The aftermath

Typhoon Hagidis didn't do very much damage in my neighborhood.  We took a walk this morning, and if I hadn't lived through it, I would never have guessed there was a typhoon just the night before.  However, watching the news reports yesterday and today was daunting. 

Periodically throughout the day yesterday, my husband turned on the news to check the status of the typhoon.  We'd watch with wide eyes getting nervous about the impending .  For 45 minutes every hour, I could listen to the national news in English.  Since it was a national broadcast, I was able to change the audio on the TV to English.  I've changed the language on dramas and cooking shows that were originally recorded in English, but I didn't know I could do it to the national news.  Once the broadcast changed to the local news for the last 15 minutes of each hour, my husband had to provide the translation. 

In addition to this service, QR codes would pop up in the corner of the TV with different information.  Sometimes, the code would be labeled "English information".  It contained regional emergency information.  Since I already have an emergency app on my phone, I didn't feel the need to scan it.

I also kept up to date on NHK, a major news agency, that has publications and broadcasts in English.  It is actually my preferred news agency normally, so it makes sense that I would turn to them during a natural disaster.

Today the news isn't very optimistic for many areas in Japan.  10 levees have broken on 9 rivers.  Flooding is horrendous in many areas.  Some houses are under water up to the second floor.  A nursing home in Kawagoe, a city that I visit frequently, was flooded, stranding 220 people.  10 Shinkansen trains in Nagano Prefecture, including 120 train cars, have been confirmed damaged after being submerged in flood waters.

The news is tough.  Although I am breathing a sigh of relief that we are fine, it breaks my heart to see all the destruction.