Earthquake strikes Japan; tsunami threatens U.S.

In this video image taken from Japan's NHK TV, a tsunami surge sweeps cars, boats and other debris against a building in Miyaku City, Iwate Prefecture Japan Friday March 11, 2011 following a massive earth quake. A magnitude 8.9 earthquake slammed Japan's northeastern coast Friday, unleashing a 13-foot (4-meter) tsunami that swept boats, cars, buildings and tons of debris miles inland. Fires triggered by the quake burned out of control up and down the coast. (AP PHOTO/NHK TV) MANDATORY CREDIT, JAPAN OUT, TV OUT, NO SALES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

In this video image taken from NTV, Japan an aerial view of a tsunami wave can be seen as it heads ashore in the area of Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan Friday March 11, 2011. A ferocious tsunami unleashed by Japan's biggest recorded earthquake slammed into its eastern coast Friday, killing hundreds of people as it carried away ships, cars and homes, and triggered widespread fires that burned out of control. (AP Photo NTV via APTN) JAPAN OUT, NO SALES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Commuters sit stranded at Tokyo railway station as train services are suspended due to a powerful earthquake Friday, March 11, 2011. The largest earthquake in Japan's recorded history slammed the eastern coasts Friday. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Black smoke raises from a building during a fire in Tokyo after one of the largest earthquakes on record slammed Japan's eastern coasts Friday, March 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) MANDATORY CREDIT, NO LICENSING ALLOWED IN CHINA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AND FRANCE

People wait for buses at a bus terminal near Tokyo railway station as train and bus services are suspended due to a powerful earthquake Friday, March 11, 2011. The largest earthquake in Japan's recorded history slammed the eastern coasts Friday. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

With a tsunami warning in effect for Northern California, a group of people watch as a wave hits near Fort Point under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on Friday, March 11, 2011. The warnings came after a 8.9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami struck Japan. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

The Seal Beach Pier is closed Friday, March 11, 2011 in Seal Beach, Calif. A 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck the eastern coast of Japan, causing tsunami advisories as far away as the United States' west coast. (AP Photo/The Orange County Register, Bruce Chambers)

In this image made off Japan's NHK television, debris of houses are left along a street in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, northern Japan, Friday, March 11, 2011 after a powerful tsunami spawned by the largest earthquake in Japan's recorded history slammed the eastern coast. Japanese reads: Whole towns of Matsuzaki and Hosoura are swept away in Ofunato. (AP Photo/NHK TV) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT, NO SALES, TV OUT, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Buildings are damaged by an earthquake-triggered tsunami in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture (state), Japan, Friday, March 11, 2011. The ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes on record slammed Japan's eastern coasts. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) MANDATORY CREDIT, NO LICENSING ALLOWED IN CHINA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AND FRANCE

This image provided by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center shows a "tsunami forecast model" created by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawaii predicting the wave height of the tsunami generated by the Japan earthquake Friday March 11, 2011. The Hawaii's islands are located at the edge of the yellow pattern, but waves could be higher along the coastline when the tsunami arrives. (AP Photo/Nathan Becker - Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Hundreds of Oahu residents flocked to the Times Supermarket to purchase water and supplies Thursday, March 10, 2011 in Honolulu. The state of Hawaii is under a tsunami warning due to a large 8.9 earthquake off Japan. The earthquake is believed to have generated a tsumani wave. The Pacific Tsunami Center expects the wave to hit Hawaii at 2:59 a.m. Hawaiian Standard Time. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

Surfers head for the waves at about the time the effects of a tsunami were expected, at Surfrider Beach in Malibu, Calif., Friday, March 11, 2011. Though waves surged in other areas along California's coast from a tsunami triggered by the massive earthquake in Japan, there was little noticeable change in conditions at Malibu, where the beach was not closed to the public. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Stranded commuters watch a TV news on a powerful earthquake at Tokyo railway station as train services are suspended in Tokyo Friday, March 11, 2011. The largest earthquake in Japan's recorded history slammed the eastern coasts Friday. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Oil refinery facility is on fire in Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, Friday, March 11, 2011 after strong earthquakes hit Japan. (AP Photo/The Yomiuri Shimbun, Kenji Tada) JAPAN OUT, CREDIT MANDATORY

In this image made off Japan's NHK television, a car rests amid debris of houses in the middle of a street in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, northern Japan,Friday, March 11, 2011 after a powerful tsunami spawned by the largest earthquake in Japan's recorded history slammed the eastern coast. (AP Photo/NHK TV) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT, NO SALES, TV OUT, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Due to a tsunami warning hundreds of cars line Kamehameha Highway leading into the town of Haleiwa as residents of the north shore community wait for the all clear to return home Friday, March 11, 2011 in Honolulu. An 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck Japan and sent a tsunami wave across the Pacific. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

Visitors take photos as a surfer takes a wave at about the time the effects of a tsunami were expected, at Surfrider Beach in Malibu, Calif., Friday, March 11, 2011. Though waves surged in other areas along California's coast from a tsunami triggered by the massive earthquake in Japan, there was little noticeable change in conditions at Malibu, where the beach was not closed to the public. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon).

Puipui Faletoi, of Moiliili, Oahu, background center, rests in his vehicle with his sons Daniel, left, and Fletcher Faletoi in the parking lot of Manoa District Park in Oahu, Hawaii. The site is a volunteer staging area which could turn into a Red Cross shelter if a tsunami arrives. The Faletoi family plan to take shelter here. (AP Photo/Rebecca Breyer)

In this video image taken from NTV Japan, an aerial view of land inundated by a tsunami wave can be seen in the area of Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan Friday March 11, 2011. A ferocious tsunami unleashed by Japan's biggest recorded earthquake slammed into its eastern coast Friday, killing hundreds of people as it carried away ships, cars and homes, and triggered widespread fires that burned out of control. (AP Photo NTV via APTN) JAPAN OUT, NO SALES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Elderly women wrapped themselves in blankets after evacuated a street after a powerful earthquake, in Tokoy Friday, March 11, 2011. A ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes on record slammed Japan's eastern coasts Friday. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) MANDATORY CREDIT, NO LICENSING ALLOWED IN CHINA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AND FRANCE

Sailboats in the Santa Cruz Harbor crash against each other Friday , March 11, 2011 in Santa Cruz, Calif. A tsunami triggered by the massive earthquake in Japan rushed onto California's coast Friday, causing powerful surges that destroyed boat docks as beach-area residents throughout the state evacuated to higher ground. (AP Photo/Santa Cruz Sentinel, Dan Coyro) NO SALES MAGS OUT NO TV NO INTERNET MANDATORY CREDIT