Cause for more worry in Japan, as the latest news about the damaged nuclear reactor isn’t good — traces of radioactive iodine have been detected in Tokyo tap water, officials said Saturday. Radation was also detected at spinach and milk farms near the Fukushima Dai-ichi complex. [More]
earthquake
State Dept. Urges Americans To Avoid Travel To Japan For Time Being
By 3.11.11
Even though not all of Japan was hit by today’s 8.9 magnitude earthquake, the U.S. Department of State has issued a travel alert, urging U.S. citizens to “to avoid tourism and non-essential travel to Japan at this time.” [More]
Verizon And T-Mobile Offer Free Calls To Chile
By 3.1.10
If you need to reach someone in Chile this week, try calling on a Verizon or T-Mobile phone. Both carriers have announced that they’re temporarily waiving charges on calls. Verizon says that all calls from the U.S. to Chile will be free until March 6th. I couldn’t find a similar press release from T-Mobile, so you might want to call first to confirm. Just remember that only these two carriers are offering free calls, and they’re only free if you call from the U.S.; you don’t want to end up with an unpleasant surprise like those U.S. soldiers in Haiti last month. [More]
Want To Help With Chile Earthquake Relief? Here Are Some Ideas
By 2.28.10
Are you looking for ways to help out the groups providing relief after the massive earthquake that hit Chile? Yahoo has made a nice list of groups that have confirmed that they are sending teams to Chile, and you can also donate by text message. [More]
Royal Caribbean Still Docking In Haiti After Earthquake
By 1.19.10
Here’s a conundrum. Royal Caribbean has private beaches in Haiti only 60 miles from the devastation. The current plan is to use the ships that are docking there to provide shipments of rice, dried beans, powdered milk, water, canned goods and other supplies. They will also be depositing tourists at beaches the NY Daily News describes as, “leased from the government and protected by 12-foot fences and armed guards.” [More]
American Airlines Grounds Haiti Rescue Team's Medical Supplies
By 1.18.10
American Airlines has imposed a baggage embargo on flights to Haiti and the Dominican Republic in order to prevent holdups and make sure everyone’s baggage gets to ride along. Permitted: surfboards and golf clubs. Not permitted: a San Diego volunteer group’s giant bag of medical supplies. Update: some creative packing on the volunteers’ part got things straightened out, and the supplies are en route. [More]
Bed Bath And Beyond Sees The California Earthquake As An Excellent Marketing Opportunity?
By 7.30.08
Reader PlusTax says he got an email (above) advertising disaster preparedness supplies from Bed Bath and Beyond a few hours after the recent earthquake in California.
