Malibu Rallied to Help Those Who Bore Brunt of Disaster

• Community Had Little to Fear from Threat to the West

BY ANNE SOBLE

When it was 2:46 p.m. last Friday in Sendei, Japan, it was almost 10 p.m. the night before in Malibu, and people may have been getting ready to go to sleep unless they checked the news.

The news was devastating, an 8.9 temblor, one of the strongest earthquakes in history, had struck northern Japan. A tsunami would follow, producing waves over three stories in height. Even for one of the most earthquake-ready nations in the world, the damage would be unthinkable.

Malibu's east-west geography meant relative assurance of minimal impact, but not responsibility. Locals are being asked to support relief and aid agencies (a partial list is printed below) responding to the crisis.

How well and quickly Japan recovers will serve as a model for improved planning in Malibu and other earthquake vulnerable areas, where even a lesser temblor could bring life to a standstill.

Printer version