Japan Tsunami Marine Debris:Information and Action
May 17th, 2012
Marine Resource Committee Science Fair,Long Beach, WA
Washington State Emergency Management DivisionWashington State Department of EcologyWashington State Department of Health
NOAA Marine Debris Program
Tsunami debris off the coast of Yamada, Japan. US Navy Pacific fleet
Earthquake and Tsunami
• 9.0 magnitude earthquake
• 120 ft max wave height• 217 square miles
inundation• 15,844 people confirmed
dead, 3,451 missing• Massive damage
Ofunato, March 15
Photo: US Navy
Early Debris
Photos: US Navy Pacific Fleet
Debris on March 13 off the Sendai coast• Patches and fields• Wood, construction materials abundant• The debris dispersed, some sunk
Photos: US Navy Pacific Fleet
NOAA’s Action
Report debris sightings to: [email protected]
• Collaboration with partners!• Maritime advisory and sightings• Satellite detection• Modeling• Shoreline survey: OCNMS, SOLV
and others• Planning• Information and outreach
http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/japanfaqs.html
• Possibly tsunami related, inert items that are not hazardous or potentially hazardous
• Examples: Soccer ball, float
Report to: [email protected]
Reporting Marine DebrisReport to: National Response Center1-800-424-8802or call 911
• Hazardous or potentially hazardous items
• Examples: drums, chemical containers
Stay away. Don’t remove or open!
• Debris is dispersed and not in large concentrations or fields• Deposition: Floating debris, over time• Marine debris sightings: By US and Japan• Satellite detection: None recently. Effort ongoing• Computer model
• Some high windage items have reached the Pacific Northwest coast
• Bulk of floating debris still offshore• Radioactive? Highly unlikely• Human remains? Highly unlikely• Items of sentimental value: Email [email protected]
or report to local authorities
Summary of What We Know
boom
shipping containerPhotos: Japan Air Force
• Quantity and exact composition of debris still afloat
• Fate and effect• Exact timeline and location
Summary of What We Don’t Know
Thank you
Nir BarneaNOAA Marine Debris Program
7600 Sand Point Way NESeattle, WA 98115
Get info:
Report sightings:
http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/japanfaqs.html
Emergency Management Mission
• Minimize the impacts of emergencies and disasters on the people, property, environment, and economy of Washington State.
Emergency / Disaster Objectives
• Save lives and prevent injury• Protect property• Protect the environment• Protect the economy
The State EOC…..
• Provides Statewide Alert, Notification, and Warning.
• Provides Coordination and support for: Local, state, and federal response
• Supports local jurisdictions’/tribes’ emergency response.
• Anticipates local jurisdictions’/tribes’ disaster recovery requirements.
In Summary
• Washington State Military Department is the central coordinating agency for local, state, federal, and private agencies before, during, and after emergencies or disasters.
• The Department, through the Emergency Management Division orchestrates the “whole of government” response to state disasters and to events such as the projected landfall of tsunami debris.
State Department of Health• The Department of Health works with local, state, and
federal partners to prepare for public health emergencies.
• Several agency programs are working with those partners in response to marine debris from the Japan tsunami.• Office of Radiation Protection• Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response• Office of Communications• Public Health Laboratories
Office of Radiation Protection
• Will support our federal, state, local partners.
• Spot check debris for contamination.
• Respond to radiological issues, as needed.
Washington State Department of Ecology
• Hazardous Materials and Oil Spills
• Solid Waste Issues
• Washington Conservation Corps
Hazardous Materials & Oil Spills
Respond to ,clean up oil spills & hazardous materials (containers, fuel tanks, etc.).
We already do this statewide – we receive 3,800 reports / conduct 1,200 field responses a year.
To report oil spills & hazardous material releases
Washington: 1-800-OILS-911(1-800-258-5990)
Coast Guard: 1-800-424-8802
Solid Waste Issues
Assist local health departments & solid waste utilities.
Possible assistance with financing, coordination, collaboration with existing efforts to remove marine debris from Washington beaches
Washington Conservation Corps
• Assists With Emergency Response
• Removal of Hazardous Materials and Large Debris
• Coordination• Washington
Veterans Corps
Washington State Department of Ecology
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2012/itn01_debris.html