This is a video from the World Health Organization regarding our risks to radiation:
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/19_04.html
Below is the Commander of the 36th AS, the C-130 Squadron: He sums things up well and I am tired so here you go...
First, conditions at Yokota remain the same: clean air; ample food, water, gas, and electricity. Yokota continues to be a safe and enjoyable place to live and work.
Second, we brought three aircraft and six-plus crews home from COPE TIGER over the last two days, increasing our ability to support Operation TOMODACHI. Flying into Yokota last night, we were struck by the disparity between what some of the news channels are reporting and how normal everything looked from the air—the lights were all on, trains were running, and automobile traffic appeared normal. I don’t want to minimize the impact of the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear difficulties on Japan, but this is clearly not a nation falling apart at the seams.
Voluntary Authorized Departure (VAD): While I personally feel the risk is low, we all need to make our own risk analysis and decisions and there is absolutely no stigma for anyone who would like to take advantage of the VAD program. If leaving feels like the right thing for your family and will provide a stress relief, then you should consider the VAD program. Boldenows and Rapps will remain here, and most of you have also said that you’ll remain. Saying you’ll stay here does not prevent you from later changing your mind. On the other hand, if you do say you want to go, please be aware that you should be ready to depart very quickly when notified. We got an hour and a half notice for folks to be over at the Taiyo for the first departure today. If that sounds like too short notice for you, then I would recommend saying no until you have your affairs in order. The VAD details are still being tweaked as we go, so please bear with us when you hear about differences in what you may have originally been told. The best source of current information is available on the Yokota.com home page, or you can call the OG/VAD Reps at 225-5131. The OG VAD office will be manned 24 hours a day and will represent all personnel in the OG, so if you decide you want to sign up, you should contact the personnel at that office. A list of Frequently Asked Questions handout is available on the Yokota website that should answer a lot of your questions. Also, some late updates from a USFJ message released today: Eligible Family Members (EFMs—includes dependents of all military members and DoD civilians stationed on the island of Honshu) will be authorized two pieces of luggage up to 70 pounds each, a small carry-on, and up to two household pets. The designated Safe Haven is now the contiguous 48 states and USFJ is working a waiver to include Alaska and Hawaii. You can choose the specific location in the States that will be your safe haven. Command-sponsored dependents should be authorized per diem while at that location, in accordance with the program rules. Again, please read the FAQs, see the Yokota.com website, and talk to the VAD Reps for the most current details. If there are questions they can’t answer, they can up-channel them to our Force Support Squadron reps for clarification. If you do choose to depart, you will need one of the USFJ Form 178-R’s filled out and in your possession. You will also need some other documents to prove your ID and dependency status—PCS orders, passport, etc. Once again, VAD is being put together on a very short timeline and decisions are being made and sometimes revisited inside of the communication loop. This will result in some frustration due to out of date information and information passed on very short notice—please be patient with the process and understand that our leadership has your best interests at heart.
Noncombatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) Preparation: the current situation has brought a need to the forefront—having a NEO folder pre-built for all military dependents that can be quickly referenced in case of a short-notice mandatory evacuation. At many overseas locations, we maintain these folders for all military members with dependents. The folder is very similar to the Mobility folders we maintain for military members. We are re-establishing NEO folders as the permanent norm for all Yokota dependents. All military members need to fill out the attached form and provide other information for a NEO folder. Lt Hardy, Lt Siebers, and Lt Parks have gotten the ball rolling on this and our Mobility Flight will take that process over for the long term.
Power Conservation: Our efforts to conserve power have paid off, both for Japan as a whole and directly for Yokota. Since our power consumption dropped, we have been able to avoid planned power blackouts. Blackouts may still be in our future, particularly as they work to get power back to many houses in northern Japan, so please be prepared for that and please continue your efforts to conserve power.
Operations: Eagle Airlifters have hauled thousands of pounds of cargo, including fire trucks, fuel trucks, fuel (for helicopters and vehicles), food, water, blankets and personnel in support of Operation TOMODACHI. Our crews landed the first slick C-130s into Sendai airport last night. The cargo they carried will enable us to continue and expand operations into Sendai and also included some humanitarian relief supplies. We continue to fly very important missions around the clock—supporting OEF-Phillipines, repatriating fallen military members, and flying operations in the CENTCOM AOR. Those not on flying crews are working 12-hour shifts to keep the operations going 24 hours a day. Despite the high OPTEMPO, Eagles are operating safely and effectively. You are all maintaining a great attitude in spite of all the challenges and you constantly strive to improve processes. Keep it up!
Spouse Support: Spouses and families are supporting us 100% and also volunteering in a number of venues throughout the base. Eagles and Team Yokota are all able to operate better because of that support. Thank You!
Rumors and information: Please continue to get your information from trusted sources--Channel 20, Yokota.com website, Yokota Facebook, this email, etc. If something sounds unbelievable or unfair, it’s probably not true. Please continue to maintain a good attitude and avoid speculation, or at least clearly state when you are speculating so someone else doesn’t pass it on as fact.
Eagles and Eagle Families—thanks for all you are doing. You are making a huge difference. Tricia and I are proud to be a part of this team.
Very Respectfully,
Lt Col Rapp
Lt Col Tim "Dexter" Rapp
Commander, 36th Airlift Squadron
DSN: 315-225-5435 // Comm: +81-31175-55435 // Cell: 090-1841-1620
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