Google has created a special page, “Google Crisis Response,” containing various resources related to the March 11 disaster.  It is viewable in English, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean, and lists alerts & status updates, missing persons message boards, radiation and health information, and other helpful information.

LOCATING FAMILY & FRIENDS

Facebook has become a resource to receive information about loved ones in Japan.  Please do not to try to use the regular phone lines to find out if your family and friends are safe.  Use e-mail, Twitter, Skype, Mixi, etc. and save the phone lines for someone who really needs it in the Tohoku area.

Google has created the site, “Google Person Finder.”  Type in the name of person you are looking for to find out if he/she is safe.

Finding U.S. Citizens in Japan:  The U.S. State Department has created two e-mail addresses to locate “missing persons.”  To locate a U.S. citizen who is currently in Japan, please e-mail: japanemergencyusc@state.gov.  To locate a U.S. citizen who is outside of Japan but within a region within the tsunami zone, please e-mail: pacifictsunamiusc@state.gov.  Also, Senator Barbara Boxer of California has provided a staff person to contact for help.  You may call Adolfo Bailon in Senator Boxer’s office at 213-894-5000.

If the person you are looking for has a cell phone in Japan and you know the cell phone service carrier, you can check the company’s website below and type in the phone number to see if the person has left a message.  The available areas are Aomori, Miyagi, Yamagata, and Fukushima prefectures.

For DoComo users: http://dengon.docomo.ne.jp/top.cgi

For KDDI (Ezweb) users: http://dengon.ezweb.ne.jp/

For Softbank users: http://dengon.softbank.ne.jp/

For Wilcom users: http://dengon.willcom-inc.com/dengon/Top.do

For Emobile users: http://dengon.emnet.ne.jp/

INFORMATION ON THE EVACUATION OF U.S. CITIZENS FROM JAPAN

On March 17, 2011, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense authorized Department of Defense eligible family members located on the island of Honshu, Japan, to depart to the designated Safe Haven location of the United States.  The U.S. Embassy in Japan is making arrangements to assist non-DoD American citizens interested in departing Japan.  For more information, please see the Office of the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Special Immigration Advisory or visit one of the following Websites:

Civilian U.S. citizens:
Visit the U.S. Embassy in Japan’s Website, http://japan.usembassy.gov/index.html

U.S. military/Dept. of Defense personnel: http://www.jag.navy.mil/japan_Disaster_Relief.htm

Visa information for non-U.S. citizens considering entering the United States: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

HOW YOU CAN HELP

The JACL encourages its members to participate in the relief effort by making cash donations for the victims of the destruction.  However, please beware of sham and “sound-alike” organizations posing as charities; visit the California Attorney General’s Website for tips on how to protect yourself from such scams.

The JACL joins with the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC), which has set up a relief fund. Contributions may be made to the fund by making checks payable to “JCCCNC” with a notation that it is for the “Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.”  Mail checks to: JCCCNC, 1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94115.  Please do not send goods or food.  The JCCCNC is a community partner and neighbor to National JACL Headquarters.

The U.S. State Department has suggested donating at interaction.org where you can direct where contributions are allocated.  You can also donate through the Red Cross.  Text “RedCross” to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

The American Red Cross has already set up an online donation site to provide assistance to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami at: http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main

Those who prefer to donate directly to the Japanese Red Cross Society may do so through Google’s donation site or via bank transfer using the information provided on the Japanese Red Cross Society’s Website.