Earthquake
What country was hit by the disaster?
Japan
What giant wave hit the coast after the earthquake?
A tsunami
What kind of power plant was Fukushima?
Nuclear power plant
What group stayed behind to stop the nuclear disaster?
Fukushima 50
What year did the disaster happen?
2011
How strong was the earthquake?
9.1 magnitude
What protected some coastal towns before the tsunami?
Seawalls
What failed after the tsunami hit the power plant?
Cooling systems / generators
Who did David Schum try to save?
Children and adults at the school
How many minutes did the earthquake shaking continue?
Six minutes
What warning system alerted Japan before the shaking started?
Earthquake early warning system
Why was Miyako hit especially hard?
Its V-shaped bays amplified the tsunami
What dangerous gas explosion happened at Fukushima?
Hydrogen explosion
Why did the Fukushima 50 stay?
To prevent a full meltdown and contain radiation
About how many people lost their lives?
More than 18,000
What happened to Japan’s high-speed trains after the warning?
They stopped
What happened when the water receded?
It dragged debris and people back into the ocean
Why was radiation dangerous?
It contaminated areas and threatened human health
What personal quality helped the Fukushima workers continue?
Duty / courage
How high was the tsunami wave at Fukushima?
About 49 feet
How far did Japan’s main island move eastward?
About 7.9 feet
What was destroyed in Crescent City, California?
The harbor
What leaked into the ocean after the disaster?
Contaminated radioactive water
Who lost his wife, father, and daughter in the disaster?
Neo Kimura
What was the estimated total cost of the disaster?
About $235 billion