News is flooding in out of Japan following Friday's devastation 8.9 earthquake and tsunami.
News:
Tuesday:
- Death toll is mounting-- and officially stands at over 3,300. However, the toll is expected to top 10,000.
- Millions are homeless.
- More than 140,000 people near the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have been ordered to stay indoors follows radiation leaks from the damaged plant.
- Signs of hope: A man was pulled alive from the rubble on Tuesday and, in a separate town, a woman in her 70's was pulled alive from the ruins of her home.
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The tsunami then raced to Hawaii and the US West Coast but with much less severity. The Coast Guard, though, is searching for a man swept out to sea by the waves in northern California and docks and boating areas were ripped apart in several areas of the California coastline.
Devastation in Japan is great. Here are some organizations organizing relief efforts:
American Red Cross- click to donate or text REDCROSS to 90999. They are taking $10 donations via phones.
The Salvation Army The Salvation Army asks that you text the word "Japan" to 80888 to make a $10 donation in support of relief efforts.
Americares is accepting donations as well.
Google has launched a page to keep you up to date if you're looking for information or even want to report a missing loved one. Here's more on that.
From the White House
President Obama said, "Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to the people of Japan, particularly those who have lost loved ones in the earthquake and tsunamis. The United States stands ready to help the Japanese people in this time of great trial. The friendship and alliance between our two nations is unshakeable, and only strengthens our resolve to stand with the people of Japan as they overcome this tragedy. We will continue to closely monitor tsunamis around Japan and the Pacific going forward and we are asking all our citizens in the affected region to listen to their state and local officials as I have instructed FEMA to be ready to assist Hawaii and the rest of the US states and territories that could be affected."
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