Transcript Document

YALE/TULANE ESF-8 PLANNING AND RESPONSE PROGRAM SPECIAL REPORT
MAP
(JAPAN EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI )
KEY LINKS
GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN
Background
Government of Japan website:
http://www.kantei.go.jp
Situation
Earthquake
Tsunami
Nuclear Power Plants
Government of Japan
UN Response
US Response
Health Threats
Japan’s State of Emergency continues in
relation to its nuclear power plant. With the
third explosion and the burning reactor at the
Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, radiation levels
have risen considerably and are now at levels
that can impact human health.
A rescue helicopter flies over tsunami devastated
Shizugawa district in Minami Sanriku of Miyagi
Prefecture, northern Japan, 14 March 2011. Tens of
thousands of people were feared dead after last week's
earthquake and tsunami in north-eastern Japan.
AS OF: 1200 EST
15 MARCH 2011
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
RELIEFWEB
UNICEF
International Nuclear Safety Center
Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System
WHO
US GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS
The Department of State
U.S Embassy in Japan
State Dept.'s DipNote on Twitter
State Dept. Background Note
U.S. Agency for International Development
OFDA
Library of Congress Country Study - Japan
CIA World Fact Book
The Department of Defense
The Department of Homeland Security
The Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC- Tsunami
CDC-Earthquake
CDC-Radiation Emergencies
FEMA Blog
US Geological Survey
NOAA Center for Tsunami Research
NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
PORTALS
All Partners Access Network (APAN)
JAPAN EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI
BACKGROUND
EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI
• On 11 Mar 2011 05:46 UTC, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck 400km (250 miles)
north-east of Tokyo off the coast of Japan, triggering a tsunami. Because the
earthquake’s hypocenter, or rupture point, was 24.4 kilometers (15.2 miles) deep, it is
considered a shallow earthquake, the most dangerous type of quake. (The USGS has
updated the magnitude of the March 11, 2011, Tohoku earthquake in northern Honshu,
Japan, to 9.0 from the previous estimate of 8.9. Independently, Japanese seismologists
have also updated their estimate of the earthquake’s magnitude to 9.0. This magnitude
places the earthquake as the fourth largest in the world since 1900 and the largest in
Japan since modern instrumental recordings began 130 years ago.)
• The quake was the fifth-largest in the world since 1900 and nearly 8,000 times stronger
than the one which devastated Christchurch, New Zealand, last month
• The extent of damage and destruction may not be clear yet. The most affected areas are
near the coastal city of Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, with a population of one million and
located 300 km northeast of Tokyo.
Extensive fires in Miyagi prefecture also now under control; however, 3 large
fires in Miyagi still continuing. Iwate prefecture reported new fires. There were
224 fires recorded (193 fires were reported 13 March), 142 have been controlled
and 82 ongoing.
NUCLEAR EMERGENCY
•
Ten out of 13 nuclear reactors in Miyagi and Fukushima automatically shut
down in three power plants (Onogawa, Fukishima Daiichi and Fukishima
Daini).
•
The automatic shut down went as planned for the Onogawa plant.
•
In the Fukishima Daini, the coolant system did not function properly but the
water levels are being maintained.
•
Fukishima Daiichi number one unit could not maintain the level of coolant
needed to adequately cool the core and the water levels are falling. The
pressure within the reactor subsequently increased and the efforts to release
the pressure were not successful.
•
The Government of Japan has declared a State of Atomic Power Emergency
in relation to the Fukushima nuclear power plants.
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION
• The Government of Japan confirmed that 1898 people have died, 1885 people are
injured and more than 17,000 people remain missing. The numbers are likely to increase
once emergency service teams reach the tsunami affected areas.
• Many communities remain isolated due to inundation from the tsunami waves. Around the
northern coastal region of Tohoku, the Government reported that 2,852 buildings were
destroyed and over 40,000 damaged by earthquakes, tsunami or fire. The tsunami waves
caused the greatest destruction; and an estimated 5,000 houses remain inundated with
water in Iwate. In Sendai city, 2,700 houses have been washed away, and 1,800 houses
were destroyed in Fukushima. The number of houses destroyed is also expected to
increase as Government assessment teams gain access.
NOTE: The earthquake in Japan subsequently triggered a tsunami and a nuclear
emergency with each presenting related but distinct impacts on the region.
WHO Western Pacific Region Japan earthquake and tsunami Situation Report No. 06
OCHA Situation Report No. 3, 14 March 2011
OCHA Situation Report No. 2, 13 March 2011
OCHA Situation Report No. 1, 12 March 2011A
NOAA / PMEL / Center for Tsunami Research
WHO Western Pacific Region Japan earthquake and tsunami Situation Report No. 04
People walk a road between the rubble of destroyed buildings
in Minamisanriku
SITUATION
Search and Rescue remains the priority in affected areas, but operations are hampered by lack of access
as well as by continuing aftershocks and tsunamis. Many communities are still stranded due to tsunami
inundation. Conditions are exacerbated by winter weather, with freezing temperatures at night in some
areas. The main humanitarian needs continue to be food, drinking water, blankets, latrines, fuel and
medical items which the Government and private sector in Japan are urgently mobilizing to the affected
areas. More than a quarter of the planned food delivery has now reached the affected areas (more than
550,140 meals of bread, instant noodles and rice balls). Nearly 119,000 water bottles, 117,000 blankets
and 130 latrines and 288,000 litres of fuel have been transported as well.
CURRENT ASSESSMENT
NOTE: Assessment metrics to the right are for the impacted areas. The overall infrastructure outside
of the affected areas remains strong.
G
R
A
Not
A Major Concern
Currently
Generally
Ineffective
Working But
Inadequate
HOSPITALS
• 145 of the 170 hospitals designated for acute disaster emergencies are fully operational in Tokyo and
Tohoku. Of the 145 hospitals, 27 are at capacity.
B
Non-Functional
or
Destroyed
Unknown
MEDICAL OPERATIONS
• Miyagi Prefecture: among the 14 designated disaster response hospitals, 8 are operational.
• Fukushima Prefecture: among the 8 designated disaster response,4 are operational.
• 2 of 7 hospitals in Sendai are operational.
IMPACTS TO EVACUATION
• Damaged roads reported from Aomori, Miyagi, Yamagata, Akita, Tokyo, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Saitama,
Gunma, Chiba; 582 roads confirmed damaged (430 roads reported 13 March). Most affected
prefectures are Chiba, Tochigi, and Ibaraki; Saitama has also confirmed major road damage on 14
March; assessments from Fukushima and Iwate not completed.
•
East Japan Railway's bullet train and train services in the Tohoku region remain halted.
•
International: Haneda airport reopened operations 03:37 am, 12 March 2011. Narita International
reopened 6:00 am, 12 March.
•
All Japanese ports continue to be closed. Sendai and Fukushima, airports closed; Sendai airport
completely inundated with water. Misawa, Ibaraki, Oodatenoshiro, and Sado airports are operational.
Hanamaki airport has stopped regular services but a temporary service will be operated.
JAPAN
A
R
A
R
PUBLIC
HEALTH
PUBLIC
HEALTH
IMPACTS ON INFRASTRUCTURE
• Communication: 866 000 telephone lines remain out of service. 6 500 base stations of NTT, Soft Bank
and KDDI mobile companies are not working. Telephone services remain variable; disaster messaging
service in operation through mobile phone providers.
• Water: At least 1.4 million households from 13 prefectures are without running water; 4 prefectures have
received running water since 13 March. Access to water in the tsunami affected areas is a concern due
to water contamination and salination. Most affected prefectures: Miyagi, Fukushima, Yamagata, Iwate
(limited information), Ibaraki, Tochigi, Chiba, Akita, Aomori
JAPAN
BR
B
B
B
B
B
• Electricity : The Government of Japan reported that 1.25 million households are without electricity and
gas supplies are running low for almost 3.2 million people.
• Nuclear power plant: Ten nuclear reactors automatically shut down in 3 power plants of a total of 13
reactors. The three power plants are: Onagawa (Miyagi), Daiichi and Daini (Fukushima). Daiichi and
Daini are 11.5 km apart; Onagawa is ~100 km from Daiichi and Daini plants. Majority of > 200,000
people have been evacuated; 620 need to still be evacuated. Among 190 people suspected of being
exposed to radiation following Daiichi Reactor No. 1's explosion, 22 residents confirmed with detectable
radiation levels.
OVERALL PH/MEDICAL ASSESSMENT
R
SOURCE: USGS
M 8.9 - NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
Earthquake Shaking Alert Level: RED
Friday, March 11th, 2011 at 05:46:23 UTC (14:46:23 local) Location: 38.3 N, 142.4 E , Depth: 24km, USGS
Estimated Population Exposed to Earthquake Shaking
Estimated Modified Mercalli
Intensity
I
II-III
IV
V
VII
VI
VIII
IX
X
Est. Population Exposure
---*
---*
---*
7,071k*
19,695k*
29,969k*
2,144k
0
0
Perceived Shaking
Not Felt
Weak
Light
Moderate
Strong
Very Strong
Severe
Violent
Extreme
Resistant
none
none
none
V. Light
Light
Moderate
Moderate/Heavy
Heavy
V. Heavy
Vulnerable
none
none
none
Light
Moderate
Moderate/Heavy
Heavy
V. Heavy
V. Heavy
Potential
Structure
Damage
Selected Cities Exposed
Population Exposure
Population per ~1 sq. km. from LandScan
from GeoNames Database of Cities with 1,000 or more residents
MMI
NOTE:
• Overall, the population in this region
resides in structures that are
resistant to earthquakes, though
some vulnerable structures exist.
The predominant vulnerable
building types are non-ductile
reinforced concrete frame and heavy
wood frame construction.
Estimated Fatalities
City
.
Population
VII
VII
VII
Sendai
Chiba
Funabashi
1,038k
920k
561k
VII
Matsudo
470k
VII
VII
VII
VI
VI
VI
VI
Ichikawa
Utsunomiya
Mito
Tokyo
Yokohama
Morioka
Fukushima
458k
450k
247k
8,337k
3,574k
295k
294k
Estimated Economic Losses
SITUATION
(NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS)
• On March 12, an explosion occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi (Fukushima 1) nuclear power plant, located
approximately 150 miles north of Tokyo. Japanese authorities reported that the primary containment vessel at the
reactor remains intact despite the explosion, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The
GoJ will continue to closely monitor the situation, as the building housing an additional reactor at the same site
remains at risk.
• As of Sunday (March 13), authorities have evacuated 185,000 residents from some 10 towns near the affected
nuclear power plants.
• On March 14 a second explosion a second explosion at one of Japan’s nuclear power plants that was damaged
by the 11 March earthquake. Authorities report that the reactor core is still intact. This explosion was in
Fukushima Daiichi's reactor 3. There are also concerns for a third reactor at the plant which has lost its cooling
system.
• A third explosion occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on the morning of 15 March exposing
nuclear fuel rods for several hours. Within three hours the amount of radiation at the plant rose to 163 times the
previously recorded level, according to Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency. Elsewhere radiation levels
were said to have reached 400 times the "annual legal limit" at reactor No. 3. Subsequently, a fire erupted at
reactor No. 4 of the Fukushima Daini plant and a hydrogen explosion occurred at No. 4 reactor as well. The
Government has ordered a no-fly zone 30 km around the plant, and Prime Minister Naoto Kan has expanded to
30 km the range within which people should remain indoors and warned that further leaks are possible.
A second blast was reported today at the
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex, seen here
from the air on 14 March. The first explosion
happened Saturday, 12 March.
• The Government has asked the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to send a technical support team to
affected area. The IAEA is coordinating international nuclear response support to Japan through Response and
Assistance Network (RANET). A US expert team is supporting Japanese counterparts in dealing with the nuclear
crisis.
NOTES:
• Japan’s State of Emergency continues in relation to its nuclear power plant.
• Japan has one of the most extensively regulated nuclear power industries in the world.
• There is a history of a lack of transparency in incidents at Japan’s nuclear power plants that may
impact the effectiveness of public information strategies
OCHA Situation Report No. 6 - 15 March 2011
OCHA Situation Report No. 1, 12 March 2011A
IAEA Japan Earthquake Update (0730 CET) 12 March 2011
IAEA Japan Earthquake Update (2210 CET) 11 March 2011
A toddler is checked for signs of radiation by
officials in protective gear after thousands of
residents were evacuated from the area near the
Fukushima Daini nuclear plant in Koriyama
SITUATION
(NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS)
NOTE: With the third explosion and the burning reactor at the Daiichi plant,
radiation levels have risen considerably and are now at the levels to impact
human health.
A burning reactor at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has exploded,
and radiation levels have gone up markedly.
• Radiation levels over 400 milisieverts--1,000 times higher than the microsievert
measurements earlier reported (the equivalent of 400,000 microsieverts)-- are
now present following a third explosion-- this occurred at reactor #2 and is
considered more serious than two prior explosions at reactors #1 and #3.
• Prime Minister Naoto Kan said radiation levels had risen considerably, with a risk
of radiation leaking into the atmosphere, and a meltdown was likely.
• In his televised address on Tuesday, Mr Kan urged people within 30 km of the
Fukushima Daiichi plant to remain indoors.
• Mr Kan also confirmed that a fire had broken out at the No. 4 reactor, with an
explosion later reported there. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano says
radiation is now at levels that can impact human health. He emphasized that
those levels were recorded at the Daiichi plant and that the "further away you get
from the power plant or reactor, the value should go down". However,
authorities are telling everyone within a 20-km radius of the plant to leave,
with a new warning for people within 10 km of the nearby Fukushima Daini
plant to do the same.
WHO – 15 MAR 2011 - Japan nuclear concerns
SITUATION
(Tsunami)
• A 9.0 magnitude earthquake (updated from the 8.8 magnitude, by Japan
Meteorological Agency on 13 March) occurred 11 Mar 2011 in Japan at
05.46.23 UTC, hitting the northeast coast of Honshu, Japan. The worst
affected area is the east coast of Tohoku Prefecture.
• Tsunamis have caused devastation in the coastal areas Tohoku and
southern Hokkaido. Although wide areas of the Pacific were under
tsunami alert, the alerts have now been lifted.
• On 14 March, a magnitude 6 aftershock triggered a three-meter tsunami
in the north-east of Japan. The Japan Meteorological Agency says there
is a 70 percent possibility of more aftershocks higher than 7.0 in the
following days. The impact of the disaster is exacerbated by winter
weather, with temperatures dropping
• The worst affected areas are the prefectures along the north-eastern
coast, including Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibraki and Chiba. The precrisis population of these five prefectures was 14.8 million people, of
whom 1.6 million live within five km of the coast.
• Evacuation centers have been set up in the tsunami affected areas in
the north-east. More than 371,800 people have been evacuated from
Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Iwate, Tochigi and Aomori prefectures.
Evacuation centers face a shortage of potable water, food, blankets and
bathing facilities, which is being addressed by the Government.
Dropping temperatures exacerbate the problem in the shelters due to
the disruption in electrical and gas supplies.
NOTES:
• The tsunami following the earthquake was the primary cause of
major damage to the region
• Tsunamis caused by aftershocks continue to be of concern to
the impacted area
OCHA Situation Report No. 3 - 14 March 2011
OCHA Situation Report No. 1 - 12 March 2011
COE: Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Update - March 11, 2011
GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN
• The National Emergency Management Committee, led by the
Prime Minister, has been established to oversee and coordinate all
response activities. All relevant ministries and agencies such as
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Land and Transportation and
Ministry of Health have been involved in the response.
•
To date, 3000 people have been rescued. The most affected area
is a town called Minami-Sanriku-cho in the northern part of Miyagi
Prefecture. The entire village has washed away and there are
grave concerns for 10,000 residents – half the town’s population.
•
The government issued a "state of emergency" for Fukushima;
Daichi and Daini and evacuation area is ongoing for a 20-km
radius and 10-km radius respectively. 15000 have been
evacuated, 270,000 are still in the process of evacuating (as of
5am 13 March)
• The earthquake damaged or destroyed nearly 37,700 buildings
throughout northeastern Japan.
•
Self Defense Force team arrived on the ground at Fukushima's
Daiichi nuclear power plant site.
• The Nuclear Disaster Response Committee has been activated.
•
Ministry of Health has sent an emergency medical team (doctors,
nurses, and experts on radiation) to Daiichi plant.
• Based on official Japanese government figures 1 898 people are
confirmed dead, 1 885 injured with more than 17 000 missing.
Figures are expected to rise. Various media sources report more
than 15 000 estimated deaths..
•
A state of emergency has been declared.
• All prefectures have also activated local government responses.
• The Government has ordered 100,000 defense force troops to
assist emergency operations with the aid of 190 planes and 45
boats.
• Rescue and relief operations are being hampered by continuous
aftershocks, tsunami alerts, and fires. Many areas along the
northeast coast remain isolated and unreachable by emergency
services.
WHO Western Pacific Region Japan earthquake and tsunami Situation Report No. 04
Declaration of Nuclear Emergency
Prime Minister Prime Minister Naoto Kan, nuclear emergency
response headquarters held a meeting the 6th Conference and
earthquake disaster headquarters Taiheiyou Northeast 8th.
GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN
• The Government announced temporary power cuts nationwide,
due to reduced energy supplies following reduction in output or
closure of nuclear generators for 11 of the 50 generators
located in the tsunami affected areas. An estimated one third of
Japan’s energy derives from nuclear power. Electricity supplies
will be prioritized for tsunami affected north-eastern areas.
• The Ministry of National Defense has deployed 66,000 l of the
100,000 personnel the Prime Minister Naoto Kan asked for, as
well as 96 helicopters, seven fixed wing aircraft and 58 naval
ships.
• More than 3,660 police officers have also been deployed. A
total of 1,146 teams from the Ground Self-Defense Force and
40 teams from the Air Self-Defense Force are engaged in
response operations
NOTES:
• The Japanese government has a robust emergency
preparedness and response system in place
• The central government and critical infrastructure of Japan,
outside of the impacted area, continue to be functional and
capable of coordinating response activities
WHO Western Pacific Region Japan earthquake and tsunami Situation Report No. 03
Ministry of Forests and Waters and Ministry of Finance
• Provision of rice, food, and water
• Deployment of 5,000 portable latrines
• Provision of blankets, radios, gasoline, flashlights, dry ice, and other
essentials being prepared
Police and Fire Department
• Police helicopters deployed to Miyagi and Iwate for support
• Assisting through deployment of response teams via helicopters and
ships
Transportation
• Site assessments throughout the Tohoku and Kanto regions
Coast Guard
• Coordinating evacuation and alerts services
• Alerts to potential radiation exposure in Fukushima nuclear plant
Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare (MHLW)
• Activities coordinated through DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance
Team)
– Responding: 193 teams
– Deployed: 46 teams
– Standby: 124 teams
• Preparing deployment of vehicles for provision of water to affected
areas
• MHLW is advising local governments to take appropriate action to
respond to food poisoning and other infectious diseases and deep
vein thrombosis.
UNITED STATES RESPONSE
(DOD)
• Dubbed Operation Tomodachi -- Japanese for "friendship" -- U.S. military assets mobilizing in the
area include a wide range of equipment, air, sea, and ground capability and expertise.
• Yokota Air Base in Japan was instrumental in resuming airline traffic in the hours immediately following
the earthquake. Yokota is being used as an alternate airfield for planes that cannot land at Tokyo's
Narita Airport. The air base is also providing food and shelter for displaced Japanese.
• U.S. Air Force and Marine helicopter and transport aircraft were moved from Okinawa to the U.S.
military bases on Honshu.
• Two SH-60 Seahawk helicopters from the U.S. Naval Air Facility Atsugi have already delivered 1,500
pounds of rice and bread to people in the town of Shiroishi, in one of the worst-hit parts of Japan.
• Marines and sailors from III Marine Expeditionary Force are supporting relief operations and its
subordinate units are providing command and control, aviation and logistics. The troops are capable of
providing food, water, transportation and other relief support.
U.S. Air Force airmen load a pallet onto a
U.S. Air Force C-17A Globe Master III,
March Air Reserve Base, Calif., March 12,
2011. The supplies are in route to Japan for
earthquake relief efforts. USAF
• The proximity of aviation assets at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa has allowed Marines
from III MEF to quickly deploy critically needed supplies and aid to impacted areas. CH-46E Sea
Knight helicopters with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, III MEF, departed Marine Corps Air
Station Futenma bound for Naval Air Facility Atsugi on mainland Japan.
• The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan is now off the coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu. The
Reagan is serving as place for Japanese helicopters to land and refuel. There are two escort ships
with the Reagan and four more destroyers on the way to conduct search and rescue.
• The USS Tortuga has arrived and is loaded with two heavy lift MH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters.
• The USS Essex, an amphibious ship carrying a 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is still a couple days
away. The USS Blue Ridge, a command ship loaded with relief supplies, has left Singapore but it will
get to Japan after Essex.
• The U.S. Air Force's Air Mobility Command forces are poised to support relief operations in Japan.
• U.S. Army Japan/1st Corps Forward has activated its Emergency Operations Center and is mobilizing
a disaster assessment team.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald
Reagan is underway in the 7th Fleet area of
responsibility, March 12, 2011. Ronald
Reagan has been directed to Japan
following a 8.9 earthquake and tsunami to
render humanitarian assistance and disaster
relief as directed. U.S. Navy
U.S. Forces Provide Relief Aid to Japan
UNITED STATES RESPONSE
On March 11, U.S. Ambassador to Japan John V. Roos declared a
disaster due to the effects of the earthquake and tsunami. In
response, USAID activated a Response Management Team (RMT) in
Washington, D.C., and deployed a Disaster Assistance Response
Team (DART) to Japan to coordinate U.S. Government (USG)
response efforts in Japan.
USAR
On March 13, the Fairfax County and Los Angeles County Urban
Search and Rescue (USAR) Teams arrived in Japan as part of the
DART.
NRC
Acting as part of a U.S. Agency for International Development
assistance team, the NRC has dispatched eight additional experts to
Tokyo to provide assistance as requested by the Japanese
government. The first members of the team left the United States
Monday evening and were due to arrive in Tokyo Wednesday
afternoon. The team includes additional reactor experts, international
affairs professional staffers, and a senior manager from one of the
NRC’s four operating regions.
NOTES:
• The United States briefly engaged in limited domestic response operations due to Pacific tsunamis triggered by the earthquake.
• The United States Department of Defense is actively assisting response operations, primarily through heavy lift operations.
• The United States continues to have disaster response assets on stand-by to support Japan if requested.
USAID Responds Immediately to Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
World Health Organization-Regional Office for the Western Pacific
(WHO-WPRO) in Manila
• The Event Management Group has been activated to monitor and
alert others with regard to the evolving situation, as well as to
communicate and coordinate the response to the earthquake in
Japan. The WPRO Situation Room is currently operational.
• WPRO has been in contact with the Ministry of Health, Labour and
Welfare of Japan. The National IHR Focal Point in Japan has been
designated by Japan to communicate with WHO on the event.
• WPRO has conducted an teleconference with its country
Representatives and Liaison Officers to appraise them on the present
situation.
•
WPRO/ENH (Environmental Health) has joined the Event
Management Team to advise, assess and monitor the situation related
nuclear power plant leak.
• WHO/WPRO has been working with WHO/HQ to compile available
technical guidelines related to radiation issues.
• WPRO communications team has been developing advisories and
information materials to support needs of Member States with regards
to issues on radiation and health.
• All levels of WHO have been mobilized to provide support to the
emergency.
OCHA Situation Report No. 6 - 15 March 2011
• As part of its response to the nuclear power plant crisis in Japan,
the World Health Organization (WHO) has alerted its global
network of health experts specialized in nuclear-related disasters.
• The Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance
Network (REMPAN), is composed of more than 40 specialized
institutions with expertise in radiation emergency medicine, public
health interventions and long-term follow-up.
• REMPAN's experts are now on standby but will not travel to
Japan unless their assistance is requested by the Japanese
authorities. A number of the REMPAN institutions are based in
Japan, providing the country with a high level of domestic
expertise.
• A United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC)
team has arrived in Japan to support the Government in its
emergency response operations.
NOTE:
• WHO continues to make preparations to support response
operations as requested.
• The impact of radiation released from the ongoing nuclear
emergency remains a major concern of WHO.
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OF INTEREST
•
Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) currently has a team of 10 people divided into three
teams conducting mobile clinics and assessments in Miyagi prefecture, following the
earthquake and resulting tsunamis. They have expressed concern for the elderly that have
been evacuated. MSF is now identifying specific needs - which include oxygen, non-food
items, medical items and water - and will work with Japanese authorities to assist these
populations.
•
Save the Children has a team in Sendai, establishing an operations base to help the most
vulnerable children and their families. The teams will be setting up a network of child
friendly spaces.
•
Association of Medical Doctors of Asia team comprising one coordinator, one nurse
and two doctors (pediatrician/physician, physician/public health specialist) left Okayama in
the morning of Mar. 12th and headed to Niigata to secure the logistic point and access to
the worst-hit Sendai city and the vicinity of Miyagi prefecture. The team is mainly aiming to
support the vulnerable elderly, however, their further scope of activities will be determined
based on the needs assessment and information gathering at the local sites.
•
The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies (IFRC) reports there are now more than
430,000 people housed in some 2,500 evacuation centers, mostly in
schools and other public buildings. In addition, Red Cross medical
teams are reporting many cases of people arriving at hospitals
suffering from hypothermia and at risk of pneumonia. Many people
are suffering the effects of having swallowed contaminated water
during the tsunami. 85 medical teams are operating out of hospitals
and mobile clinics treating survivors. Each team includes a trained
psychosocial nurse, who allows survivors to voice their grief and
anxieties, as well discuss practical concerns.
• The Japanese Red Cross has also deployed 95 medical teams, with a
total of 735 people, including doctors and nurses.
• The National Society set up field clinics and is operating mobile health
clinics, providing first aid, medical, health and psychosocial support.
The Red Cross has almost 2,400 nurses trained to give psychosocial
support.
• Volunteers continue to distribute relief items, ensuring displaced
people are offered hot meals, clearing debris and providing medical
transportation. The IFRC maintains a pre-positioned stock of relief
items for up to 20,000 families in the region which can be dispatched if
requested. All of the Japanese Red Cross branches are equipped with
special equipment to deal with nuclear, biological or chemical
disasters. In addition, there is a specialist team at Nagasaki Red
Cross hospital, which remains on standby and ready to receive
patients if required, as part of the Government’s nuclear accident plan
NOTE: Multiple international health and welfare
organizations are operating in the impacted area to
support displaced and vulnerable populations.
OCHA Situation Report No. 6 - 15 March 2011
Japan: Significant needs in remote quake and tsunami-hit areas
Japan: Red Cross steps up response to meet needs of evolving disaster
Up to 100,000 children displaced in Japan earthquake and tsunami, warns Save the Children
AMDA Sit Rep 1, 14 MAR 2011
HEALTH THREAT FROM A NUCLEAR ACCIDENT
Contaminated Soil
Contaminated Air
Contaminated
Water
Environmental
Radiation
Contamination
Radiation
Exposure
Exposure
Burns to eyes/skin
Molds/Allergens
Inhalation
GI Tract
ARS
Thyroid
Cancer
Contaminated Food
Secondary Fires
Loss of
Communications
Loss of Essential
Services
Nuclear
Accident
Infrastructure
Loss of Utilities
Fires and Explosions
Delays/ Inability to Evacuate
Access to care prohibited
Trauma/Wounds
Burns
Radiation
Blast
Maternal & Neonatal
Chronic Disease
Burns/Smoke Inhalation
Exposure
Loss of Transportation
Networks
Loss of Assets
Displacement
Socio-Economic
Loss of Shelter
Loss of Employment
Loss of Access
To Food/Water
Meningitis
Measles
Malnutrition
Dehydration
Diarrhea
A toddler is checked for signs of radiation
by officials in protective gear after
thousands of residents were evacuated
from the area near the Fukushima Daini
nuclear plant in Koriyama
RADIATION – MEDICAL ISSUES
NUCLEAR ACCIDENT
DOSE (REM)
• A nuclear and radiation accident is defined by the International
Atomic Energy Agency as "an event that has led to significant
consequences to people, the environment or the facility.
• Examples include lethal effects to individuals, large radioactivity
release to the environment, or reactor core melt.
• The prime example of a "major nuclear accident" is one in which a
reactor core is damaged and large amounts of radiation are
released.
ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME (ARS)
•
•
Also called radiation sickness
People exposed to radiation will get ARS only if:
–
The radiation dose was high
–
The radiation was penetrating
• (that is, able to reach internal organs),
–
The person’s entire body, or most of it, received
the dose, and
–
The radiation was received in a short time,
usually within minutes.
EFFECTS
.070
Mammogram
.365
Annual Natural Background Radiation- Denver
<50
Clinical threshold (drop in lymphocyte count)
~100
Threshold for Prodrome (Nausea,Vomiting, Diarrhea)
~350
~50% die within 60 days (with minimal supportive care)
~500
~50% die within 60 days (with supportive medical care)
>1,000 ~100% die within 30 days
• If the dose of radiation exceeds a certain threshold level, then it can
produce acute effects, such as skin redness, hair loss, radiation burns,
and acute radiation syndrome (ARS1).
NOTES:
• In a nuclear power plant accident, the general population
is not likely to be exposed to doses high enough to cause
such effects.
• Rescuers, first responders and nuclear power plant
workers are more likely to be exposed to doses of
radiation high enough to cause acute effects.