Rep. Wasserman Schultz made the following statement in the wake of the devastating 8.9-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami:

“My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan and all those affected by the devastating earthquake and catastrophic tsunami that has ravaged Japan’s east coast. I offer my deepest condolences to the loved ones of all those affected by this massive disaster. Congress, the President, and the American people stand ready to support Japan in its relief effort, and we pledge our help and assistance to the people of Japan as they recover from this heartbreaking disaster.”  

If you are concerned about the well-being of a family member or a friend in Japan, the State Department has provided the guidance and resources below:  

 

Emergency Assistance to Constituents in Japan

The U.S. Department of State and the U.S. embassy and consulates in Japan are working to obtain information on the status of U.S. citizens and to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens.   Although telephone lines are disrupted, relatives may want to try contacting loved ones in Japan by e-mail, text (SMS) message, or other social media.

 

Online information: Monitor travel.state.gov and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo Web sites for the latest updates.

Public Inquiries:

• If you have a concern about a specific U.S. citizen in Japan, please send an e-mail to JapanEmergencyUSC@state.gov
  

• If you have a concern about a specific U.S. citizen in the Tsunami zone outside of Japan, please send an email to PacificTsunamiUSC@state.gov
  

• E-mail inquiries are strongly preferred, but you may call the State Department’s emergency assistance center at 1-888-407-4747 (calling from outside the U.S. +1-202-501-4444) if you are unable to use e-mail.

Department of Defense Personnel Inquiries

U.S. Forces Japan reports that all personnel have been accounted for, and there are no reports of injuries. The Department of Defense instructs that family members of Department of Defense personnel should call 1-800-342-9647 to inquire about their loved ones or contact the individual unit command directly for more specific information.

 

If you are calling regarding a Japanese citizens please contact the nearest Japanese Embassy (Washington – 202-238-6700) or Consulate (Miami – 800-776-3877). If you are calling regarding a citizen of a third country, please call that country’s Embassy or Consulate. Contact information is available in the Country Specific Information links at www.travel.state.gov