OpSafe in Japan

At the CRASH Command Center in Tokyo

 

Yesterday was my first time home in the two weeks since the quake and tsunami. I was able to spend some precious time with my family and worship with my church and then came back to CRASH Command Center in Tokyo. CRASH is an organization that I founded around six years ago to coordinate Christian relief in Japan for natural disasters. The acronym stands for Christian Relief, Assistance, Support and Hope. We work to support local churches, some who are responding to the disaster and others affected by the disaster to bring help and hope to those who are suffering.
Since the quake we have become a focal point for Christian relief groups from around the world who are seeking to help and for the Japanese church as well. While we have been instrumental in bringing in hundreds of tons of relief and cooperating in its distribution our focus and goals are broader than that. I fully expect the Japanese government and Japanese Red Cross to be able to meet the physical needs of the region in a very short period of time. They are doing everything they can to respond to this crisis that has cut the very country to the core.
But imagine four times the damage of Katrina and seven times the loss of life of 9/11 in a nation that is barely the size of California and with a struggling economy roughly a third the size of the US. What does that do to a country? What does that do to a region? Now consider a family or individual waiting for help to come. The greatest thing that we have to offer Japan is hope. Hope is not something that can be shipped in a container, or airlifted in. Our teams are operating from five regional bases throughout the entire area. One team near the area evacuated around the nuclear power station described the evacuation centers as well stocked and well run, but the people as terrified. Hope is packaged not in a box but in a person. Our focus is to send thousands of volunteers to stand beside the people of Japan until the job is done. To help them clear the rubble, rebuild their homes, and find hope for the future.
Jonathan Wilson
CRASH

ReliefWeb » Document » Japan: Earthquake & Tsunami Situation Report No. 15

ReliefWeb » Document » Japan: Earthquake & Tsunami Situation Report No. 15

Japan orders immediate safety steps for nuclear plants | Reuters

Japan orders immediate safety steps for nuclear plants | Reuters

Call to widen evacuation area around Fukushima | Greenpeace International

Call to widen evacuation area around Fukushima | Greenpeace International

American Citizen Services | Embassy of the United States Tokyo, Japan

American Citizen Services | Embassy of the United States Tokyo, Japan

8 New Ways to Help #Japan After the Earthquake

8 New Ways to Help #Japan After the Earthquake

Japan Quake Map

Japan Quake Map

ABC News - Japan Earthquake: before and after - Part 2

ABC News - Japan Earthquake: before and after - Part 2

Info4 Japanese and US citizens

Japan 2011 Earthquake/Tsunami – U.S. Government Information

In the United States

Air Quality

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for monitoring air quality in the United States. As the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has said, as well as other public health experts, we do not expect to see radiation levels of concern reaching the U.S. from the damaged Japanese nuclear power plant.

The EPA has its radiation air monitoring (RadNet) data, frequently asked questions, and other resources on http://www.epa.gov/japan2011/. Here you can:

• Read the daily data summary.
• Find a map of air monitoring stations and view graphs of the data.
• Learn more about EPA's air monitoring efforts across the U.S. including the West Coast.
• View EPA's database where scientists and technical experts share radiation monitoring data and reports on RadNet.

Food Safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has deemed that based on current information, there is no risk to the U.S. food supply.

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has jurisdiction over 80 percent of the food supply, including seafood, dairy, and produce. The U.S. Department of Agriculture regulates meat, poultry, and processed egg products, while FDA regulates all other food products.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture has stated that Japan has not exported any beef products to the United States for nearly a year.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture has stated that Japan is not currently eligible to export any poultry or processed egg products to the U.S.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Customs and Border Protection carefully screen all food products for unsafe substances, including radiological material at Ports of Entry.
• Learn more about keeping food safe during an emergency.

Potassium Iodide (KI)

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) does not recommend that people in the United States takepotassium iodide supplements (also called KI) in response to the damaged nuclear reactors in Japan.

• Only take KI on the advice of emergency management officials, public health officials, or your doctor.
• There are health risks associated with taking KI.

Food, Mail, Ships, and Cargo from Japan

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is monitoring developments in Japan carefully and uses several types of radiation detection equipment in air and sea ports, mail facilities, and elsewhere to ensure safety.

• CBP and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration carefully screen all food products for unsafe substances, including radiological material, at Ports of Entry.
• All inbound travelers, baggage, and cargo are screened for radiological materials.
• CBP employs radiation monitors at international mail facilities.

American Citizens in Japan

American Embassy in Japan

All U.S. citizens in Japan should continue to carefully monitor the situation and follow the guidance of the U.S. and Japanese governments.

• If you are seeking assistance, contact the U.S. Embassy and Consulates.
• Provide information about yourself or your loved ones to the U.S. State Department.
• If you're concerned about a U.S. citizen in Japan, contact the State Department at 1.888.407.4747 within the U.S. or 1.202.501.4444 outside the U.S.

Authorized Departures

The U.S. government has authorized the voluntary departure from Japan of eligible family members of U.S. government personnel assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, the U.S. Consulate in Nagoya, the Foreign Service Institute Field School in Yokohama, and U.S. Forces Japan.

Evacuations

• The U.S. government has issued an evacuation for U.S. citizens who are within 50 miles of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
• If you are seeking assistance, contact the U.S Embassy and Consulates.
• Find transportation options from the affected areas.

Travel to and from Japan

The State Department strongly urges U.S. citizens to defer travel to Japan at this time and those in Japan should consider departing.

• Read the official travel warning for Japan.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.

Disaster Preparedness

The tragic events in Japan remind us that disasters can strike at any time. The best way to make sure your family is taken care of when disaster strikes is to be prepared.

• Visit Ready.gov to build your family's emergency plan.
• Prepare for an earthquake.
• Prepare for a tsunami.
• Prepare for a flood.

Donations and Relief Efforts

• Donate – Your donation to the American Red Cross will support disaster relief efforts in Japan.
• Text your donation
• Red Cross – Redcross to 90999
• Convoy of Hope – Tsunami to 50555
• GlobalGiving – Japan to 50555
• World Relief Corp. – Wave to 50555
• Project HOPE – Health to 90999
• Operation Blessing – Bless to 50555
• Southeast – VOA to 27722

Technical Assistance to Japan

The United States has deployed highly skilled teams to Japan, along with 17,200 pounds of equipment, to conduct aerial and ground monitoring, provide technical assistance, and help Japan track and assess the impact of the situation a the Fukushima nuclear power plants. This includes both Aerial Monitoring Systems and Consequence Management Teams from the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration, which have unique skills, expertise, and equipment to help assess, survey, monitor, and sample areas for radiation.

Nuclear experts from the Department of Energy and the independent U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission are also providing advice, analysis, and technical assistance to the Japanese government.

• Learn more about the assistance and expertise that the U.S. Department of Energy is providing to Japanese response and recovery efforts.
• Learn more about the U.S. Agency for International Development's Disaster Assistance Response.

Additional Information

• Earthquake in Japan – See facts from the U.S. Geological Survey about the 9.0 earthquake.
• Earthquake Preparedness and Response – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides helpful tips on how to prepare for an earthquake and what to do during a quake.
• Tsunami Health Effects – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes the immediate, secondary, and long-term health effects of a tsunami.
• Tsunami Preparedness – The Federal Emergency Management Agency explains what a tsunami is and provides guidance on what to do during a tsunami watch or warning.
• Radiation – Read about the assistance and expertise that the U.S. Department of Energy is providing to Japanese response and recovery efforts.
• Food Safety – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service provides guidance on food safety in the event of a tsunami.

'Tiger Mask' donates gas, oil for evacuees : National : DAILY YOMIURI ONLINE (The Daily Yomiuri)

'Tiger Mask' donates gas, oil for evacuees : National : DAILY YOMIURI ONLINE (The Daily Yomiuri)

Radioactivity readings can be accessed online : National : DAILY YOMIURI ONLINE (The Daily Yomiuri)

Radioactivity readings can be accessed online : National : DAILY YOMIURI ONLINE (The Daily Yomiuri)

Japan quake and tsunami updates + video | World Vision blog | WORLD VISION BLOG

Japan quake and tsunami updates + video | World Vision blog | WORLD VISION BLOG

Japan: MSF Continues to Respond to Chronic Diseases for the Elderly in Evacuation Centers | Doctors Without Borders

Japan: MSF Continues to Respond to Chronic Diseases for the Elderly in Evacuation Centers | Doctors Without Borders

Japan: Earthquake & Tsunami, Situation Report No.11

Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

Date: 22 Mar 2011

 Full_Report (pdf* format - 108.6 Kbytes)

This report is produced by OCHA. It was issued by the Regional Office in Asia Pacific with input from the UNDAC team in Tokyo. It covers the period from 21-22 March. The next report will be issued on the 23 March.
I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES
- Freezing temperatures continue but relief items are reaching the affected areas
- Number of evacuees and evacuation centres reduced, but 318,000 people remain homeless
- More than 90% of telecommunication lines restored
- Government of Japan bans the sale of some vegetables from Prefectures close to the Fukushima Power Plant

 Full_Report (pdf* format - 108.6 Kbytes)

(*) Get Adobe Acrobat Viewer (free) 

東北沖地震 震災情報サイト sinsai.info

東北沖地震 震災情報サイト sinsai.info

Naoko Watanabe is a resident of Tokyo. Her first-person blog describes how the residents of the capital city  and the citizens of Japan are worrying about an uncertain future.
Japan is realising for the first time that it is a country divided between west and east. I live in Tokyo - the west - and the tragedy happened in the east. It is an odd feeling to be so emotionally scarred by the tragedy but so little affected physically.
Eleven days after the earthquake and huge tsunami and the radiation fears, we know through the media what has happened but we still don't know what IS happening, what WILL happen and, most importantly, what we should and should not do.
People are dealing with the situation quietly and being extremely patient. There is no public outcry, just acceptance.
But we are all so tired. And no-one is telling us how we can help those who are still suffering and what is really going on.
Every second is important but we have not yet been given any clear instructions by our government. This is the most frustrating thing of all.
And it is not just the government that is hopeless here, but the home media, too. Everything is presented as if it's a story, and not reality.
While we accept our leaders will be cautious in a situation of chaos, we need to be told more and we need to be given clear information. We are ashamed we cannot rely on our government. This, too, is a new feeling.
News from the internet and our friends abroad have helped us to learn what is true and what is not. It is a new feeling among the Japanese to find we are making our own individual decisions based on all the global reactions and support.
Before the event, we had a feeling that "something bad" might happen soon, but we were not prepared for all this.
Global warming, too much energy use, economic development, over-population, waste, waste, waste, this was all lying heavily on our collective conscience before. Some of us feel now we were too lazy in trying to make the world better on our own or within small groups, not through trying to make a drastic change to the government and their relations to big companies.
A lot of us in Tokyo have been feeling this for a long time and now we are guilty. Perhaps because of this guilt, people are staying quiet, and doing all they can to help each other.
Now we hope Tokyo will change and learn. Maybe the bright lights outside will be switched off, or we will change from electricity to solar energy. And we can cut back on TV programmes that have no meaning, and take less interest in material goods.
Perhaps we will choose to buy fewer things for our children and maybe provide better public spaces for them to learn from nature.
The adults might turn from cars to bicycles, creating cycle lanes for the city, and - on a very basic level - we will have to adapt our food.
Instead of focusing on fresh food, we will need to accept some "fake" food with preservatives is necessary. It does not rot so quickly and it can be stored easily for when we experience another tragedy as this.
We just hope that we can all learn from this, and really start to make a better world.
But that is for later. At the moment, there are so many innocent people suffering, we cannot complain.

The latest updates on Fukushima nuclear power plant - Emergency information - Yahoo! JAPAN

The latest updates on Fukushima nuclear power plant - Emergency information - Yahoo! JAPAN

TEPCO will guide you through how to deal with power outages for local residents to conserve energy efficient jurisdiction Tohoku Electric Power

TEPCO will guide you through how to deal with power outages for local residents to conserve energy efficient jurisdiction Tohoku Electric Power

Disaster Charter - Earthquake in Japan

Disaster Charter - Earthquake in Japan

Japanese Medical System

Japanese Medical System