As bad as the nuclear situation is the biggest problem they are facing is still simple logistics...

[Locut0s]

The nuclear problem is VERY worrisome. However until it develops into something further, ie until it goes Chernobyl, the biggest problem Japan is facing is still the simple logistics of getting food an water to the worst affected areas. It's amazing that even Japan, arguably the most technologically advanced and best prepared country in the world for this type of thing, is facing some of the same problems that occured during the 2004 Indian ocean tsunami. This is simply a testament to the depth and breadth of this disaster. There are still many areas where rescuers simply have not yet been able to reach and even those areas that they have are facing issues with food and water. Until these problems are solved and until the nuclear problem get's worse (if it does) this is still the primary disaster. So far the earthquake and tsunami have probably killed tens of thousands the nuclear plant may cause many deaths true but currently it has yet to cause any. I think we need to keep these facts in mind.

[aquart]

1. Yep. And every new village they reach is another 10,000 gone.

[Adsos Letter]

2. Yeah; and the weather in northern Japan has become winter-like...

with freezing temps., snow/rain, and generally miserable/deadly weather for many, many people.

[Yo_Mama]

3. That is very true

Just a few have been killed at the plants, but now they have a situation where even some of the rescued survivors are suffering from exposure and lack of food and water, not to mention medical treatment.

[flamingdem]

4. They need fuel and electricity, the US govt outght to be helping them nt

[wonderjust25]

5. i am really concerned. nt.

[RegieRocker]

6. How many sieverts a day do you feel comfortable being radiated?

10 20 30 what is ok for you?

[Locut0s]

7. About 1mSV/YR though more is prob safe. It wouldn't mater if I was freezing or starving to death...

I'm simply saying that currently the "fallout" from the tsunami and earthquake is far more serious than the fallout from the reactor problems. Not that the nuclear issue won't get really bad, it could but we need to maintain perspective.

[RegieRocker]

8. It getting bad is the perspective. If you were freezing to death a

Nuclear reactor melt down would keep you warm and you probably wouldn't be hungry.

[Zorra]

9. This is due to an extreme lack of foresight/planning by the Japanese government.

Japan experiences on average over 1500 earthquakes per year. This disaster was totally predictable and a reasonably accurate emergency preparedness model should have been created. Then an emergency preparedness plan should have been put into place that provided basic safety, shelter, and sustenance for needy persons.

This is what a decent democratic government would have done to insure reasonable basic comfort for people faced with total disaster.

Then again, a decent democratic government would never have allowed nuclear reactors in such a small country when it experiences over 1500 earthquakes a year.

[pokerfan]

10. shelter/water/food

Rule of Threes: In extreme situations you cannot survive more than:

# 3 minutes without air
# 3 hours without shelter
# 3 days without water
# 3 weeks without food

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. This actually complicates the logistics situation

and the chernobyl scenario might be here by tomorrow... which will only complicates the logistics and delivery picture by orders of magnitude.