8.9

I didn't plan to stay up to 1am, but shortly before i had planned to shut off the TV and go to sleep word came of a 7.9 earthquake in Japan.

Then it was upgraded to 8.8. Then 8.9. It's the 7th largest earthquake in recorded history.

And then came the incredible pictures of the tsunami sweeping across large areas of Northern Japan, sweeping away farm fields, buildings, airports, cars, boats, and anything else that the 30+ foot wave encountered. I ended up watching until 1 and posting and reading on Twitter and Facebook.

As I write this it's almost 6am. Tsunami waves are hitting Hawaii, and I just learned that ALL Orange County beaches, harbors and marinas have been closed as we're expected to get a tsunami surge on the West Coast at about 8:45 am local time.

The death toll has been surprising light at this point, but I would imagine that many, many victims will not be found for awhile.

The damage from the shaking itself will be moderate, but the damage from the tsunami will be Biblical.

Just incredible.

UPDATE: Videos of some of the incredible things I was watching this morning.