Japan MegaQuake March 2011: Helicopter Response

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March 12, 2011 photo released by the U.S. Navy, the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) gets underway from Sepangar,Malaysia to support earthquake and tsunami relief operations in Japan as directed.


March 12, 2011 photo released by the U.S. Navy, MH-53 helicopters land aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) inthe Sea of Japan. Tortuga is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility ready to support earthquake and tsunami relief efforts in Japan as directed.


March 12, 2011 photo released by the U.S. Marine Corps, CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 265,depart from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa on Saturday, March 12, 2011 for Naval Air Facility Atsugi on mainland Japan to provide assistance after an 8.9 magnitude earthquake and a tsunami struck Japan. The helicopters will fly more than 1,000 miles over open water with emergency equipment.


A handout photo released by the office of the Prime Minister of Japan on March 12, shows PM Naoto Kan inspecting earthquake and tsumani damage in MiyagiPrefecture. Japan mobilised 50,000 military and other rescue personnel Saturday to spearhead a Herculean rescue and recovery effort, a day after being hit by its most devastating quake and tsunami on record.



People are evacuated from an emergency shelter at an elementary school in Sendai in northeastern Japan March 12, 2011. Japan confronted devastation alongits northeastern coast on Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people.


An elderly woman is assisted by rescue personnel in Sendai, in northeastern Japan March 12, 2011. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coaston Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people. Japan scaled back its tsunami warning for much of the country on Saturday, nearly 24 hours after a massive earthquake struck and set off a succession of tsunami, NHK television said.



A Japan Self Defense Force helicopter lands at a sports field with the "SOS" rescue signals in Minamisanriku , Miyagi Prefecture in northeasternJapan March 12, 2011.


A Japan Self Defense Force helicopter rescues people in Minamisanriku , Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan March 12, 2011.


People stranded on a damaged building are rescued in Noda village, Iwate prefecture, Saturday, March 12, 2011, a day after a strong earthquake-triggereddevastating tsunami hit Japan's east coast.


A Japan Self Defense Forces fighter jet is swept into a building by a tsunami at an airbase in Higashimatsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan March 12, 2011.