SUMMARY of Update Meeting with VADM Myers

16 March 2011, 1900-2000

Wednesday night VADM Myers, Commander, Naval Air Forces, held a meeting
with Reagan Strike Group and other units' family members. He had medical
and other technical staff experts present, along with other senior commanders.
The admiral explained that while he’s not in charge of the operations in Japan,
he wanted to ensure that family members know that what our Navy team is
doing there is making a difference and that the safety of our personnel
underscores every mission we conduct. It is a very dynamic and challenging
environment there, but our leaders on scene have the appropriate information
to make the right decisions for the safety of our force while conducting this
important mission. The admiral also wanted to assure family members that
their concerns are being heard and to use the command ombudsmen to get
questions answered in a timely manner. Also, VADM Myers is planning to
provide another update next week, and the details will be provided by the
ombudsmen as soon as we finalize them. Please keep in touch with your
command ombudsmen.

Below is a summary of the questions and concerns that were addressed last
night:
 Officials are closely monitoring the weather patterns and winds and move
our ships and aircrafts as necessary to avoid the windline from the
Fukushima Power Plant. REAGAN and the other ships are operating at safe
distances, well off-shore from that area. This is an important mission that
we will conduct safely. Navy ships and aircraft can easily and quickly
reposition as the conditions on scene change, and our aircraft are following
established no-fly zones. Navy helicopters are NOT flying over the
Fukushima plant. The Japanese military has helicopters that are similar to
what we use.
 Aircraft and aircrews returning from missions ashore are being monitored
carefully for contamination and are conducting decontamination procedures
as necessary when detected. These measures are as simple as washing with
soap and water to remove the contamination. Low-level contamination was
easily removed from 17 helicopter aircrew members by washing with soap
and water and had no further contamination detected. A small number of
other aircrew members have been provided potassium iodide as a
precautionary measure by our Navy physicians. This will be documented in
their records. We have adequate supplies of potassium iodide for our
personnel if the conditions warrant taking it. The levels of contamination
that have been observed are very low, with little to no long term risk.

1
 On USS RONALD REAGAN, the ship’s drinking water was briefly
suspended. This was a precaution when the ship detected a very low level
contamination. Additional tests determined that the detection was a false-
positive. The drinking water onboard was NOT contaminated and remains
safe for drinking.
 Changes to deployment schedules cannot be determined at this time. We
don’t discuss specific schedules this far out for operational security. It is
early in deployment so we don’t anticipate extensions at this time. Planned
port calls and their remaining schedule will have to be reviewed depending
on duration of mission in Japan. We do not know how long this mission
will continue. This is an important mission and we are making a difference
for our friends in Japan.
 We have observed very low-level amounts of external contamination only,
and those areas are easily decontaminated by washing down with soap. We
can’t speculate on what may change with the conditions there, but the
commanders on scene are well informed, engaged and will make the right
decisions to ensure the protection of our forces. This will include
conducting drills to make sure everyone is tested and ready. As the
conditions do change, we will take the right precautionary measures to
make sure our personnel are safe.
 Most Sailors will remain on the ship conducting their normal duties. The
Sailors who will go ashore are mainly aircrew supporting the distribution of
relief supplies. They will take the appropriate precautionary measures and
will be monitored for exposure.
 We have well-established supply lines to keep our personnel well-supplied.
Those supplies are monitored and safe. Additionally, mail coming off the
ship is also monitored, so mail from your Sailor is safe.