For Constituents in Japan
March 5, 2011
There has been a Travel Warning issued authorizing the voluntary departure of eligible family members from Tokyo, Yokohama, and Nagoya, and recommending that U.S. citizens in Japan consider departing. The text of the message is at: https://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_5390.html
Additional information from an on-the-record briefing with Under Secretary of State Patrick Kennedy and Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Poneman is at https://japan.usembassy.gov/e/p/tp-20110317-09.html. Under Secretary Kennedy and Deputy Assistant Secretary James D. Pettit, Bureau of Consular Affairs, held special briefing this afternoon and their remarks are at https://www.state.gov/m/rls/remarks/2011/158550.htm.
The U.S. Embassy will continue to update American citizens as the situation develops. U.S. citizens in need of emergency assistance, or persons with information about such individuals, can enter information about them through the Task Force Alert link on the Japan Earthquake/Tsunami site on www.travel.state.gov, and provide detailed information about their location and contact information. U.S. citizens in Japan and those concerned about them should monitor the U.S.Department of State website at travel.state.gov.
International commercial flights are operating in and out of Japan, and the best way for Americans to get on these flights is to work directly with the airlines. In addition, for those who have made it to the airport in Tokyo already, US consular officers will be available at the Narita airport for the next several days. They will be wearing orange vests that read “U.S. Embassy.” In addition, the Department of State is arranging charter flights from Tokyo to safehaven locations in Asia. Space on these flights is limited, and travelers will be required to sign a form promising to reimburse the U.S. government at the equivalent commercial rate. Information on these flights is at https://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_5388.html.
For getting to the airports from various locations in Japan. The State Dept. has compiled a list of local ground transportation options at: https://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_5388.html.
Bus Seats Available from Sendai: The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo has arranged for over 600 seats on several buses for transportation from Sendai City Hall to Tokyo. Priority for seats will be given to U.S. citizens and their immediate dependents. No reservation is required. However, passengers will be required to sign a promissory note to reimburse the U.S. Government for the normal bus fare from Sendai to Tokyo.
The first buses will depart at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, March 18 in front of Sendai City Hall (仙台市役所前広場). If there are extra seats left over, then the remaining buses will depart on 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 19 at the same location
We continue to send out updated messages through our Warden network in Japan; these messages, along with other useful information, can be viewed on our website: https://travel.state.gov under “Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami.” Additional information is available through the U.S. Embassy Tokyo website at: https://japan.usembassy.gov/. Japan situation and congressional contact information will be updated regularly on https://travel.state.gov/congress/.
Visa inquiries: For questions concerning U.S. visas for people (not U.S. citizens) seeking to enter the U.S. from Japan, please contact japanvisainquiries@state.gov. Tokyo, Osaka and Naha Visa Sections are providing only emergency visa appointments. The Fukuoka Visa Section has normal hours and the Sapporo Visa Section is closed until March 21.
How to help: We encourage cash donations. The web site www.interaction.org has a list of organizations accepting contributions. The American Red Cross is accepting donations of $10 by texting REDCROSS to 90999.
USAID now has an email address for Americans who want to provide assistance (cash donations) to help them direct contributions to organizations on the ground: japanhelp@ofda.gov.
USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is coordinating the overall response management and humanitarian assistance effort. AID/OFDA can be reached at RMT_PACTSU@ofda.gov (underscore between RMT and PACTSU), Phone: 202 712 0039.
The Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) – www.cidi.org – is a clearing house for putting people who want to donate to disaster relief missions (in either in case or kind) in contact with NGOs like Interaction. CIDI has the expertise to match up quickly individual U.S. citizens, i.e. congressional constituents, with public and private entities that can provide transport for commodities or charities to receive cash.
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