Dear Readers: Related to my post on Black Swan theory yesterday, I just heard a report that the tsunami damage in California was 40 million dollars – money we just don’t have. I was a bit surprised, as reports (such as Lorraine’s) indicated the waves hitting our coast were not too large.
Click HERE for video details.
CNN Video - Damage to Harbors in Crescent City and Santa Cruz
Some details:
* Damage in Santa Cruz Harbor is estimated to $17 million; this tally includes 18 vessels that sank, over 100 that were damaged and 12 that have not currently been accounted for.
* Crescent City Harbor losses included over 50 vessels were damaged (15 of which sank).
* In Southern California, the only damage was on Catalina Island: 3 boats sank and a section of a pier was damaged.
Click HERE for a report with a video showing the wave impacting Crescent City harbor, with some charming commentary from locals.
It turns out that Crescent City is a tsunami target, this having been the 34th to strike the area since 1934. It seems that there is an underwater ridge/plateau westward that guides tsunamis into deeper water, where they pick up speed approaching the California Coast. More details on the geology can be found by clicking HERE: TSUNAMI CITY, USA (Slate).
Today, there has been a run a potassium iodide pills in California pharmacies, due to concerns that radiation leaks from Japan’s damaged reactors may result in fallout on the West Coast. Taking iodide pills is recommended when there is exposure to radioactive iodide. This treatment reduces the dose of radiation to the thyroid gland from radioactive iodide and, thus, reduces the risk of thyroid cancer. Unfortunately, iodide is only one of the many potential isotopes to which there may be exposure (below is a list of others):
Finally, John Seiler of Cal WatchDog has this report: Japan Quake Shaking CA Economy
In the long run, California’s economy probably will not be greatly affected by the economic aftershocks of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. In the short run, it could be shaken in various ways. And these assumptions presume that the news from Japan does not get much worse that it already is.
KOGO’s LaDona Harvey has a website with donation links, to assist with the Japan disaster, as well as a link to an article about internet-based fraudulent relief scams. Check it out!
A quote from “The Birds” that seems apt: Doomsayer in diner: It’s the end of the world!
The hysteria about this is reaching insane levels.
From Stars&Stripes, some sanity being injected into the debate – http://www.stripes.com/blogs/the-rumor-doctor/the-rumor-doctor-1.104348/is-radiation-from-japan-heading-to-the-u-s-1.137815
Couple commenters have interesting links.