[Blitzer:] A disturbing sight at that damaged nuclear plant in Japan. Black smoke spotted today rising from reactor number 3. Officials say radiation was released, but it's unclear if that release was linked to the smoke. Meantime, concerns over radiation exposure are escalating after Tokyo officials announced radioactive material in tap water there has exceeded the amount that's safe for infants. U.S. officials aren't taking any chances when it comes to potential radiation contamination of military equipment. CNN's Martin Savidge saw the cleanup operations on board the USS Ronald Reagan.
[Martin Savidge, Cnn Correspondent:] Right now every piece of hardware, every aircraft, and every piece of machinery used to move that aircraft is on the front of the USS Ronald Reagan, as is well, you can see a lot of the crew hands. And you're wondering, maybe, why are they all sitting around? Well, we'll show you. Look what's going on back here water. Lots and lots of water just being sprayed all over the deck right now in what is probably the biggest cleanup effort you're ever likely to see at sea. Now, earlier today, as part of this effort, up at the bow, it got even more incredible to watch as the crews went to work with the foam, with the brushes. There was music going. The idea here though is all about safety.
[Unidentified Male:] What we're doing right now is just, like, decontaminating the ship.
[Savidge:] Why all this remarkable effort? Well, you may remember back on the 13th, this aircraft carrier and some of its helicopters passed through the radioactive plume from that damaged nuclear plant, the Fukushima Daiichi plan. As a result of that, there was some limited exposure to the crew and some of the aircraft, and possibly the ship. So this is all designed to clean it, scrub it down, use brushes, use foam, clear every possible surface, then check it with some machines such as Geiger counters while keeping the crew in protective suits. It's extreme measures, but it's always designed to keep the crew safe and to keep the ship operational.
[Blitzer:] Marty Savidge reporting for us. And this just in. Toyota plants here in the United States might be impacted by the Japan disaster. Let's get details from CNN's Mary Snow. She's in New York. What are you learning, Mary?
[Mary Snow, Cnn Correspondent:] Well, Wolf, Toyota is telling its plants in North America to be prepared for what a spokesman calls a possible scheduled shutdown because of part shortages in Japan. The spokesman from Toyota says workers at 13 plants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico were given the news today. And the spokesman also saying that the company wants workers to be aware that there will be an impact to North American operations, but it's unclear the kind of impact just yet, how quickly it will come and how long it will last. Now, Toyota says it continues to get some parts from some of its Toyota factories in Japan and some outside suppliers, but not as many. And, you know, there was impact last week, Wolf, when Toyota announced that it was cutting back on overtime as a precaution to conserve parts from suppliers Wolf.
[Blitzer:] I suppose this is only just beginning, this shortage.
[Snow:] Yes.
[Blitzer:] Thanks very much, Mary, for that. In northern Japan, the death toll keeps climbing, including an elementary school where we found a heartbreaking story of children lost, parents frustrated, and a community in tears. Stand by for that. In Libya, we're taking you to the front lines as rebel forces move farther west.