Radiation Updates

For those of you watching the news and CNN like we are, don't worry, we are safe. First we received this information from our obmudsman (Navy-family liason):

  I have been informed by RADM Wren, Commander Naval Forces Japan,
that a third reactor at Fukushima has exploded.  Winds currently are tending
from the Northeast which means that extremely low levels of radiation - 1.5
milliREMs (about the radiation of a chest XRAY) was detected in Yokosuka,
and 0.5 milliREMs was just detected at NAF Atsugi.
    Recommendations from RADM Wren will be forthcoming officially, but
he just relayed to me the following actions that should occur to take the
most conservative approach to this situation.

A. Minimize outside exposure
B. Secure outside ventilation sources

All NAFA personnel should stay inside as much as possible.  Staying inside
decreases exposure by 60%. 

As we receive RADM Wren's official guidance that he is coordinating with the
US Ambassador, then we will forward that, but for right now please execute
the above actions until further guidance is gained.  Thank you.

We also received this email today (amongst many others updating us constantly about the situation): 

Subject: Precautionary Measures

All,

I was just briefed by the technicians taking air samples here at Atsugi.
The readings they are seeing are EXTREMELY LOW.  

Their assessment is that one hour of activity outside would be equal to one
day's worth of what you normally experience as a result of your TV,
Microwave Oven & Cell Phone.  Staying inside all but eliminates the slight
increase to what you normally would receive.  

Short transits will cause a minimal increase of the radiation you normally
are exposed to daily.  

DCAG 

So as you can see, we are fine and if things get worse, we will be taken care of. Some people are getting very stressed about the situation, but there doesn't seem to be a point to me quite yet. As you can see from the map I posted earlier, we are very far from the reactor. They are only evacuating a 20 km radius from the reactor site. We are over 200 miles away. None of my Japanese friends/students are stressed, in fact, a few of my classes are still continuing as scheduled for Wednesday. Don't worry, Glenn and I are enjoying an afternoon/evening of TV (well, for 20 more minutes when the power is scheduled to be turned off). If you can't get in touch with us, it's because of the rolling power outages!