"This morning, my mother received a phone call from our aunt in Sendai.
(I hope you have already talked with them.) They came back to their house and started using electric power, getting warm, having temporary water supply.
I believe the situation is getting better."
Since Kanako said phone calls were possible I decided to try contacting Sendai again. Incredibly, after many attempts I was able to get through. My mother, in near tears spoke to her baby sister. I could hardly believe it! My aunt and family are truly fine...for now.
They have a good emergency supply of food and told us not to worry. Their shortages at this point was in diapers and milk for their grandson and WATER. Lack of water is always such a problem.
They all sleep together in the room closest to the front door in case of another earthquake.
The days are full of ups and downs.For us, the news have gotten a bit better. We're keeping our fingers crossed. They were one of the lucky ones, but it's not over yet.
This photo is of my Hawaii aunt and my mom with their baby sister at her Sendai home in spring of last year.
It seems like such a long time ago.
POSTSCRIPT: I just told Art that we need to get our disaster supply organized. (This is the link to FEMA's disaster supply list.) I'm going to make sure we have enough water!
POSTSCRIPT 2: Margaret commented about our donation decision. After a lot of thought, we've decided to send our contribution to Direct Relief International. Thank you for this recommendation, Nancy.
The very fact that you have contact with the family is great news!
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear you've made contact again with your Sendai relatives and they are doing well. It's sure nice to hear something positive out of Japan, Kay. I hope this continues with more good news each day.
ReplyDeleteSendai is in the middle of things. I guess there might be some benefit from that snow I've seen on tv news, at least, for water. Still cold over there. Things just have to improve.
ReplyDeleteSo happy that you heard from them!
ReplyDeleteDay by day things are slowly improving. It must have been a wonderful moment for your mother to speak to her sister and know she's safe and relatively comfortable.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad of hearing this good news.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kay (*'-'*)
Praise God!
ReplyDeleteAmen to that! So glad your family is safe.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to hear that the people you love in Japan are safe.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear that your family is safe in Japan, Kay. This disaster is so huge and difficult to fathom. I am happy for you and yours. Hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteIt is so good to hear that you had contact with them and they seem fine for now. I hope you will be able to maintain contact and that things will continue to be okay for them.
ReplyDeletewhat good news, we all need a supply of food, water and fuel to see us through emergencies.
ReplyDeleteWe're so glad about your good news, Kay. We're enroute now and on my netbook. Leaving soon to visit a friend in Toronto, then back to the airport to head overseas.
ReplyDeleteHug your mom for me, I'm so happy for her. Hi to Art.
Luv, K
Oh, I'm so happy that you've been in contact with your family!! Such good news to start the day! I do so hope things continue to improve! Much love to you and your family, Kay! Holding good thoughts for all of you!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
That is just absolutely wonderful news. What a huge relief for you and your mom.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed they have power and it is wonderful they can at least get warm. The cold weather has to be almost the proverbiale straw.
Having lived in Florida for years taught me to keep an indecent supply of water on hand at all times. That you just can't do without.
Thank you for putting a face to your family and I pray things just keep getting better for them.
Hi Kay - Sooo glad you heard from your relatives in Japan. What a lovely photo. In my "modern" Kansas ignorance, I didn't know that folks still sat low on cushions at low tables, but oops I DO see a recliner in the background. Aloha, continuing the prayers. DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteHow happy you must have been when you heard the good news. I am so glad for you.
ReplyDeleteDitto all the lovely comments above!
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, David and I have been packing a backpack for each of us and we will store them in the shed outside in case our house burns down. We had thought of storing them in our cars, but what if we don't have the key to our trunk?!
Kay that is such good news, so happy for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I had the same idea once, and I stored a lot of water in the basement, then I started worrying that the containers went past their expiry date. What a waste, what to do?
Kay, this is very good news.
ReplyDeleteIt is crazy to be living in Oregon without an emergency disaster supply and that's exactly what we're doing. Our son, however, keeps his supply updated at all times.
Hi Kay!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your family were able to go back into their home.
Unfortunately finally four nuclear machines (1gouki 2gouki 3 gouki 4 gouki) have problems.
it doesn't become good.
but I wanna believe it becomes good soon.
I wanna go abroad, too.
but now I can't do it.
because I have to work to live and I don't throw away my job.
but if it becomes worst, I run away and throw away everything!
Aya: I understand how you feel. I wish our relatives would leave Sendai and come to Hawaii, too. However, there are too many of them and they have businesses there which they can't leave. We also have friends and relatives in Tokyo who can't leave.
ReplyDeleteGood news indeed. I have been thinking of them, sleeping in their car, afraid to go into their house. Fortunatley they were at home where their emergency supplies are. So many people have been stranded away from their homes or have had to evacuate, and are without their supplies.
ReplyDeleteWe do have emergency supplies stored out in our shed, but we never got around to renewing it last fall. We usually go through everything on or near Sept.11th each year. And we probably don't have enough water. I'm hearing one gallon per person per day. And we should all have a minimum of three days supply. I think I'll add Emergency Supply to our to do list this week.
Kay, I am so happy for you and your family. I know for most it will be a long drawn out ordeal but still praying for them. I hope you were able to find out where to donate.
ReplyDeleteThis disaster is sooo real but you make it seem just a little bit more real to me with the news of your family. Thank you. Your people are so calm and non-complaining. It's hard to believe.
ReplyDeleteLove and Peace
I am sure you are very relieved. Thank you for posting the picture, too.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy your family is safe and well and you were able to contact them. I pray for the same relief for all of the families still awaiting word.
ReplyDeleteI am so relieved for your family Kay x
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful news. We are just sitting here grinning. Yes, we need to get more water in the house, and more in the truck. Thank you for reminding me.
ReplyDeleteWonderful news. I will continue to pray for your family in Japan. You are all such lovely women.
ReplyDeleteI think we also need to make sure we have our emergency supply organized. You always keep us all on the ball.
I had no idea your mother was from Sendai. What a surprise that was. You knew I lived there from 1953-1956 in the US Army???
ReplyDeleteWell, I am also glad to hear the family there is OK.
I have heard from several who live there via twitter and Facebook. I just hope the others are all OK. Friend in Sendai said downtown where is lives is OK but you go this way or that and it is a mess.
This IS wonderful news!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy that your family has been among the luckier ones in the disaster. When my daughter called to tell me about it, the first thing I did was pull up your blog and I was worried for you until the next blog entry. The first time I looked you had heard about the disaster and then the whistle had blown in your area. It's funny how although most of our fellow bloggers we never meet, yet we still feel that on some level we 'know' them.
ReplyDelete