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CMAT prepares for deployment of its Field Hospital Tuesday to disaster ravaged Japan.

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CMAT Director, Bill Coltart receives up to date information on the developing situation in Japan.

CMAT Director, Bill Coltart receives up to date information on the developing situation in Japan.

Sunday, March 20, 2011 – The CMAT Rapid Assessment Team has been working tirelessly since its return from Tokyo a few days ago, and has been monitoring the situation in Japan where a large 9.0 earthquake and tsunami last week devastated coastal cities and infrastructure. We have also been following the ensuing crisis with destroyed power plants, and have been keeping updated through international partners, colleagues, and other governmental sources.

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CMAT continues to stage response to the Japanese earthquake and tsunami from Vancouver.

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Members of CMAT and IMAT Rapid Assessment team speak with Japanese officials in Tokyo.

Members of CMAT and IMAT Rapid Assessment team speak with Japanese officials in Tokyo.

Thursday, March 17, 2011 – Following the return of the rapid assesment team Wednesday from Japan, CMAT continues to stage our response to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan from Vancouver. We anticipate an imminent re-deployment, with medical volunteers who are trained in CBRNE (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive) events.

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Continued Preparations

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Image of the Daiichi Power Plant

Image of the Daiichi Power Plant

Wednesday, March 16, 2011 – In follow up to last night’s decision to evacuate the team from Japan – CMAT is currently in the process of transitioning equipment and supplies from its warehouse in Toronto, to Vancouver in anticipation of re-deployment at the earliest possible opportunity. We continue to monitor nuclear safety concerns through the Global Disaster Alert Coordination System (GDACS), to facilitate decision-making for our teams.

Our Assessment Team members are to remain working at the staging area in Vancouver instead of Tokyo for re-deployment as quickly as possible. We are also placing medical and rescue personnel with CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) training on standby.

In the meantime we are urgently appealing for donations to purchase Nomad Water Purification units which are available for immediate shipping to the affected areas.
Donate here with a click!

Nomad Water Purification System

CMAT/ IMAT evacuating assessment team from Japan.

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disaster8Wednesday, March 16, 2011 – Some frustrating circumstances have arisen. Within the last hour, it was confirmed that Emergency Operations at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power plant have been suspended, and a fire erupted in the outer portion of the No. 4 reactor unit’s containment vessel. Radiation levels may rise to a potentially high level. As a result of the unstable nuclear threat the decision has been made to evacuate the assessment team.

The team is not sufficiently equipped to assist in the event of a nuclear emergency, and will be departing Japan at 1750 local time.

Many contacts were made, and the team did what they could, however the situation has become too unstable to continue. This is all very frustrating, but with the intelligence gathered, CMAT will continue to monitor, with hopes to redeploy once the situation has stabilized.

CMAT continues to appeal for donations to purchase a high-volume water purification system, and thanks all those who have already donated for their generous support. . We will continue to monitor the ongoing and developing situation, and prepare to stage our response from Vancouver and Seattle.