An aerial view of debris from an 8.9 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck northern Japan. The debris was inspected by a helicopter-based search and rescue team from the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alexander Tidd

Debris from the March 2011 Japanese tsunami are beginning to arrive on the Pacific Coast. The debris is a collection of items that both float and have a high enough profile off the water to catch the wind. The wind-driven debris, as predicted, is arriving before the current-driven debris.
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A Japanese home is seen adrift in the Pacific Ocean. Ships and aircraft from the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group are searching for survivors in the coastal waters near Sendai, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dylan McCord

One of the most iconic photos to appear after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan was that of a house, floating alone in the sea. The U.S. Navy photo illustrates the nature of the tsunami, which not only damaged buildings ashore but swept debris from the shore out to sea. Estimates vary on the amount of debris but KITV-4 in Hawaii quotes experts as saying it may range from five to twenty million tons.

An aerial view of debris from an 8.9 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck northern Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dylan McCord

A Russian sail training ship, the STS Pallada, ran in to the debris field about 700 miles northwest of Midway atoll in September. Researchers at the International Pacific Research Center (IPRC), University of Hawaii at Manoa modeling the anticipated movement of the mass of debris were startled since the field has moved east much faster than expected. Under the direction of Nikolai Maximenko, senior researcher on the project, new estimates are being produced that project the arrival of tsunami debris at various locations in the Pacific.

Jan Hafner, from the IPRC, reports in an e-mail, that the debris should begin to reach the Midway atoll in January 2012. Hawaii should see the debris washing ashore from December 2012 onward. The U.S. Pacific West Coast should begin to see the debris in late 2013 and early 2014.

The Russians report seeing much more than just wood and plastic floating in the debris field. They recovered a small fishing vessel, and have seen televisions, refrigerators, boots and even a drum. They encountered the floating objects for hundreds of miles as they sailed towards Vladivostok. Their Geiger counter revealed no radiation threat from the material that they saw.

Midway is home to the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, which was heavily damaged by the tsunami that generated the debris. Miriam Goldstein, a doctoral student at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, writes on the site Deep Sea News that Hawaii will see two hits from the debris field. The currents will carry the debris west to east through the islands and then after reaching the U.S. West Coast, carry them back east to west.

The debris will impact both Midway and the Hawaiian islands but the extent is presently unknown. It is not known what preparations public authorities are making. Attempts to reach the Governor of Hawaii’s office, the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor and the National Wildlife Service’s Midway office have been unsuccessful at this time.

With only the observations of the Russian ship, the IPRC is eager to receive additional reports and GPS data. They are interested in the following data:

GPS location, time and description of the debris, state of the sea and weather

Photos would also be appreciated. Jan Hafner would like any reports sent to him at jhafner@hawaii.edu .

Here is an interesting tale from the Japanese tsunami. As part of the US relief efforts, we are cleaning the school up so that it can resume its original task, education.

Soldiers help to clean-up a school in Matsushima, Japan, during Operation Field Day, April 15.Operation Field Day is part of Operation Tomodachi, which provides assistance to the Japanese citizens affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Photo by Spc. Cody Thompson

Fire trucks raced down the street as sirens blared and fire men shouted “the tsunami is coming, the tsunami is coming,” Takayuki Watabe, the chief curriculum coordinator at a school in Matsushima, Japan, recalls the day the Great East Japan Earthquake struck the area, March 11.

“As they were driving the tsunami was following right behind them,” Watabe said. “They arrived at the school and made it upstairs before the tsunami struck, but unfortunately some of the elderly stayed in their homes and didn’t make it.”

The children and teachers, who were at school at the time, were safe from the wave that was rushing toward them at an estimated speed of approximately 200 mph.

“We were worried because if the water levels had risen anymore it would have flooded the second floor,” Watabe explains. “We pushed kids back from the windows, but a few were still able to see their houses wash away.”

After all of the lights and ways to communicate with the outside world went dead, the children and teachers had to wait a few days in the damp, cold conditions before some of the parents arrived.

“Once the children saw a few of the parents march across the field to the school, their morale raised and they began to encourage each other,” Watabe said. “A few kids lost parents and grandparents, but the teachers went to the shelter with them and still gave classes in the new location.”

Since the events ravaged the Tohoku and Kanto regions of Japan, the U.S. military has provided assistance by cleaning-up a few of the local schools, which includes the Matsushima school.

“We just want to help,” Maj. Gen. Michael T. Harrison, the commanding general for U.S. Army Japan and I-Corps (FORWARD), said.

The U.S. Military’s role is to assist and augment the efforts and capabilities of the Japanese government by cleaning schools, providing showers and kerosene, handing out backpacks and playing music for displaced citizens.

Watabe sees hope for the children because of the role the joint efforts of the U.S. and Japanese military.

“There were 400 people huddled together that night offering encouragement to each other,” Watabe said. “Thank you for helping to clean the schools so that eventually the children can come back.”

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Story by Spc. Cody Thompson

The U.S. military continues to assist the voluntary departure from Japan of eligible Defense Deparment family members. To date, a total of 7,001 eligible family members, including 394 pets, have been transported in the voluntary authorized departure, known as Operation Pacific Passage. Most families choosing to temporarily relocate were transported by military contract aircraft. The few remaining family members will be transported over the next few days.

Joint Task Force 505 was recently established to conduct Operation Pacific Passage at the direction of the commander of U.S. Pacific Command, Adm. Robert Willard.

“Our current focus has the been the orderly processing and movement of eligible military family members who have chosen to temporarily relocate to the United States,” said Lt. Gen. Kenneth Glueck, commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Bases Japan, and commander of the recently established Joint Task Force 505.

“We are taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of our personnel during this dynamic time. The safety of our military personnel and family members remains a top priority,” he added.

On March 17, the office of the under secretary of defense authorized DoD eligible family members, located in selected prefectures on the island of Honshu, Japan, to depart for designated locations of the United States and other designated safe haven locations.

“These actions will in no way diminish ongoing relief operations in support of the government of Japan,” said Glueck. “We remain absolutely committed to this effort for as long as our assistance is required.”

A joint task force is a command with a specific designation that is composed of two or more military departments, operating under a single commander. It is capable of responding to the full range of contingencies across the operational scale such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts anywhere in the Asia-Pacific region.

Joint Task Force 505 is headquartered on Okinawa with a forward operating element at Yokota Air Base near Tokyo.

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Sailors from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1, assigned to the Salvage and Rescue ship USNS Safeguard scan local waters with sonar equipment for underwater wreckage during a relief effort. Safeguard is supporting salvage efforts in support of Operation Tomodachi. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Devon Dow

Salvage support is increasing with the arrival of the Rescue and Salvage ship USNS Safeguard, along with personnel and assets from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 5, and Underwater Construction Team 2 March 25, 2011.

Their salvage recovery missions will assist the Japanese Coast Guard as recovery efforts continue in the city.

Safeguard, stationed in Sasebo, Japan, is the Navy’s only forward-deployed rescue and salvage ship. It is specifically designed to perform combat salvage, lifting, towing, manned diving operations, and provide emergency repairs to stranded or disabled vessels.

The salvage ship, which was transferred to the Military Sealift Command in 2007, has a crew that consists of civilian contractors and sailors assigned to the Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One. The ship and the crew’s expertise will play a vital role in clearing waterways in the area of debris and sunken wreckage.

“We are here under a request by the Japanese government to provide support. Whatever we can do to help them in any way we are willing to do so,” said Lt. Cmdr. Peterson, 7th Fleet salvage officer and coordinator of the Safeguard. “The teamwork with the Japanese has been incredible and we look forward to working with them.”

Operating from a dock at FISC Yokosuka Fuel Terminal-Hachinohe, EOD Mobile Unit 5 and UCT 2 are working together to clear wreckage from a local commercial channel. With it cleared, the Japanese ships will be able to transport supplies and fuel to northern Japan.

UCT 2 is providing underwater surveillance imagery with side scan sonar equipment. Once their scanning is complete, their findings are shared with the Japanese Cost Guard. Once the location of wreckage is determined, markers are placed and EOD divers go into the water for a more thorough inspection. From this point, both Navy and Japanese Coast Guard form a collective plan to remove the wreckage.

Petty Officer 1st Class Timothy Plummer, center, construction mechanic of Watertown, N.Y., and Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Knolla, left, builder of Wichita Kan., both assigned to Underwater Construction Team 2, go over charts of a local port with Lt. Cmdr. Derek Peterson, 7th Fleet salvage officer and native of Cocoa, Fla. UCT 2 is conducting salvage operations in the city in support of Operation Tomodachi. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Devon Dow

EOD Mobile Unit 5’s Intelligence Leading Chief Petty Officer Senior Chief Intelligence Specialist James Isham from Mackville, Ky., said the Japanese have been doing a great job with their salvage efforts and that working with them has been a great experience.

“It’s been very easy working with them and a real honor,” he said. “It is nice to be able to be helpful and to assist our allies. With this port clear, they will be able to get needed supplies to the people, especially heating fuel.”

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Devon Dow
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