March 22 - KI pills available to US gov employees... all others, you're on your own.

10:05 PM - Probably the best article I've run across about how to help the people in Fukushima.  How to help

6:49 PM - Just got the news that the USS Geo Washington interrupted its maintenance cycle and got underway today to avoid a radioactive plume that is headed toward Tokyo area and will deposit more radioactivity "in the next 24 hours than in the previous 10 days".   No mention of the source of this info and no coverage in Tokyo news of any plume with higher levels of radiation.  Local monitors show no signs of significant increase.  So, is the Navy being very cautious with their 4.5 billion dollar investment or do they know something we don't?  GW report transcript   GW leaves town, video

The US Ambassador has made sure gov personnel and dependents are taken care of.  US citizens working in the economy not associated with the gov are left to fend for themselves.  Meanwhile, Ambasadoor Roos's Twitter feeds are all about what a great job the embassy is doing. 

12:00 PM  - Nothing much new on the situation with nuclear plants.   Every day that goes by without a major setback adds confidence that there won't be a large release of radiation.  Rainy day again today.  Off to work.

I note the British embassy has provided their citizens with KI pills or means to get them.  Not so the US embassy, that has limited distribution to US gov personnel and dependents.   Not that I think we need these pills at this point, but what are we... chopped liver?

Embassy's Travel Warning update follows:


On March 21, 2011, consistent with NRC guidelines that apply to such a situation in the United States, the U.S. Government is making available Potassium Iodide (KI) as a precautionary measure for United States Government personnel and dependents residing within Nagoya (Aichi Prefecture), Tokyo (Tokyo Capital Region), Yokohama (Kanagawa Prefecture), ....The KI should only be consumed after specific instruction from the United States Government. While there is no indication that it will become advisable to take KI, out of an abundance of caution the United States Government is making it available to its personnel and family members to be used only upon direction if a change in circumstances were to warrant. No-one should take KI at this time. In the event of a radiological release, sheltering in place or departing the affected area remain the primary means of protection.
........ For private U.S. citizens seeking information about KI, we advise you to contact your doctor or employer. Should you need further assistance contact the Department of State by emailing JapanEmergencyUSC@state.gov or calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.