Ford Island is seen in this aerial view during the Japanese attack on Pearl harbor December 7, 1941 in Hawaii. The photo was taken from a Japanese plane.
"These pills only protect you against radioactive iodine, and we have seen only a little in the way of radioactive iodine being released. Given the fact that it has a very short half-life, it’s close to zero that any radioactive iodine of any quantity that would do any harm would end up on U.S. shores."
— Jacqueline Williams, program director for radiation medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Center for Biophysical Assessment and Risk Management Following Irradiation — Rush to Buy Iodine Pills Unnecessary in U.S., Experts Say
Japan faced another difficult day Wednesday, as the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant—the site of multiple explosions since last week’s 8.9-magnitude earthquake—caught on fire once again. Fifty employees are reportedly risking their lives to try to get the plant under control, but information about what exactly is going on with the plant’s nuclear reactors is scarce and sometimes contradictory.
Give to vetted organizations. The organization Charity Navigator has posted a list of charities, including Action Against Hunger and Doctors Without Borders, that are currently contributing to relief efforts. Charity Navigator, which rates charities for donors, recommends giving to groups with proven track records instead of start-ups and to donate directly through organizations’ websites. If you get solicited by a telemarketer, the organization suggests hanging up, because it’s impossible to verify the identity of the caller.
