. Houses & business completely wiped out.

Then huge oil & fuel tanks for huge ships exploded & burned oil

All night @ seaport.  No power – phones – internet – water etc.

Even cell phone signals completely out or use blocked so emergency Services can use them exclusively.  15,000 dead in Miyagi.

Many others missing. Innumerable now in evacuee shelters . We are extremely lucky to be alive. Sirens and helicopters sound constantly. No way to send-receive email or phone."