RE: NON-SUMO: Mt. Usu Erupted

[Jim Bitgood <jimbit2@phoenix-c.or.jp>]

Just about everyone who needs to be has been evacuated, some more than once
from one school gymnasium to another as the danger area has been expanded.
So far, I haven't heard of any damage to the Soubetsu area, where the
Kitanoumi Kinenkan is located.
The SDF from Chitose has been busy over the weekend transporting people and
food and water.
The Date Half Marathon scheduled for April 9 has been cancelled. Date is
about 5 miles (8 Km) from UsuZan.
ToyaKo Onsen seems to be getting the most fallout from the eruptions. Most
of them are on that side of the mountain. The ToyaKo Marathon on May 28 is
definitely in jeopardy. I think many livelihoods will be in jeopardy for
the summer tourist season at ToyaKo Onsen. But hotel rooms will be really
cheap. So far though the only damage seems to be a laher of ash on top of
the snow. Hopefully, that will be the only damage.
//I wrote the above this morning. Now an update from the evening news//
When I got home from work, I turned on the TV to find a report from the
Kitanoumi Kinenkan in Soubetsu cho. I missed most of it. But all the damage
that I could see was the little wooden nameplates in display cases had been
knocked by the tremors. The glass display cases seemed to be intact. But,
as I say, I missed most of the report. But it looks like the museum has
survived quite well so far. 



	Jim
	  in Chitose
	(42-48N, 141-35E)