Hagibis
- At October 14, 2019
- By admin
- In Annes Letters
0
Dear Family and Friends,
“Are you all right?”
“Is everything OK?”
We were reaching out to friends as Hagibis marched her relentless way up the backbone of eastern Japan. First in the south, then the center, then here in the northeast. The news gave live reportage, so we knew minute by minute what was happening, what to expect. Thousands were evacuated into well prepared centers, listening, waiting, feeling safe, but anxious.
“Anne, do you want to come to my house the way you did in 2011 after the devastating earthquake and tsunami? Aren’t you afraid?” my thoughtful Japanese friend and “sister” asked.
“I am fine, thank you,” I replied, knowing my small apartment was much better built than the rickety old house I had lived in before. The house that collapsed in the quake, forcing me to live with Izumi and her mom for weeks.
Remembering 2011, though, I began my queries to friends, from south to north, many right here in Miyagi Prefecture, even parts of Sendai. “Has the storm hit where you are yet? Are you safe?” Replies of all sorts came flooding in.
* * *
We have battened down the hatches, like the rest of Japan.
Hagibis on the way. Lessons at Toyo cancelled (😁), my Japanese lesson also cancelled (🙂). Trains are stopping, shops closing, even hospitals will be closed. Locally, people have taped up their windows, tied their bikes up and taken their pot plants in.
Now we wait; and it is still many hours away.
It is already raining hard here, but not so windy yet.
A day indoors, and NO rugby today!
* * *
Yes, I’m good.
No evacuation alert was issued for the area I live in.
I don’t think the river’s water will reach here.
* * *
Thank you very much for asking. We are fine.
Here, at home it’s almost as in Sendai. Strong winds and heavy rain, but no more. We haven’t been out also.
In Ise, sadly, things are not good.
Yuki and Takumi seem to be well. But the whole thing is terrifying and we feel for the affected areas.
* * *
Hagibis arrived in Sendai right on schedule, about 9 pm, although she had been announcing her impending arrival with rain and wind for several days before. When her demanding presence was fully here, she was unbelievable. Sheets of rain so thick and solid they were like a raging wall of water, winds so strong they were like madmen of whirling insanity. Anything that had not been tied down or bolted shut was at their mercy. The pounding was so loud it was impossible to concentrate or hear much of anything else. Somehow we made it through the night.
The next day, bright and sunny, I went out to see what the world was like. Wet still, people repairing leaky roofs, hardly anyone on the streets.
Later I re-contacted friends to see how they had fared.
* * *
Here the sun is shining, a light breeze, birds a flying (even happy to see a crow), the dragonflies are back and I saw a butterfly.
Maria evacuated downstairs, we had some mopping up to do around leaking windows, but apart from that all is well.
Terrible, terrible flooding in many places, poor people!
* * *
We survived! How was the typhoon in Sendai?? I wonder how it affected Fukushima? That’s probably top secret:(
The books are mostly OK and I’m drying them in the sun.
During the worst of the typhoon, we and our neighbors had a typhoon party!
* * *
I went back to Yamagata on Friday and stayed with my family. And we are safe!
How about you? Is your home okay?
My family were planing to go to Ibaraki this weekend, but it was canceled. My grandmother in Ibaraki was fine, but, unfortunately, my cousins’ house in Tochigi is flooded.
The typhoon was so strong and many people in the Honshu area are in trouble like my cousins’ family, but, at least, I hope the people are safe.
* * *
I walked as close as I could to the Tama River last night to survey the scene, but water had filled the streets long before I could reach the banks. I don’t know if any homes were actually submerged, but I fear that quite a few were.
Will find out more today when I take my walk.
There was a dog that was having the time of its life last night as its owners tossed a ball into the flooded (but not dangerously so) street. The owner told me they usually go to the river for that but had to make do. The dog was treating it like Christmas morning 🙂
* * *
Now I watch the news and see the devastation. Thousands of homes flooded, years and billions of yen ahead of repair work. Life goes on. But I hold images of the first responders immersed in the floods and mudslides searching for people, taking them to safety. Such care, such courage. And the victims, such bravery, resolve and determination. These precious traits, surely, will be what carry us through, as they always have.
Love,
Anne
“Are you all right?”
“Is everything OK?”
We were reaching out to friends as Hagibis marched her relentless way up the backbone of eastern Japan. First in the south, then the center, then here in the northeast. The news gave live reportage, so we knew minute by minute what was happening, what to expect. Thousands were evacuated into well prepared centers, listening, waiting, feeling safe, but anxious.
“Anne, do you want to come to my house the way you did in 2011 after the devastating earthquake and tsunami? Aren’t you afraid?” my thoughtful Japanese friend and “sister” asked.
“I am fine, thank you,” I replied, knowing my small apartment was much better built than the rickety old house I had lived in before. The house that collapsed in the quake, forcing me to live with Izumi and her mom for weeks.
Remembering 2011, though, I began my queries to friends, from south to north, many right here in Miyagi Prefecture, even parts of Sendai. “Has the storm hit where you are yet? Are you safe?” Replies of all sorts came flooding in.
* * *
We have battened down the hatches, like the rest of Japan.
Hagibis on the way. Lessons at Toyo cancelled (😁), my Japanese lesson also cancelled (🙂). Trains are stopping, shops closing, even hospitals will be closed. Locally, people have taped up their windows, tied their bikes up and taken their pot plants in.
Now we wait; and it is still many hours away.
It is already raining hard here, but not so windy yet.
A day indoors, and NO rugby today!
* * *
Yes, I’m good.
No evacuation alert was issued for the area I live in.
I don’t think the river’s water will reach here.
* * *
Thank you very much for asking. We are fine.
Here, at home it’s almost as in Sendai. Strong winds and heavy rain, but no more. We haven’t been out also.
In Ise, sadly, things are not good.
Yuki and Takumi seem to be well. But the whole thing is terrifying and we feel for the affected areas.
* * *
Hagibis arrived in Sendai right on schedule, about 9 pm, although she had been announcing her impending arrival with rain and wind for several days before. When her demanding presence was fully here, she was unbelievable. Sheets of rain so thick and solid they were like a raging wall of water, winds so strong they were like madmen of whirling insanity. Anything that had not been tied down or bolted shut was at their mercy. The pounding was so loud it was impossible to concentrate or hear much of anything else. Somehow we made it through the night.
The next day, bright and sunny, I went out to see what the world was like. Wet still, people repairing leaky roofs, hardly anyone on the streets.
Later I re-contacted friends to see how they had fared.
* * *
Here the sun is shining, a light breeze, birds a flying (even happy to see a crow), the dragonflies are back and I saw a butterfly.
Maria evacuated downstairs, we had some mopping up to do around leaking windows, but apart from that all is well.
Terrible, terrible flooding in many places, poor people!
* * *
We survived! How was the typhoon in Sendai?? I wonder how it affected Fukushima? That’s probably top secret:(
The books are mostly OK and I’m drying them in the sun.
During the worst of the typhoon, we and our neighbors had a typhoon party!
* * *
I went back to Yamagata on Friday and stayed with my family. And we are safe!
How about you? Is your home okay?
My family were planing to go to Ibaraki this weekend, but it was canceled. My grandmother in Ibaraki was fine, but, unfortunately, my cousins’ house in Tochigi is flooded.
The typhoon was so strong and many people in the Honshu area are in trouble like my cousins’ family, but, at least, I hope the people are safe.
* * *
I walked as close as I could to the Tama River last night to survey the scene, but water had filled the streets long before I could reach the banks. I don’t know if any homes were actually submerged, but I fear that quite a few were.
Will find out more today when I take my walk.
There was a dog that was having the time of its life last night as its owners tossed a ball into the flooded (but not dangerously so) street. The owner told me they usually go to the river for that but had to make do. The dog was treating it like Christmas morning 🙂
* * *
Now I watch the news and see the devastation. Thousands of homes flooded, years and billions of yen ahead of repair work. Life goes on. But I hold images of the first responders immersed in the floods and mudslides searching for people, taking them to safety. Such care, such courage. And the victims, such bravery, resolve and determination. These precious traits, surely, will be what carry us through, as they always have.
Love,
Anne
