The First Walk Back

Eventually, residents who were permitted to do so began returning toward their neighborhoods.

One man walked slowly down a street where he had lived for decades.

He stopped in front of his house.

The front door was damaged.

Mud covered the floor.

Family photographs were scattered across the room.

He picked one up.

The glass was broken.

The photograph itself was soaked.

He wiped it carefully with his sleeve.

It showed his family years earlier.

Everyone was smiling.

He stood there holding it for a long time.

Then he placed it carefully into a plastic bag.

There would be time later to decide what could be saved.

For now, saving the photograph was enough.

The Ocean Was Still Dangerous

Despite the apparent calm, authorities continued warning residents not to approach the coastline.

The water had retreated, but currents remained powerful.

Aftershocks continued.

Damaged structures could collapse without warning.