Travel Alert for U.S. citizens to avoid tourism and non-essential travel to Japan
by Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 9:48am
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.
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