Tuesday Evening Update March 15

I am loosing track of time, I have been reminded that it is Kent and Corrine's birthday, so, Happy Birthday! I asked Grandma Great how old you are and she couldn't remember, I asked what year you were born, she couldn't remember. That made me giggle a little bit!

Aaron and I spent time today to say hello to our grandparents. The thought struck me as I was overhearing conversations today that we are anxious to talk to all of you as well. Our friends and family have been so gracious and generous with your encouragement and time, we are so thankful for all of it!!

Please pass along our gratitude for the addition of our family and our adopted country to the many prayer chains and church prayer lists. Although we are still safe and doing well, many in Japan are heartbroken and still so shocked from this week. The danger is still ongoing and with the aftershocks and nuclear danger still on the forefront of all here in Japan, it's still rough going on the nerves.

We have updates due to a town hall meeting with the base commander as well as all group commanders and PR, safety and medical personnel regarding all kinds of issues. The atmosphere went for nervous to more settled and more confident in our purpose and our safety.

1. The US Embassy in Tokyo has been evacuated but ONLY because the building has been damaged, all personnel are still in Tokyo but are in a safer location.

2. Evacuations are not planned at this moment because we are safe. These building are built to withstand high scale EQs and they are holding up like a charm. The air samples are continuously being conducted here on base as well as the personnel and aircraft coming back to base as they return from their missions. As of now, no one has come back to Yokota with any radiation.

3. All personnel scheduled to move to Yokota have been suspended only because the Search and Rescue teams as well as additional military personnel need all available housing and there is simply no room for those moving in. All personnel moving out are still able to move out and go to their next assignment.

4. People planning on coming to Yokota on Space Available flights will be denied, but if you are returning home and you can prove Yokota is your home base, you will be able to return, but details on return flights are fluid and low priority.

Below is a personal email from the base commander to all Yokota:

Team Yokota,

My #1 concern is the safety of this installation. Rest assured, we are
continuously testing the air here at multiple locations and our results
show no abnormal levels of radiation at Yokota. We will let you know if
Higher Headquarters directs further action for the whole of the region
and respond appropriately.

Best,
Col Paul "Otto" Feather
Commander, 374th Airlift Wing

Things seen around base: Flags are being flown at half staff in honor of all those who've been lost.

The New Zealand Search and Rescue teams are in the country and the American teams with search dog from LA are in place and searching. We have entire fleets of helicopters on base with all kinds of different military everywhere.

So for now, that is the update. In some cases you at home might be better informed of a lot of the more recent news concerning the nuclear developments. With the girls being around during the day, we don't watch the news. Sunday night the girls and I sat and talked about EQ's, aftershocks, Tsunamis and nuclear reactors (I personally like the conversations that revolved around school lunches and friends they want to play with, but we do what we have to do). Although it was very VERY basic, especially the part about nuclear physiology, they seemed to understand why the ground was shaking, why there are more people on base than usual and why we are on the phone more frequently. Our days are different, our sleep interrupted with aftershocks and different concerns throughout the day, rest assured we are safe and continue to be lead by leaders that understand our concerns, take 3 hours out of their already really busy schedule to personally answer all our questions and ease frayed nerves.

This wouldn't be an update with a link to something, so here it is:
www.stripes.com

Stars and Stripes!! This is a good ol' paper, been around for years as the military newspaper. This has more detailed descriptions of people and assistance from the military and those sent from other parts of the world.

If you have specific questions, of if there is something I forget to mention, please let me know. We are here for the duration unless directed otherwise by base personnel or my husband. Neither one nor I think it is time for that, so we continue with our days here in Japan.

Please comment if you would like, we love hearing from all of you!