Update: Stars and Stripes has this at 10:39 am EDT –

The Navy said Thursday afternoon it would start evacuating families from Naval Air Facility Atsugi and Yokosuka Naval Base, near Tokyo. A few hours later, officials at Misawa Air Base, in northern Japan, did the same. Camp Zama, a U.S. Army facility near Tokyo, said it was allowing families and non-essential workers to voluntarily leave.

In a radio address Thursday afternoon, Col. Otto Feather, 374th Airlift Wing commander, said he expects Yokota Air Base to join the list soon.

The U.S. State Department’s announcement that it would pay for the voluntary departure of government dependents from three locations in northeastern Japan appears to have taken the Department of Defense by surprise. The briefing by Under Secretary Pat Kennedy suggests that State expects to evacuate about 600 Americans. The areas affected by the State Department announcement are Tokyo, Nagoya, and Yokohama, specifically the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, the U.S. Consulate in Nagoya, and the Foreign Service Institute Field School in Yokohama.

The Department of Defense did not comment on this December 16 announcement until the following day. DoD seems to have left it up to the individual bases for followup. There are an estimated 43,000 U.S. dependents in Japan.

The Facebook page for Commander, Naval Forces Japan seems to be stressing that the departure is for State Department dependents. The USS George Washington Facebook site is preparing its dependents for voluntary departure. US Army Garrison Japan is taking a middle road, assisting any dependents that believe they are eligible for voluntary departure.

The same situation developed in Bahrain on March 15. The State Department and the Department of Defense acted together in issuing the voluntary departure notice.

Clearly there has been a failure to communicate between the State Department and the Defense Department.

Current information is not as specific as I would like about the voluntary departure of military dependents. DoD says yes. State does not directly say so. In Bahrain, the two departments acted together. Japan seems to be a matter of State jumping the gun???

The U.S. Department of State warns U.S citizens of the deteriorating situation at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recommends that U.S. citizens who live within 50 miles (80 km) of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant evacuate the area or take shelter indoors if safe evacuation is not practical. The State Department strongly urges U.S. citizens to defer travel to Japan at this time and those in Japan should consider departing. On March 16, 2011, the Department of State authorized the voluntary departure from Japan of eligible family members of U.S. government personnel in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Yokohama. This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Alert dated March 13, 2011.

US Embassy in Tokyo

The State Department has authorized family members and dependents of U.S. government officials — including those of service members — to relocate from northeastern Japan, officials announced last night.

The U.S. government also is working to facilitate the departure of private American citizens from areas within a 50-mile radius of the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant, Pentagon spokesman Marine Corps Col. Dave Lapan said.

Detailed information is available in a travel warning posted at the State Department’s website, Lapan said. Meanwhile, he added, U.S. forces remain in Japan, and the United States has full capability to fulfill its alliance commitments to defend Japan and maintain peace and security in the region.

Defense Department family members eligible to relocate will receive travel instructions from their local commands, Lapan said, noting that the relocation is temporary and that the family members will return when the situation in the region is resolved.

Department of Defense

he United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Department of Energy and other technical experts in the U.S. Government have reviewed the scientific and technical information they have collected from assets in country, as well as what the Government of Japan has disseminated, in response to the deteriorating situation at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. Consistent with the NRC guidelines that apply to such a situation in the United States, we are recommending, as a precaution, that American citizens who live within 50 miles (80 kilometers) of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant evacuate the area or to take shelter indoors if safe evacuation is not practical. We want to underscore that there are numerous factors in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami, including weather, wind direction and speed, and the nature of the reactor problem that affect the risk of radioactive contamination within this 50 mile (80 km) radius or the possibility of lower-level radioactive materials reaching greater distances.

The U.S. Embassy will continue to update American citizens as the situation develops. U.S. citizens in need of emergency assistance should send an e-mail to JapanEmergencyUSC@state.gov with detailed information about their location and contact information, and monitor the U.S. Department of State website at travel.state.gov.

The United States is continuing to do everything in its power to help Japan and American citizens who were there at the time of these tragic events. To support our citizens there, the Embassy is working around the clock. We have our consular services available 24 hours a day to determine the whereabouts and well-being of all U.S. citizens in Japan and we have offered our Japanese friends assistance, including disaster response experts, search and rescue teams, technical advisers with nuclear expertise, and logistical support from the United States military.

US Embassy in Tokyo Japan

Travel Alert
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs
March 13, 2011

The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the situation in Japan in the aftermath of the powerful earthquake, measuring 8.9 magnitude, that struck northern Japan on March 11.  U.S. citizens should avoid travel to Japan at this time.  This Travel Alert supersedes the Travel Alert for Japan dated March 13, 2011, to provide updated information on planned power outages, the evacuation of areas near nuclear power facilities in Fukushima, and the likelihood of further aftershocks and tsunamis. This Travel Alert expires on April 1, 2011.

The Department of State requests all non-emergency official U.S. government personnel defer travel to Japan and urges U.S. citizens to avoid tourism and non-essential travel to Japan at this time.  Temporary shortages of water and food supplies may occur in affected areas of Japan due to power and transportation disruptions. Telephone services have also been disrupted in affected areas; where possible, you may be able to contact family members using text message or social media such as Facebook or Twitter.

Flights have resumed at all airports that were closed by the earthquake, except Sendai, Sado, Iwate-Hanamaki, and Misawa Airports. In Tokyo, most public transportation including trains and subways are operating. Many roads have been damaged in the Tokyo area and in northern Japan, particularly in the Miyagi prefecture where government checkpoints have been established on damaged roadways. In Iwate Prefecture, toll road highways are restricted to emergency vehicles only.

U.S. citizens currently in Japan should be aware that rolling power outages are scheduled for the Tokyo Metropolitan area and in northern and central Honshu. Tokyo Electric Company reports that three-hour outages may occur in various regions, including Tokyo, starting the morning of Monday, March 14. Please monitor the Tokyo Electric Power Company website, http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/index-e.html, and local news media for specific information and schedules for the planned outages. Radio stations in the Tokyo area that have emergency information in English include the U.S. Armed Forces station at 810AM and InterFM (76.1FM).

The Japan Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) has recommended that people who live within 20 kilometers of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in Okumacho evacuate the area immediately. Japanese authorities have confirmed that the situation remains serious. U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Fukushima Prefecture should follow NISA instructions to evacuate and comply with Japanese government personnel on the ground. More information on the status of the nuclear facilities and on areas affected by power outages is available on NISA’s website, www.nisa.meti.go.jp/english. You can find more information on radiation emergencies from the Centers for Disease Control Emergency Preparedness and Response’ website at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation.

Strong aftershocks are likely for weeks following a massive earthquake such as this one.  The American Red Cross recommends that in the event of aftershocks, persons should move to open spaces away from walls, windows, buildings, and other structures that may collapse, and should be alert to the danger of falling debris.  If you are indoors, DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON:  If possible, seek cover under a sturdy desk or table, hold on, and protect your eyes by pressing your face against your arm.  If there is no table or desk nearby, sit on the floor against an interior wall away from windows, bookcases or tall furniture that could fall on you.  Avoid damaged buildings and downed power lines.  Great care should be used with matches, lighters, candles, or any open flame due to the possibility of disrupted gas lines.

Due to the continuing possibility of strong aftershocks, Japan remains at risk for further tsunamis. Japanese authorities have issued a warning for people to stay away from low-lying coastal areas. If a tsunami alert is issued by Japanese authorities, evacuate immediately to higher ground. Further information about what you can do if a tsunami occurs can be found at the National Weather Service’s TsunamiReady website, http://www.tsunamiready.noaa.gov, and the International Tsunami Information Center’s website, http://itic.ioc-unesco.org. Current tsunami alerts can be found at the Japan Meteorological Agency website, http://ww.jma.go.jp/en/tsunami/, and the website of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, http://ptwc.weather.gov.

U.S. citizens in Japan should contact family and friends in the United States to confirm their well-being at the earliest opportunity.  Where internet and telephone services are not available, it may be possible to contact people using SMS (Cell text message) or other forms of social media such as Twitter and Facebook.  U.S. citizens requiring emergency consular assistance may contact the Department of State at JapanEmergencyUSC@state.gov and the emergency contact numbers below.

U.S. citizens in Japan are encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at the following website:  https://travelregistration.state.gov. U.S. citizens without internet access may enroll directly at the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulates. By enrolling, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy/Consulates to contact them in case of emergency.

Updated information on travel and security in Japan may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. For further information, please consult the Country Specific Information for Japan, as well as the Worldwide Caution, which can be found at www.travel.state.gov.

In the interest of providing American citizens and other members of the public with the “facts on the ground” in the ongoing disaster and the relief assistance efforts, the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo has created the following Fact Sheet – which is a snapshot of the current situation.  We will update this information as the facts change and as we continue our coordination with the Government of Japan.

Consular Information

There are approximately 160,000 American citizens in Japan.

We are not aware of any confirmed reports of American casualties in Japan.

The State Department has received numerous inquiries on the welfare and whereabouts of specific U.S. citizens in Japan. The Embassy and the State Department are working around the clock to determine the whereabouts and well-being of these U.S. citizens.

The best information we have is that there are approximately 1,300 American citizens in the Japanese prefectures that were most affected by the earthquake and tsunami.

The Embassy is working to send consular officers to these affected prefectures today (March 13) to assist American citizens in those areas. At this time, we do not have information on how many of these American citizens may have left the area.

U.S. citizens in need of emergency consular assistance should send an e-mail to JapanEmergencyUSC@state.gov with detailed information about their location and contact information.  We also recommend U.S. citizens in Japan make contact with loved ones in the United States.

Please continue to monitor the Embassy’s website for updated information, the U.S. Department of State’s website at http://travel.state.gov, and the Ambassador’s Twitter account: www.twitter.com/AmbassadorRoos.

Military Assistance

The USS Ronald Reagan has arrived in the coastal region of the affected area and has already begun assisting in search-and-rescue efforts.

Helicopters from the USS Ronald Reagan have done 20 missions to and from Japanese ships, and delivered food and supplies to three different towns.

USFJ will shortly begin commencing a search-and-rescue mission to Takada City in Iwate Prefecture in order to assist 640 persons who require evacuation. Eight H-60 helicopters from Atsugi will take part.

Three H-60 helicopters at Yokota AB are standing by for mission assignment.

Additional U.S. military forces are flowing into Marine Corps Base Iwakuni.

USAID Assistance

The USAID Disaster Assistance and Response Team has arrived in Japan and is working to coordinate the overall U.S. response effort with the U.S. Embassy. Additional DART members are expected, including experts from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to advise the DART team on nuclear issues as necessary. These additional members are expected to be on the ground in Japan by the late evening of March 13.

Urban Search and Rescue teams from Fairfax County and Los Angeles County have arrived at Misawa AB. The teams are comprised of approximately 150 personnel and 12 canines trained to detect live victims.

One cargo flight transporting life-saving search and rescue equipment arrived at Misawa AB on the morning of March 13. An additional cargo flight is expected to arrive the evening of March 13.

Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant

U.S. experts have been in close consultation with Japanese experts regarding the evolving situation at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

We are encouraging U.S. citizens to heed the instructions of the Japanese civil defense authorities.

Japan’s Nuclear Industrial Safety Agency has recommended that people who live within 20 kilometers of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in Okumacho evacuate the area immediately. No other evacuations have been recommended.