Lilburn Native's Scary Experience in Japan

David Johannaber, a former Parkview High School student who is now studying film and photography in Tokyo, experienced the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Japan Friday.

Lilburn Patch contributor Alex Casillas, also a former Parkview student and a friend of Johannaber's, connected with Johannaber today to get his comments on the disaster.

Johannaber said, “It feels like I’m still rocking and rolling a little bit [not in a fun way!].”

The following is his account of what he experienced.

“I am in Tokyo metro area specifically a business and building district called Aoyama. I was scared like crazy. I was very worried. The phones were too busy to get a call through so it was very worrisome to be in an earthquake and have no connection to friends and loved ones. I was on my way to work so I was able to meet up colleagues soon after the first quake but there was a second one that kept us on our toes.”

“I work in a studio that is 4th floor underground so it’s really sensitive. It feels like I’m still rocking and rolling a little bit [not in a fun way!].”

“The majority of damage is from the tsunamis and landslides. Over 100 people dead and hundreds injured or missing. The trains have all stopped and people are mostly stranded at work or school.”

 “One train is missing in Miyagi prefecture where the tsunami is the worst. People were actually surprisingly calm where I was in Tokyo. The damage was minimal in the metro area. In the regions surrounding Tokyo there are a lot of older buildings that experienced much more damage.”

“One interesting report is that a nuclear plant outside of Tokyo is running out of the emergency power keeping which keeps the reactors cool.”