Massive Quake Hits Japan; Walnut Hill Resident Safe

March 11, 2011

The most powerful earthquake to hit Japan in over 100 years has killed hundreds and spawned tsunami waves across the Pacific. The massive quake was a magnitude 9.0, creating a 23-foot tsunami that hit northern coast of Japan.

Gavin Willis and his wife Amanda, stationed with the U.S. Air Force  in Japan on the island of Okinawa-shi, Okinawa, are among the American military personnel and their families stationed in Japan. The U.S. military is reporting that all troops are safe.

“The quake was at the north end of mainland Japan. We are in the Ryukyu Islands south of the mainland so we didn’t feel a thing,” Amanda told NorthEscambia.com Friday morning. She is 1995 graduate of Ernest Ward High School and a lifelong resident of Walnut Hill.

The quake — which struck about 11:50 p.m. Thursday North Escambia time, 2:50 p.m. Friday in Japan — prompted a tsunami warning across Japan.  When we last spoke to Amanda, about 7:45 a.m. North Escambia time, 10:45 p.m. in Japan, the tsunami warning had just been downgraded to a tsunami advisory.

“There is lots of damage from it and the tsunami that it caused on the mainland,” she said. “They are definitely in my prayers.”

Pictured: Amanda Willis of Walnut Hill is stationed in Japan on the Ryukyu Islands south of the mainland  with her Air Force husband Gavin Willis and their children Zachary Dylan and Skyler Falon. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

14 Responses to “Massive Quake Hits Japan; Walnut Hill Resident Safe”

  1. rukiddingme on March 14th, 2011 1:47 pm

    My son is stationed in Japan as well, and is fine. A few cracks in the wall is all he got from it. The after shocks have been a little stronger, and they have been advised to obtain provisions for fear of another one. Let’s pray everyone stays safe.

  2. From Century on March 12th, 2011 6:23 pm

    Glad you and your family are ok! its very sad

  3. David Huie Green on March 12th, 2011 5:09 pm

    REGARDING:
    “Thank goodness they contained the melt down.”

    Meltdown is a design feature to kill nuclear fission by melting all the materials together if coolant is lost. It is to be avoided if possible but the design was intentional to stop the reaction.

    Chernobyl, in contrast didn’t have that feature using graphite as a moderator. When they removed the collant, the graphite caught fire and the fire spread the nuclear material over a large areas and killed many people. Meltdown is better than that.

    David glad Walnut Hill resident is safe

  4. William on March 12th, 2011 4:49 pm

    Here’s the direct link to the Kadena Facebook page mentioned below:

    http://www.facebook.com/KadenaAirBase

  5. Amanda on March 12th, 2011 4:48 pm

    @ Elaine~Kadena does have a facebook page. Type KadenaAirBase in the search box in your FB page and it should pop up for you. They are very good about keeping it updated with all the latest information for us. We are all doing well here. Aside from worry and concern for mainland, it is life as usual. All the stores are open and we have no warnings or advisories. I hope this helps to ease your mind.

    Amanda Willis

  6. Elaine Modisette on March 12th, 2011 2:42 pm

    Why can’t we get any news of our families stationed at Kadina AFB in Okinawa. Other than no loss of life for the 3 bases located in close proximity, 24 hrs ago,we can find nothing. Very upset that Kadina cannot put out a news report every few hours to let us know what our family is doing. Do they have food and water? Is the nuclear leak going to affect them. Military personell are being sent to help on mainland, who is helping spouses and children there on Kadina. Are they able to stay in base housing or they camping out in the open. We are the parents and grandparents and we are not getting ANY information. Are more Tsunami’s expected on Okinawa? We had a 22 yr military career and I have never seen such a complete lack of compassion for those of us waiting in US. Don’t you have a news office that could post on this site or at least facebook. Very upset Mom and Grandmother.

  7. Horrific! on March 12th, 2011 11:59 am

    Look how cute they are. So glad all the troops are safe
    Such a horrible horrible tragedy. Now they had a leak at
    the nuclear plant. Thank goodness they contained the melt
    down.

  8. FYI on March 11th, 2011 9:11 pm

    @… Regarding “So that had to be like the worst earthquake ever- in history!!!!!”

    The strongest earthquake in recorded history was on May 22, 1960 who’s epicenter was in Chile. The quake measured a whopping magnitude of 9.5.

    Although 8.9 is certainly nothing to sneeze at. ;-)

  9. ... on March 11th, 2011 5:50 pm

    They said the earthquake in japan’s extreme leval was an 8.9 because the one in hati was likea 7, So that had to be like the worst earthquake ever- in history!!!!!

  10. William on March 11th, 2011 2:15 pm

    >>One said Earthquake devastes Okinawa, triggers tsunamis. And another story, says otherwise.

    Okinawa is 1,000 miles from Tokyo, and the damage from the quake and is further north (away from Okinawa).

  11. EMD on March 11th, 2011 1:11 pm

    Thank God.

    I lived in Japan for 3 years and love it and its people. My heart breaks for those people. So glad this family and others are safe. Thank you for this news.

  12. Anita Bird on March 11th, 2011 12:54 pm

    I have two grandbabies on Okinawa, just right outside of Kadena AF Base.
    I have read two different stories. One said Earthquake devastes Okinawa, triggers tsunamis. And another story, says otherwise.

    Can someone please let me know if folks on Okinawa are ok? I am at work and a nervous wreck trying to find out if my grandbabies are ok. I cannot reach them, the phone lines are just busy.

    Hope to hear from someone.

  13. Kristi Wampler on March 11th, 2011 9:59 am

    Thank you so much for posting this. My cousin and his family are stationed there, Mike Talavera, and we all have been facebooking frantically to see if we would hear something. This article was greatly appreciated.

    God Bless!

  14. Annie Wiedel on March 11th, 2011 8:09 am

    So glad you and the family are safe!!! But I already knew that because we talked this morning!! Love you and the boys and of course Gavin too!!!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News