JAPAN UPDATE – AT 8:57 A.M. ET:  Japan is still working to contain the damage at the stricken nuclear plant, and so far a major catastrophe has been avoid.  It is tough work, but we can hope for a good outcome:

Tokyo (CNN) -- Smoke spewed Monday from two adjacent reactors in the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, a nuclear safety official said, setbacks that came despite fervent efforts to prevent the further release of radioactive materials at the stricken facility.

After 6 p.m., white smoke was seen emanating from the facility's No. 2 reactor, according to Hidehiko Nishiyama, an official with Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency. About two hours earlier, workers were evacuated from the area around the No. 3 reactor after gray smoke began to rise from the wreckage of its steel-and-concrete housing, which was blown apart by a hydrogen explosion last week.

The No. 3 reactor has been the top priority for authorities trying to contain damage to the plant and stave off a possible meltdown. Its fuel includes a small percentage of plutonium mixed with the uranium in its fuel rods, which experts say could cause more harm than regular uranium fuels in the event of a meltdown.

Nishiyama said there was no evident explosion, spike in radiation or injuries at the No. 3 reactor. The smoke was coming from the building's southeastern side, where the reactor's spent nuclear fuel pool is located, but the origin of the smoke at either reactor was unknown.

COMMENT:  This is a day by day story.  Don't give up.  There are reports of elevated radiation in Japan, but not at a dangerous level.  Radiation floating to the U.S. is minimal thus far.  Be careful of scare stories.

March 21, 2011