Japan: The Aftermath of Tsunami, Earthquakes, Nuclear Reactor Meltdown, and Volcano

12:35 p.m. ET Thursday, 1:35 a.m. Friday in Tokyo U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to deliver a statement on Japan in the White House Rose Garden at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Japan is still reeling from the 23-foot tsunami that struck the northern coast of the country. The tsunami, caused by an earthquake, which resulted from the shifting of tectonic plates, washed away cars, destroyed lives, and damaged property.

Nuclear Reactor Explosions--Probable Meltdown in 2 Reactors

The earthquake and tsunami caused nuclear reactor explosions at the TEPCO plant in Fukushima. Japan's massive earthquake caused a power outage that disabled a reactor's cooling system, triggering evacuation orders for about 3,000 residents as the government declared its first-ever state of emergency at a nuclear plant. Japan continues to work frantically to cool the reactors.

Al Jazeera's Andrew Thomas, reporting from Osaka, said "four flights were made and of those water-drops by the helicopters, only one hit its target". "Given that more than a hundred would be required to hit dead-on to fill the reactors with enough water to cool the rods, it is - forgive the phrase - a bit of drop in the ocean at the moment."

The United States and the U.N., are assisting with ships, helicopters, and nuclear experts.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN's atomic watchdog, Japanese engineers have laid an external grid power cable to the number 2 unit, in accordance with plans announced on Thursday.

However they can't reconnect power until they have finished spraying water on unit 3, which is at major risk of overheating and sending more radiation out into the atmosphere. Earlier attempts to drench the fuel rod pools appeared to have very limited success.

Humanitarian Efforts

The USA already has several ships in the area at the request of Naoto Kan, Japan's Prime Minister, to assist in any way they can. The Japanese government has also agreed to let a US spy plane fly over the plant to get detailed pictures.

The United States is announcing millions in humanitarian assistance to quake and tsunami-hit Japan, with early reports suggesting the figure could be $35m. A nine- member team specialising in nuclear and hazardous material is also going to advise the Japanese military, Reuters has reported.

How to Help

Japan has often donated when other countries have experienced disasters, such as when Hurricane Katrina impacted the United States. Below are organizations that are working on relief and recovery in the region.

AMERICAN RED CROSS: Emergency Operation Centers are open in the affected areas and staffed by the chapters. This disaster is on a scale larger than the Japanese Red Cross can typically manage. Donations to the American Red Cross can be allocated for the International Disaster Relief Fund, which then deploys to the region to help. Donate here

GLOBALGIVING: Established a fund to disburse donations to organizations providing relief and emergency services to victims of the earthquake and tsunami. Donate here

SAVE THE CHILDREN: Mobilizing to provide immediate humanitarian relief in the shape of emergency health care and provision of non-food items and shelter. Donate here

SALVATION ARMY: The Salvation Army has been in Japan since 1895 and is currently providing emergency assistance to those in need. Donate here

AMERICARES: Emergency team is on full alert, mobilizing resources and dispatching an emergency response manager to the region. Donate here

CONVOY OF HOPE: Disaster Response team established connection with in-country partners who have been impacted by the damage and are identifying the needs and areas where Convoy of Hope may be of the greatest assistance. Donate here

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS: Putting together relief teams, as well as supplies, and are in contact with partners in Japan and other affected countries to assess needs and coordinate our activities. Donate here

SHELTER BOX: The first team is mobilizing to head to Japan and begin the response effort. Donate here

Google Tracking Down Survivors in Japan Crisis--Tens of thousands of people remain missing

Google has offered their aid in tracking down survivors of the Japan crisis, the double whammy of a tsunami and nuclear reactor explosions. Google is currently tracking nearly 162,000 people through its Japan Person Finder service. If you're looking for someone in Japan or have details about someone, click here to enter their details.

Sources:

Japan in Crisis, AlJazeera Staff in Asia, Live Blog, Aljazeer News, March 17, 2011

Disaster in Japan, Aljazeera Staff in Asia, Live Block, Aljazeer News, March 18, 2011

Lili Ladaga, Japan Earthquake and Tsunami: How to Help, A Yahoo News Blog, The Newsroom

U.S. to fly unmmanned spy plane over crippled nuclear plant for closer look Kyodo News, Tokyo, March 17, 2011

This Just In, CNN, March 17, 2011