I've written a comprehensive analysis about this event from multiple new sources (and also a very angry reply to some ignorant faggots) here,
if you want to read it.
I'll just highlight some important things,
-The Sendai Earthquake reached a general accepted average of 8.9 on the Richter Scale, the 5th largest in history and largest Japan has ever seen.
-The most devastated region was Sendai in North East Japan.
-There are currently an estimated 400 dead, and roughly 800 more missing. Keep in mind while these numbers seem small, the damage from the event no doubt left hundreds of thousands homeless and even more out of a job.
-Hawaii, California, Peru, and Chile were also severely affected.
-Connection (both internet and conventional communication) to the regions involved is severely limited. This is the biggest problem, power is out all over the country as well.
-There are dangers of nuclear meltdowns and radiation, but this is greatly over-exaggerated by the American media. The biggest problem right now is getting hundreds of thousands to millions of people shelter and food.
What I recommend you do is donate to the American Red Cross here:
https://american.redcross.org/site/Donation2?idb=0&5052.donation=form1&df_id=5052 to get medical supplies, emergency food rations, and heavy equipment for moving debris for those suffering in Sendai. The reason I say to donate to the American Red Cross is because Japan has specifically asked South Korea and America for help, so you know the money will be going there. Politics is a fickle thing.
One thing you can also do is donate blood if you can find a local drive going on for the disaster. I'm sorry to hear about your friend Rowan.
If anyone has enough JP Skills, can we get a check on the Top JP Players to see who's alright? I'm pretty sure I remember Garu saying at Evo he was from Northern Japan, so I'm tad bit worried (especially since I know he was already hospitalized recently).