as we filmed, panic struck the neighborhood. emergency vehicles warning through blaring loud speakers, there s a tsunami coming, a tsunami. move to higher ground. we joined that exodus, but thankfully, the surging water didn t return. it was a false alarm, though that will be little comfort to this battered and traumatized city. sendai is a shell-shocked city that s hardly functioning. and although rescue and relief efforts are being stepped up, the challenges they face here are enormous. back to you. all right. thank you so much. nbc s ian williams. more now on the size and scope of friday s quake. japanese officials now say the earthquake was stronger than first thought. it s raised it now to a magnitude 9.0. joining me live once again, thomas o rourke, professor of civil and environmental engineering at cornell university. he s also on the advisory committee for earthquake hazard reduction. and with a welcome back to you, thomas, i want to run some of this video
[ speaking in a foreign language ] reporter: i saw the tsunami coming. i grabbed my baby and fled. as we filmed, panic struck the neighborhood. emergency vehicles warning through blaring loud speakers that there is a tsunami coming, a tsunami. move to higher ground. we joined the exodus though thankfully the surging water didn t return. it was a false alarm but that s little comfort to battered and traumatized city. ian williams, nbc news, sendai. now to a closer look at the world s effort to get help to the japanese people. suzy defrancis is here from the american red cross. good afternoon. i understand the red cross is offering assistance to the japanese red cross. what are you hearing about the situation on the ground there and how tough it is for them to get aid supplies to people who need it most. well, thanks, thomas, yes. we are in constant contact with our counterparts in the japanese
searching for missing family members. this couple looking for a sister. while others struggle to navigate around the neighborhood brutally reshaped by the force of nature. the grounds fallen by two feet after this man warned. you can t go that way? there s no power, no water, and what few shops remain open are being swamped. this couple searching for milk and diaper from their daughter. i saw the tsunami coming, her mole e mother told me. i grabbed my baby and fled. as we filmed, panic struck the neighborhood. emergency vehicles warning three blaring loudspeakers there s a tsunami coming, a tsunami, move to higher ground. we joined that exodus. thankfully the surging water didn t return. it was a false alarm. though that will be little comfort for this battered and traumatized city. sendai is a shell-shocked city