Some folks along the East Coast today got a feel for what it’s like living here in earthquake country. A quake, reportedly at least 5.8, struck about 80 miles from Washington D.C. in Virginia at around 2 p.m. EDT. The earthquake prompted evacuations from New York to Boston to Philadelphia to D.C.
The Los Angeles Times website has more on this surprise shaker on the East Coast and photos as well.
Photo: Pete Souza/White House -- President Obama signs a book of condolence in Washington D.C. for the victims of that earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan last Friday March 17, 2011
As the crisis in devastated Japan worsens, concern grows in the U.S. Today President Barack Obama went to the Japanese Embassy in Washington, D.C. and wrote a message in a book of condolence, before heading to the White House rose garden to update the American people on that tragic situation.
In the aftermath of recovering from a crippling 9.0 earthquake and a powerful tsunami, Japan is now struggling to avoid a nuclear catastrophe. At around 12:30 Pacific Time today, President Obama delivered a speech from the White House. Here is the text from the White House blog.
Good afternoon, everyone. Over the last several days, the American people have been both heartbroken and deeply concerned about the developments in Japan.
We’ve seen an earthquake and tsunami render unimaginable — an unimaginable toll of death and destruction on one of our closest friends and allies in the world. And we’ve seen this powerful natural disaster cause even more catastrophe through its impact on nuclear reactors that bring peaceful energy to the people of Japan.
Today, I wanted to update the American people on what we know about the situation in Japan, what we’re doing to support American citizens and the safety of our own nuclear energy, and how we are helping the Japanese people contain the damage, recover and rebuild.
First, we are bringing all available resources to bear to closely monitor the situation, and to protect American citizens who may be in harm’s way. Even as Japanese responders continue to do heroic work, we know that the damage to the nuclear reactors in Fukushima Daiichi plant poses a substantial risk to people who are nearby. That is why yesterday, we called for an evacuation of American citizens who are within 50 miles of the plant. This decision was based upon a careful scientific evaluation and the guidelines that we would use to keep our citizens safe here in the United States, or anywhere in the world.
Beyond this 50-mile radius, the risks do not currently call for an evacuation. But we do have a responsibility to take prudent and precautionary measures to educate those Americans who may be endangered by exposure to radiation if the situation deteriorates. That’s why last night I authorized the voluntary departures of family members and dependents of U.S. officials working in northeastern Japan.
All U.S. citizens in Japan should continue to carefully monitor the situation and follow the guidance of the U.S. and Japanese governments. And those who are seeking assistance should contact our embassy and consulates, which continue to be open and operational.
Second, I know that many Americans are also worried about the potential risks to the United States. So I want to be very clear: We do not expect harmful levels of radiation to reach the United States, whether it’s the West Coast, Hawaii, Alaska, or U.S. territories in the Pacific. Let me repeat that: We do not expect harmful levels of radiation to reach the West Coast, Hawaii, Alaska, or U.S. territories in the Pacific. That is the judgment of our Nuclear Regulatory Commission and many other experts.
Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and public health experts do not recommend that people in the United States take precautionary measures beyond staying informed. And going forward, we will continue to keep the American people fully updated — because I believe that you must know what I know as President.
Here at home, nuclear power is also an important part of our own energy future, along with renewable sources like wind, solar, natural gas and clean coal. Our nuclear power plants have undergone exhaustive study, and have been declared safe for any number of extreme contingencies. But when we see a crisis like the one in Japan, we have a responsibility to learn from this event, and to draw from those lessons to ensure the safety and security of our people.
That’s why I’ve asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to do a comprehensive review of the safety of our domestic nuclear plants in light of the natural disaster that unfolded in Japan.
Finally, we are working aggressively to support our Japanese ally at this time of extraordinary challenge. Search and rescue teams are on the ground in Japan to help the recovery effort. A disaster assistance and response team is working to confront the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. The U.S. military, which has helped to ensure the security of Japan for decades, is working around the clock.
To date, we’ve flown hundreds of missions to support the recovery efforts, and distributed thousands of pounds of food and water to the Japanese people. We’ve also deployed some of our leading experts to help contain the damage at Japan’s nuclear reactors. We’re sharing with them expertise, equipment, and technology so that the courageous responders on the scene have the benefit of American teamwork and support.
And the American people have also opened up their hearts. Many have given generously to support the ongoing relief efforts. The Red Cross is providing assistance to help meet the immediate needs of those who’ve been displaced. And I would encourage anybody who wants to lend a hand to go to usaid.gov to learn more — that’s usaid.gov — to find out how you can be helpful.
As I told Prime Minister Kan last night, and reaffirmed at the Japanese embassy here in Washington today, the Japanese people are not alone in this time of great trial and sorrow. Across the Pacific, they will find a hand of support extended from the United States as they get back on their feet. After all, we have an alliance that was forged more than a half century ago, and strengthened by shared interests and democratic values. Our people share ties of family, ties of culture, and ties of commerce. Our troops have served to protect Japan’s shores, and our citizens have found opportunity and friendship in Japan’s cities and towns.
Above all, I am confident that Japan will recover and rebuild because of the strength and spirit of the Japanese people. Over the last few days, they’ve opened up their homes to one another. They’ve shared scarce resources of food and water. They’ve organized shelters, provided free medical care, and looked out for their most vulnerable citizens. One man put it simply: “It’s a Japanese thing. When hard times hit, we have to help each other.”
In these hard times, there remains, nevertheless, hope for the future. In one small town that had been flattened by the tsunami, emergency workers rescued a four-month-old baby who had been swept out of her parents’ arms and stranded for days among the debris. No one can say for certain just how she survived the water and the wreckage around her. There is a mystery in the course of human events.
But in the midst of economic recovery and global upheaval, disasters like this remind us of the common humanity that we share. We see it in the responders who are risking their lives at Fukushima. We show it through the help that has poured into Japan from 70 countries. And we hear it in the cries of a child, miraculously pulled from the rubble.
In the coming days, we will continue to do everything we can to ensure the safety of American citizens and the security of our sources of energy. And we will stand with the people of Japan as they contain this crisis, recover from this hardship, and rebuild their great nation.
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National weather service graphic -- Tsunami warning red, advisory orange, watch yellow, and information only green March 11, 2011
In the aftermath of that massive 8.9 earthquake in Japan, a Tsunami is rolling across the Pacific today. Waves have hit Hawaii and are now splashing up on the coast of Southern California. The Los Angeles Times website has extensive coverage — including photos and video.
Some rocking, rolling, and shaking in the Southland late today. I was sitting in my car waiting for the red light to change at Glenoaks Boulevard and Olive Avenue, in front of the Burbank Central Library, when a 5.4 quake hit at 4:53 p.m.
My cruiser rocked so much, I thought for a moment one of those cell phone/texting distracted drivers had bumped into the ride. Not this time. It was a natural occurrence, a reminder, that we live in earthquake country.
The quake was centered 28 miles south of Palm Springs. It frayed nerves of workers in some Los Angeles high-rise buildings and even put the brakes on the rides at Disneyland for a while. Our local earthquake expert, Dr. Kate Hutton, a Caltech seismologist, says there have been at least two dozen aftershocks since the quake struck. So far, no local reports of damage or injuries.
The quake got Southlanders wondering about the “big one” that’s supposed to really shake-up SoCal one day. At a news conference, carried live by KNX 1070 newsradio, Dr. Hutton called this one “a drill” and said folks should get prepared because there’s no way to tell when the big jolt will rock our region.
Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Burbank Police unit
An Oregon transient, Jamie Willard, appeared in Burbank Superior Court today in connection with that bizarre shooting of two Burbank cops last Friday. Willard’s arraignment reportedly was postponed until July 22.
Yesterday’s weekly crime log, from Burbank Police Spokesman Sgt. Robert Quesada, gave a more detailed description of what happened outside of Kmart when two officers attempted to take Willard into custody. Willard, a shoplifting suspect, was handed over to the BPD cops by Kmart security on July 2 around noon.
Crime Log: The suspect had been handcuffed and was being escorted toward the police car parked outside when a struggle began. During the struggle, the suspect was able to use one of his hands to grab and remove the officer’s handgun. Multiple shots were fired with both officers being hit. One of the officers was able to wrestle the suspect to the ground and take the handgun away. The suspect was finally placed under control until additional officers arrived at the scene and assisted in controlling the suspect. Both officers were transported to the local hospital where they were treated.
Here’s an update on the officers condition. Derek Green was shot in the hand and suffered a leg injury. Green had surgery on the hand, but has been admitted to the hospital for another operation on it.
Officer Alex Gutierrez was lucky to be wearing a life saving bulletproof vest. Gutierrez was hit in the chest by gunfire several times and wounded in the leg. He has been treated at the hospital and released.
At last night’s Burbank City Council meeting, Interim Police Chief Scott LaChasse gave a report on the shooting incident and tried to marginalize the fact that the gun involved belonged to one of the police officers. The chief gave the council the “ongoing investigation” line and even asked witnesses and/or people with video of the incident to contact the BPD.
The basic fact that the weapon was snatched from one of the BPD cops by the suspect has been known since Friday afternoon. There are photos of the gun at the scene in newspapers and on the Internet. There is no really good reason it should have taken this long for the BPD to put out a report including that fact. It’s foot-dragging and smacks of some of the problems and archaic policies that fed the Burbank police scandal mess and still dog the BPD.
Frequently at Burbank Police Commission meetings, Chief LaChasse talks up a storm about building confidence in the community with a new “transparency” about the BPD. Yet, it seems LaChasse is finding it very hard to do more than just give lip service to this new ”transparency.”
UPDATE, Thursday, July 8, 2010: Some reported details, that the chief didn’t mention, about the Kmart shooting and the investigation being discussed over on the Semichorus blog.
During the recent budget debate, the public was told the Burbank Water and Power has to jack up water rates 13.5 % and electrical fees 2.9% to balance its books. No way could there be a possible freeze of those rates or even a reduction, despite the recession and the financial struggles of many Burbank residents. The four council members who voted for that budget and those rate hikes claimed at the time, they were being “fiscally responsible.” Dr. David Gordon was the only one to vote against that budget.
Last night, the same four council members, Dave Golonski, Jess Talamantes, Gary Bric, and Anja Reinke voted to hand raises of 7-to-11% to the top honchos at Burbank Water and Power, including General Manager Ron Davis — who already makes well-over $200,000 a year. Dr. Gordon was the lone council member to vote against those raises.
Councilman Talamantes, who almost broke from the pack, brought up the idea of getting outside surveys on the going salaries for utility executives and a report on how hard is it really to recruit them to come work and live in sunny California. But in the end, Talamantes caved and voted with the pack.
The City Council wants to keep Davis and his team at the helm of the Burbank Water and Power. Even though, Dr. Gordon pointed out, “money doesn’t buy loyalty.” No matter, four other council members voted to give hefty pay raises to Davis and the utility’s senior executives. By the way, Burbank Water and Power is owned by the taxpayers and so it’s their money that pays the salaries at the utility.
After the vote, I passed Davis outside the city council chamber. He looked pleased with himself. Yeah, the kind of sweet deal he got puts him in the league with the greedy, self-serving Wall Street sharks and those notorious studio bosses who plunder companies, even in hard economic times.
Photo: Pete Souza/White House – Ex-Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush attend a news conference with President Barack Obama. 01/16/10
Former President Bill Clinton is leaving for quake-ravaged Haiti tomorrow to deliver much needed aid supplies and to meet with local leaders. Clinton is the U.N. special envoy to Haiti. Meanwhile, Haitian officials still fear more than 100,000 people have been killed by last Tuesday’s huge 7.0 earthquake, according to CNN.
Yesterday, Former Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush joined President Barack Obama in the Rose Garden of the White House to announce the formation of a new relief effort, the Clinton Bush Fund. The two former presidents will lead this fundraising operation.
President Barack Obama:
“… what these gentlemen are going to be able to do is when the news media starts seeing its attention drift to other things but there’s still enormous needs on the ground, these two gentlemen of extraordinary stature I think are going to be able to help ensure that these efforts are sustained. And that’s why it’s so important and that’s why I’m so grateful that they agreed to do it.”
Ex-President George W. Bush:
“I commend the President for his swift and timely response to the disaster. I am so pleased to answer the call to work alongside President Clinton to mobilize the compassion of the American people…. The most effective way for Americans to help the people of Haiti is to contribute money.”
Ex-President Bill Clinton:
“Right now all we need to do is get food and medicine and water and a secure place for them to be. But when we start the rebuilding effort, we want to do what I did with the President’s father(George H.W. Bush) in the tsunami area. We want to be a place where people can know their money will be well spent; where we will ensure the ongoing integrity of the process.”
President Barack Obama:
“In the days ahead they’ll be asking everyone what they can do — individuals, corporations, NGOs, and institutions. And I urge everyone who wants to help to visit www.clintonbushhaitifund.org.”
Photo: Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times — Devastation in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, where survivors, and reportedly looters, were caught rummaging through the ruins. 01/16/10
Photo: Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times – Despair on the face of a homeless father as he clings to his sleeping son during another night in a park with other quake survivors in the hard hit city of Port-au-Prince. 01/16/10
The L.A. Times has more terrific images of the aftermath of that 7.0 catastrophic earthquake, which ripped through Haiti last Tuesday, January 12. Click here to check out the other photos, but be warned, some are quite graphic.
Concern here and around the world today for the victims of that devastating earthquake that tore through Haiti yesterday. The magnitude: an incredible 7.0. Tens of thousands are feared dead. Thousands of survivors are in desperate need of help. A short while ago, I got an e-mail about the situation in Haiti from President Obama.
Good Afternoon,
The reports and images from Haiti of collapsed hospitals, crumbled homes, and men and women carrying their injured neighbors through the streets are truly heart-wrenching. As we learn more about the extent of the devastation, our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti and Haitian Americans around our country who do not yet know the fate of their families and loved ones back home.
I have directed my Administration to respond with a swift, coordinated and aggressive effort to save lives. The people of Haiti will have the full support of the United States Government in the urgent effort to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble and to deliver the humanitarian relief — the food, water and medicine — that Haitians will need in the coming days.
This is also a time when we are reminded of the common humanity that we all share, and Americans have always responded to these situations with generosity of spirit. If you would like to support the urgent humanitarian effort in Haiti, I encourage you to visit our website where you can learn more about how to contribute:
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/HaitiEarthquake
Americans trying to locate family members in Haiti are encouraged to contact the State Department at (888) 407-4747.
We will continue to stand with the people of Haiti and keep them in our thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
I know it was not the “Big One” we’ve all been dreading here in Southern California, but yesterday’s quake felt like a major shaker to me. So what if the U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude was a measly 2.9. I’m telling you, when it struck at around 3:58 p.m. yesterday afternoon, I thought, uh-oh, this is going to be a wild ride.
First, I hear the roar and then came the rough shaking of the house. I was at the computer and literally grabbed the corner’s of the table to have something to hold onto. The epicenter reportedly was about three miles north of nearby La Crescenta. Well, it felt like the epicenter was right under my Burbank home or at least on my block.
No damage in my place. Putting things in perspective, I have to admit as earthquakes go, yesterday’s rocker was probably on the lightweight end of the scale of what we get here in the Southland. A little reminder that we live in earthquake country. The kind of reminder I don’t need for say, another couple of years or so. However, I doubt it will be that long before I experience another quake.
Some folks in Southern California are still recovering from last night’s reminder that we live in earthquake country. That reminder came in the form of a 4.7 quake which rocked, rolled, shimmied, or shifted the ground from side to side for up to 15 seconds, according to those who felt it. Experts say the shaker shook up a large section of the Southland at 8:39 p.m. and was followed by an aftershock of 3.1 a few minutes later.
The quake was centered near Lennox in the South Bay. I experienced the shaking in Burbank: so did folks in a number of places including Hemet, Woodland Hills, all the way down to Long Beach and parts of Orange and San Diego counties.
Photo: Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times
No reports of major injuries or damage, however, there were some shattered windows, smashed dishes, and other minor property damage. ln the above photo, Long Beach firefighters are shown cleaning up broken glass on the street, the result of broken windows in the Blue Ribbon Drapery shop.
