CNN just used the m-word.

[no_hypocrisy]

Is probably or officially a meltdown and what does that mean for Japan and for us?

[truedelphi]

1. All I know is what

Japanese friends are telling me.

They live in California, but their families are in Tokyo.

Or they were in Tokyo. They are evacuating, as of Sunday morning.

This is a nation fully aware of what happens to a person's health once radiation is in the air.

And as of Sunday morning, there were no meltdowns being reported yet, but it is better to hit the road before the official word is out.

[MrsBrady]

3. where are they going?

and where can they go?

I actually invited a friend and his family to come to the US if they want.

[truedelphi]

7. The family has a summer home near Mt Fuji.

And our friends lost touch with them while they were (or are?) in route.

I can only imagine that the millions of people leaving Tokyo all at once would create one massive, Mother of All Traffic Jams. Plus how would gas stations keep up with the demand, especially given that fuel trucks may be sidelined?

[eShirl]

11. you are a true friend!

a friend indeed, as the saying goes
:grouphug:

[Botany]

2. No worries for us the head of the NRC was just on and said that ......

...... nothing in Japan can hurt us.


:scared:




Gregory Jaczko has spoken.

[flamingdem]

4. Even tho fallout from Chernobyl reached California, this is verified nt

[stockholmer]

6. he looks like a Jaczko should chuck, would chuck, chould chuck truth (in the bin)

:puke:

[Angry Dragon]

12. Looks like rich scott's brother

some part of the male anatomy

[Motown_Johnny]

5. Rachel is calling it a partial meltdown (change channels)

[no_hypocrisy]

8. Great. Now I'm partially relieved.

Thanks.

:hi:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

9. She's right.

I'm not watching Rachel (or any TV) at the moment, but there's a difference between partially melting rods and rods which have melted through the containment system.

It's the difference between 'very dangerous but there's hope to avert the worst', and 'the worst has already happened.'

[Divernan]

10. At TMI, 6 feet of the 16 foot rod melted down - a very close call.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

13. I shudder to imagine what it could have been like if it would have been a total loss

For obvious reason I've been thinking about TMI and Chernobyl recently. In both cases human failure (call it confusion and/or denial, I don't care which) were huge contributing factors. It makes one wonder if we're really ready as a species for such responsibilities.

[doc03]

14. Don't worry I am in charge

<a href="http://photobucket.com/images/homer%20simpson%20at%20work" target="_blank"><img src="" border="0" alt="homer simpson at work Pictures, Images and Photos"/></a>

[doc03]

17. Not to make light of the situation but this is the impression

I get from the news media. There is a report of an explosion then an expert comes on TV and predicts the end of the world, another says nothing to worry about. Then they have a report they aren't sure it was explosion or not. The fuel rods are melting down then they aren't melting down. One report says radiation has been released then it is followed up with there hasn't been any radiation. This conflicting information has been going on for 24 hours a day for 4 days now.

[Paradoxical]

15. It's not enough information to make any strong conclusions.

[no_hypocrisy]

16. Update. There's a breach.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x646659