No call for help yet, Red Cross says

The Japanese Red Cross is a “very strong operation,” and it is assessing the situation, Fodor said.

“If they do request assistance from the American Red Cross it probably will be in the form of financial aid,” Fodor said. However, it is too soon to put out a call to raise funds until the U.S. organization learns what will be requested.

“I understand how people want to immediately help, but it is just really early in the disaster,” he said.

The 445th Airlift Wing, the Air Force Reserve unit at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base that flies transport aircraft internationally to haul weapons, munitions and other supplies to support warfighters, had not received any call to supply aircraft for the Pacific region, spokeswoman Lt. Col. Cynthia Harris said.

“Generally, they would get units closer to the Pacific,” Harris said.

Wright-Patterson had not been asked to provide assistance, and does not have any people supporting operations in the U.S. Pacific Command area of responsibility, Wright-Patterson base spokesman Derek Kaufman said.

The American Red Cross is unable to conduct searches for missing persons in Japan at this time, but offered several available resources for people in the U.S. trying to reach family and friends in Japan.

Inquiries concerning U.S. citizens living or traveling in Japan should be referred to the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Overseas Citizen Services at 1 (888) 407-4747 or (202) 647-5225.

The American Red Cross "Safe and Well" website has been updated to included the disaster dropdown "Japanese Earthquake." Members of the public, including military members, can register on the site as being safe and well. The address is www.redcross.org/safeandwell.

For inquiries about relatives living in Japan who are not U.S. citizens, the Red Cross suggests that you keep calling or try contacting other family members who live in the region. “Even though communications networks are overloaded right now, the situation may change and access to mobile networks and the Internet may improve,” officials said.