Email from my friend's brother who lives in Tokyo re: departing Japan

[gateley]

(This is his message to his sister and friends)

"U.S. law requires that we bill all passengers for the transportation
assistance provided through the U.S. government."

When the North Koreans threatened to turn Seoul into a Sea of Fire,
the message was the same: in case of evacuation, bring your credit
card. I guess it's another kind of American hospital emergency room.

Full message from the US Embassy below.

***********************************************************************

This is email is being sent at the request of the US Embassy to US
Citizens living in Japan. Please do not respond to this email.
Additional information and inquiries should be directed to the contact
information at the bottom of the email.



-----Original Message-----

From: American Embassy Tokyo

Sent: Friday, March 18, 2011 2:30 AM





The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo informs U.S. citizens in Japan who wish to
depart that the Department of State is making arrangements to provide
transportation to destinations in East Asia outside Japan. U.S. law
requires that we bill all passengers for the transportation assistance
provided through the U.S. government. U.S. citizens who travel on US
government–arranged transport will be expected to make their own
onward travel plans from their arrival point. Flights began departing
Tokyo on Thursday, March 17. U.S. government-arranged transport will
be available from Tokyo on the evening of Friday, March 18. U.S.
citizens who have decided to depart Japan via USG-arranged
transportation will find current transportation options, as well as
any future scheduled flights, on the Japan Earthquake and Pacific
Tsunami webpage at http://travel.state.gov.

Please note: Immediate family members (spouses and children) who are
not U.S. citizens must be documented for entry into their destination
country and/or U.S., if that is your final destination. Travelers are
permitted only one piece of luggage per person.

U.S. citizens in Japan and their friends and loved ones can enter
information into a database that we can use to provide emergency
consular assistance during this crisis. This is a free service, and
by entering their information into Task Force Alert, you are helping
us provide assistance and account for U.S. citizens in Japan. You can
find more information on using Task Force Alert at
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_japan.html.

[femmedem]

1. I keep thinking about Bonobo

and his family. I haven't seen any posts for a few days...wondering if they've made the wrenching decision to leave.

[gateley]

2. Oh no! I didn't realize he lived there! Have we heard from him at all since

the quake? Think I should PM him? (Like he doesn't have enough on his mind already :eyes:)

[Tesha]

3. He was posting here afterwards; search for his OPs. (NT)

[gateley]

4. Good - thanks. nt

[femmedem]

5. He's safe in the short term.

He's about 400 miles away.
He was getting upset about some of the insensitive posts on DU, and was asking for positive thoughts and well wishes. He might be too busy now to log on, or find the site discouraging now.

He loves his island so much. My heart is breaking for him.