Tsunami Updates

From 7th Fleet:

There have been no reported injuries of any 7th Fleet personnel, and no reported damage to 7th Fleet assets.

Ships in port Yokosuka stationed linehandlers to made adjustments as the water level changed in Yokosuka harbor. No damage has been reported to any of the ships.

Ships in Guam have been directed to sortie if feasible. Ships unable to sortie will initiate full personnel recalls and be standing by to adjust lines during changes in sea level.

CTF-72 (Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force) headquarters in Misawa was briefly evacuated. It continues to be without power and is operating from a generator

CTF-76 (Amphibious Force) headquarters in White Beach, Okinawa, has moved its watch to higher ground at Kadena AFB, Okinawa, in anticipation of the forecasted tsunami.

We are assessing the situation and positioning forces so that they are ready to respond and provide disaster relief if directed.

USS ESSEX, with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, arrived in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, this morning. The ship is making preparations to depart as early as this evening.

USS BLUE RIDGE, which arrived in Singapore this morning, is onloading a Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HADR) kit and making preparations to depart tomorrow morning.

USS TORTUGA, currently in Sasebo, Japan, is making preparations to embark LCUs and get underway as early as this evening.

We are initiating a full muster of all 7th Fleet personnel in Japan, and accounting for the condition of their family members.

To reiterate, this is simply a posturing of forces. We currently have no direction to conduct disaster response operations. Such a direction would come only following a request from the Government of Japan

You can keep an eye on official announcements from the Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo Japan Facebook page and Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka Facebook page, both which seem to be continuously updating about every hour so far.

Tsunami expected to hit Hawaii between 8am and 9am EST. The speed of the wave is apparently in dispute? Closer to 9am is what I am hearing.