Japan Catastrophe: Saving your Furry Family

Most families have pets: dogs, cats, fish, hamsters, maybe more?  As soon as your family adopts the pet, they become a part of your family.  As a kid, your job is to love and take care of your family's pets. Play with them, walk them, feed them, clean up after them.  But what happens when there's an emergency?  What happens when your furry (or gilled) family member goes missing during a catastrophe?  Here's the rescue story of one.  Video is below.


When the Japanese Tsunami and earthquake occurred, millions of homes were destroyed.  Families were pulled apart and family went missing.  This week, amazingly, a Japanese family's pet dog was found.  He somehow stayed alive on a floating pile of rubble with a roof on top for three weeks before the Japanese Coast Guard rescued him.  Floating in the ocean off the coast of Japan, the dog was surrounded by salt water -- which like humans in the same situation, if he drank it, it would only hurt him -- luckily there was so much drinkable rain water caused by the storm, that the pup was able to stay hydrated and survive long enough to be found and rescued.

How Kids can Help during a Tsunami

Did you know that a ten year old girl, Tilly Smith, was able to save her family and other people from a tsunami in Thailand because she learned the signs of a tsunami in geography class?

It's true.

The Fujimini Island Adventure Series is dedicated to education, entertaining and empowering kids.  CEO and author Eileen Wacker, herself a parent reacts to the Japanese devastation and how it can affect children, "An event such as this will be remembered by the children forever. Knowing the Japanese people, they will raise their children never forgetting this incident and using it as motivation to build a better future. Our thoughts and prayers are with all, but a special blessing for the children." 

When bad things happen, like a tsunami, adults tend to take charge for the overall family's safety.  But kids can help too.  It is important to know what a tsunami is and what it can do so that you can protect yourself and your family and friends. Here are some important things to know about tsunamis:

Waves in a tsunami travel very quickly; much faster than your family's car can! They can travel up to 800 km / 500 miles an hour from the depths of the ocean.

If you live next to the sea, how will you know when a tsunami might happen? Nature gives us some very clear warning signs:

1.  The sea suddenly pulls back and leaves bare sand, making the beach seem a lot larger.

2.  Your pets may behave strangely - they may suddenly leave, gather in groups, or try to hide, getting into places they normally would not go.

Whether you are at home, school or playing on the beach, if you see or hear these warning signs, immediately leave and go to higher ground. 

If you live in an area that is at risk for a tsunami, it is important to be prepared. Your school should already have a tsunami emergency plan. You can also ask to make it as a class project. Your school or home emergency plan should cover:

1.  Where it is safe to go - somewhere that is no more than 15 minutes on foot.

2.  Making a safety pack with supplies to help you survive.

3.  Practicing a tsunami evacuation regularly (a practice drill).

4.  Learning the warning signals and systems that your emergency services use.

5.  Learning basic First Aid and knowing who in your community is a doctor, nurse or health care professional.