Yesterday morning I was watching a US Tv drama on Tv (House of cards starring Kevin Spacey. Excellent!). Drinking coffee, watching sleeping cats...
And then our smartphones started ringing. Partner and I were surprised. Earthquake? Typhoon?
We grabbed our phones and saw the Missile Approaching warning message.
What do we do?
Maybe like you...we just sat there watching TV, checking the internet...wondering what to do. The nearest "safe area/basement" is the Max Value supermarket at Minami Hiragishi...that has a basement parking area. Should we really get dressed, take the cats and run there?
We didn't. We stayed watching TV. Can you RUN away from a nuclear bomb???If it hits Hokkaido, I believe we have no chance to escape. We would die.If it hits Aomori, we should move away from contamination quickly. If it hits Ibaraki...then we are safe?
Very strange to even be having that kind of thinking.
I checked the BBC website, and left my name and contact details on the "Contact Us" page. I used to be a journalist in the UK and I know media need to have a local person to interview - I thought a British woman in Hokkaido would be useful.
In the evening, as I arrived home from work the BBC called. I was interviewed by a reporter first, then 20 mins later the lunchtime TV news program telephoned me...and 5 mins later I heard the presenter introduce "Amanda Harlow in Hokkaido, Japan". She asked me about the experience for a few minutes. And then it was over.
Here is the story interview. I think the voice interview has disappeared. I hope so - it was bad!
Strange day. Scary actually. But, I DO think the US would shoot down any real nuclear threat minutes after it launched. I don't believe I really will need to run to Max Value. I hope not.