Airmen support Japan relief efforts

  • Published
  • By Luke Waack
  • JBER PAO
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  More than a dozen Airmen from the 517th Airlift Squadron and one 673d Air Base Wing videographer took off from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Saturday, to fly support missions between U.S. Air Force bases in Japan.

The island nation, which is home to tens of thousands of U.S. military personnel, suffered a 9.0-magnitude earthquake March 11, which was followed by a tsunami that knocked out power and has led to complications with several nuclear reactors.

Air Force Lt. Col. Jay Belmear, 517th Airlift Squadron, director of operations, said the unit received orders from the 613th A and Space Operations Center to deploy to Japan.

"We sent one C-17, two aircrews, and a stage manager; each crew has three pilots, two loadmasters, and a flying crew chief," Belmear said.

The State of Alaska has issued the following statement about potassium iodide.

"Some Alaskans are wondering if they should be taking potassium iodide at this time: the answer is no," said Dr. Joe McLaughlin, state epidemiologist.
 
"While potassium iodide can protect the thyroid gland from harmful radiation, it can produce adverse side effects and should only be taken if exposure to considerably elevated doses of radiation is expected to occur.
 
At this point, there is no immediate or anticipated indication that this will happen in Alaska."

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