US Military Considers Evacuating Base In Japan

[PhillySane]

If they won't stay put, then radiation levels must be seriously high. Does anyone else see the irony in this?

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/03/21/japan.military.evacuation/index.html?hpt=T2

[Teaser]

1. doubtful

the base in question is so far from the incident that if they're not considering evacuating the rest of the country (which they aren't) then they aren't considering evacuating this base. Either there is some kind of localized problem, i.e. a food supply problem for the base (does it get most of its food from the impacted region?) or people were just shooting the shit in a meeting and this guy leaked it.

[PhillySane]

2. Actually

I think it all depends on which way the wind blows

[Teaser]

8. Even then

There's a lot of ground between Fukushima Daiichi complex and areas South of Tokyo. Why evacuation of Yokosuka, but not Yokoto?

This just strikes me as an extreme "what if" scenario.

[cleanhippie]

3. Strange that only Yokosuka is mentioned, as there are several bases clustered in the Tokyo area

and most are CLOSER to the problem than Yokosuka.


I think the US military presence in the Tokyo area, including dependents, is probably close to 100,000. That will require a MASSIVE airlift effort.

[Lint Head]

4. If anyone thinking Japan is not permanently damaged is kidding himself or herself.

[PoliticAverse]

5. Indeed...

Considering the amount of radioactive particles that apparently have been released
some difficult decisions are going to have to be made on what to do about people in
the affected area being allowed to return to their homes.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl_Nuclear_Power_Plant_Exclusion_Zone

[hack89]

6. One huge potential problem they are trying to avoid

besides the more important danger to humans, is the long term contamination of ships and planes. If, for example, the USS George Washington got radioactive dust in its ventilation system it would be impossible to decontaminate. You would then have a $4.5 billion dollar carrier that may be unsafe for human habitation.

[PhillySane]

7. That thought

doesn't bother me so much. I wish they were all uninhabitable.

[TBF]

9. The families are already arriving in Seattle -

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014564129_japanevacuees22m.html

Families of U.S. military employees in Japan evacuate to Sea-Tac

More than 150 military spouses, children and pets left Japan and flew into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Monday, and thousands more are expected to return to the U.S. over the next week, after the military set up a "voluntary authorized departure program."

By Jill Kimball

Seattle Times staff reporter

Navy Cmdr. Al Adams, a Joint Base Lewis-McChord medical planner, holds Allen Bell while mother Mai Bell fills out paperwork after arriving Monday at Sea-Tac airport from Japan.

At a USO support center, evacuated families get help on Monday with lodging, travel accommodations and Department of Defense information. Families of military and Department of Defense civilian employees are being routed through Sea-Tac airport.

At a USO support center, evacuated families get help on Monday with lodging, travel accommodations and Department of Defense information. Families of military and Department of Defense civilian employees are being routed through Sea-Tac airport.

NEW - 07:27 AM
Latest developments in Japan's disasters, nuclear crisis

Families of U.S. military employees in Japan evacuate to Sea-Tac

More than 150 military spouses, children and pets left Japan and flew into Sea-Tac airport Monday, and thousands more are expected to return to the U.S. over the next week.

It was the second plane full of voluntary evacuees to travel across the Pacific Ocean from the earthquake- and tsunami-ravaged country. About 250 military dependents, including 190 children, touched down Saturday at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the nearest major U.S. airport to Japan.

At least 20 more flights out of Japan are planned for military families and families of U.S. Department of Defense civilian employees between Tuesday and Sunday, according to a schedule from the military.

[marions ghost]

10. Pregnant women & children first...

get the dependents out.

[bananas]

11. k&r nt

[malaise]

12. I asked about this over a week ago n/t

[TBF]

13. I don't know if it was your post or someone else's - but that is how I knew

about Seattle. Someone had posted an article from a Seattle TV station that talked about the arrival of military personnel from Japan. Over 200,000 are expected to arrive in West Coast cities.