Families use e-mail, texts to get through to family in Japan

March 12, 2011

the earthquake in japan is having an impact throughout the world tonight... including here in new mexico. hundreds of people in japan are dead -- and hundreds of others are missing after an 8-point-9 magnitude earthquake struck and 23-foot tsunami crashed ashore ... the are also big concerns tonight of a nuclear emergency after radiation levels at a plant surged when a cooling system failed. the effects of the earthquake are being felt all the way in the united states tonight...as massive waves wash up on the west coast... and here in new mexico -- we found plenty of people either from japan - or with close ties to the country and family still there. cristina rodda caught up with a woman who spent part of the day frantically tracking down loved ones in japan. cristina? michiko pierce fell asleep last night watching the japanese news channel "n-h-k"-- it's her favorite channel.. but this morning what she saw on the television screen scared her beyond belief. "the announcer told, please go to high place so tsunami won't get you." michiko pierce slowly realized the terrible images on her tv set-- were happening in her home country of japan. we sat and watched with her for a while. "is it hard to look at at pictures of this? yeah..." pierce called her brothers and sisters--- and after several tries was able to ge through to her sister. "she said i'm ok but i never heard, never felt such a big earthquake. i cannot stand up i have to hold something." pierce's family is alright-- they live in tokyo-- northeast of where the earthquake and tsunami hit. now pierce is left praying for those in japan-- those suffering and those who will have to rebuild. "i hope they can stand up you know go back to what they have been doing and i sure hope so i pray for every minute." many of those in the local japanese community are praying tonight for the thousands affected by the earthquake and tsunami. back to you. news of the earthquake hit close to home for simon potter. he was visiting family in farmington when he got the news from his wife and kids ijapan. "the last email message i received... which would have been shortly after midnight japanese time was that yeah every 5 to 10 minutes there was an earthquake" potter says he is keeping in contact with his wife and kids through email and text but everyone is ok. and be sure to keep it right here for the very latest on the disaster in japan.... as we continue to follow any new developments .... we'll have more for you coming up tonight at 6- 30...and 10. tonight