red an emergency evacuation. Two nuclear power plants, Daiichi and Daini, located 20 miles away from the capital were disrupted after an 9.0 magnitude earthquake shook the island.

About 45,000 residents were ordered to leave after Prime Minister Naoto Kan made a national announcement to those living within a six-mile radius of the Daiichi power plant. Radiation of about 1,000 times the intensity of the normal level was reported leaking into the surrounding area. Fortunately, the Daini power plant did not have as strong evidence of radiation leakage and only required a one-mile evacuation radius.

President Barack Obama issued a national statement from the Rose Garden on March 17 claiming that, “we called for an evacuation of American citizens who are within 50 miles of the plant.”

As for issues concerning the potential harm for western states, research proved that radiation was not expected to reach American soil.

“We do not expect harmful levels of radiation to reach the West Coast, Hawaii, Alaska, or U.S. territories in the Pacific. That is the judgment of our Nuclear Regulatory Commission and many other experts,” Obama said during his address.

Over the past couple of months, Palmetto has welcomed seven students from Kagoshima, Japan. When the earthquake occurred, the exchange students were not aware because the earthquake struck on a different island.

“I’m so relieved that my new friends from Kagoshima are all right,” sophomore Susan Atkinson said. “I’m devastated that something so terrible can happen to such a lovely nation.”

The exchange students did not suffer many consequences from the quake or distress from the disrupted nuclear power plants. They are, however, doing their part to help their country. They have been supporting several service projects to help fundraise money for the victims in Japan.

“My friend has family in Sundi,” sophomore Ida Caproon said. “Communication was down for two weeks and I was very worried for my friend’s family because no one really knows who lives or dies in situations such as this one.”

People at Palmetto were also affected by the tragedy.

“I feel sorry for the people in Japan; it has hit hard with me and has also affected my Japanese teacher.[Mieko Avello],” Caproon said.

Because of the recent events in Japan, there is speculation and worry over whether or not the American nuclear power plants could suffer a similar fate.

“I’ve asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to do a comprehensive review of the safety of our domestic nuclear plants in light of the natural disaster that unfolded in Japan,” Obama said.

Testing has involved the studying of limitations that the plants meet and whether or not the plants can endure natural disasters ranging from earthquakes, tornadoes, or even hurricanes in the southern states.

American troops have been sent into Japan to aid the relief program set up for the reconstruction as well as maintaining the leaks in the plants. American troops hope the relief will help the American students studying abroad in Japan. For those who are in a 50-mile radius of the plants, evacuation is mandatory.

The leaders of both Japan and America are working hard to ensure optimistic views for the future of the Japanese citizens, and Americans are working hard to make sure the same traumatic events do not befall them.

Anyone interested in helping Japan can text “Red Cross” to 90999. The text itself will donate ten dollars to the American Red Cross, which will go to the relief foundations supporting those affected by the earthquake and tsunami. Japanese National Honor Society will host a Japanese Culture day on May 1 at Florida International University to help raise funds.