"How to STOP the Grim Reaper When His Name is  NUCLEAR FALLOUT"

UPDATED 11-14-2002

Alert: This could affect plant safety but it is not expected to require any special actions by residents. Public officials would be notified. They would watch the situation and be ready to act if it got worse. As a precaution, public officials may mobilize transportation resources. They may transfer school children to host facilities outside the area and clear state forests and waterways. Emergency Broadcast System/Emergency Alert System radio or news broadcasts would inform the public of these actions. Some examples that might trigger this condition are:

• Coolant system leak at a rate of greater than 50 GPM.

• A tornado has struck a plant structure.

• The plant control room has been evacuated.

• An aircraft has crashed within the protective fence.

• Coolant River or Lake levels closer to too high or too low levels limits (these limits vary according to the area)

• Airborne or liquid radioactive release at > 10x allowed limits.

• Fire at the plant that may affect the plant safety systems

• Temporary loss of AC or DC power (both off and onsite).

• Toxic or flammable gasses enter the plant

Alerts are less frequent and can be serious. There were 3 Alerts in the United States in 2001.

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Site Area Emergency (SAE): This means a more serious problem has occurred. A small release of radioactive materials from the plant is possible. State and local officials would keep persons in the area fully informed about any necessary actions through Emergency Broadcast System/Emergency Alert System radio stations. As a precaution, public officials would move school children to host facilities outside the area if this had not already been done. Other precautions would be called for by state officials, as needed. Some examples that might trigger this condition are:

• Coolant system leaking at greater than pump capacity.

• Sustained winds of > 100mph.

• Plant security has been compromised in such a way as to threaten the plant safety systems.

• An aircraft has crashed into the plant and has damaged the plant safety systems while not in a cold shutdown.

• Coolant River or Lake levels are at the alarm level high or low limits (these limits vary according to the area)

• Both AC and DC power (off and onsite) has been lost for more than 15 minutes.

• Offsite radiation doses are projected or measured at greater than 50mR/hr for more than 1/2 hour or 500mR for 2 minutes.

SAEs are rare and serious. Three Mile Island was the only SAE reported in the United States (in 1979).

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General Emergency (GE): This is the most serious type of emergency. It could involve serious damage to the plant and the release of radioactive materials. State officials might order persons in the area to shelter-in-place or to evacuate to a safer location. Warning signals would notify persons in the area. Special instructions and other important information would be issued over the Emergency Broadcast System/Emergency Alert System radio stations. Some examples that might trigger this condition are:

• Coolant leak in excess of pump capacity with significant fuel damage.

• The loss of two out of three fission barriers with the actual/potential loss of the third barrier.

• Loss of AC power and the steam powered feed water system has failed.

• Plant security has been compromised that has resulted in the loss of physical control of the plant.

• Offsite radiation dose rates exceed 1000 mR/hr.

There have been NO General Emergency (GE) warnings in the United States. Chernobyl  would have been classified a General Emergency.
(Read about Chernobyl here)

Sirens are the First Official Warning Signal That a SAE or GE has Occurred.

Sirens have been installed throughout the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone to alert the public of a nuclear power plant emergency, natural disaster, or other major emergency. When necessary, these sirens will be activated by your community officials. Siren Signal:

• A steady tone for three minutes (that may be repeated) signals a natural or commercial disaster such as severe weather, chemical spills, floods, or a nuclear plant emergency.

• A long wavering tone signals an enemy attack.

• A short wavering tone signals a fire.

• A public address loudspeaker can transmit announcements over a limited distance from the community’s emergency operations center.

From the Plant Out to the Ten Mile Zone there will be If you hear a steady siren tone for 3 minutes or more, turn on your radio or television and tune in to a local Emergency Alert System (EAS) station for information. 

State and local officials are required to notify the public within 15 minutes of an event that may require taking public protective actions. You will be kept informed by local and state officials as long as the emergency is in effect.

The First Indication of a Nuclear Power Plant Disaster May Be the Loss of Electrical Power

In the event of most any disaster, both natural and man-made, and especially of a nuclear power plant disaster, the loss of electrical power is something you should plan for. 

If your electricity service comes from the nuclear plant, it only makes sense that IF something goes wrong with the plant, your power is lost. You must remember this and prepare. (We have provided for you a set of Lists and things you need for emergencies in the next web page on sheltering.) Obtain a Radiological Emergency Preparedness Handbook, also called an Emergency Management or Disaster Plan for YOUR AREA.  

By having a battery-powered flashlight, radio, candles and other "power-outage" light sources and equipment can mean the difference between calm comfort (by having them handy) or panic-stricken terror. Imagine trying to evacuate your house and town in completely pitch-black darkness. 

What is even worse, imagine having to "Shelter-in-place" (an alert order given to people outside the 10-mile evacuation limit to stay in their houses and wait) and not having a flashlight where you can find it, much less any supplies for waiting out an emergency. 

Obtain A List of Emergency Radio and Television Stations in Your Area

Radio and Television stations are contracted to broadcast emergency information in your area. You may find these in your Radiological Emergency Preparedness Handbook. Obtain a Radiological Emergency Preparedness Handbook, also called an Emergency Management or Disaster Plan for YOUR AREA. 

You will possibly be without electrical power during this type of emergency, so make sure you keep a battery-powered radio to tune in to the emergency news that will be broadcast on the emergency channels and stations. Remember, do not depend entirely on your TV for emergency information, you may be without electrical power and in that case, it will not work.

If You Are Within 100 Miles of a Nuclear Power Facility that has Declared a General Emergency, Most Experts Agree - You and Your Family Should Take Your Thyroid Blocker (KIO3 or KI) 

(click here for more info on Thyroid Blockers KIO3 and KI)

As a nuclear power plant operates, it generates tremendous energy. The energy released by the fuel and the process of “burning” the fuel is called radioactivity and is dangerous and can kill you. Radioactivity cannot be smelled, felt, or heard. 

One of the nuclear components that it produces (and it produces a lot of it) is called Radioactive Iodine 131 (I-131 or 131I). 

This component of Radioactive Fallout is not detected by some surplus detection equipment because it is a beta-type radiation emitter.

If the nuclear power plant is leaking radiation and you are within 100 miles of the plant, taking your KIO3 or KI will not hurt you. This will keep the Radioactive Iodine from affecting you. 

(If you are allergic to iodine, then if radioactive iodine is released during a nuclear disaster, you will be allergic to it too, only it has the ability to kill you.) 

Again, you should learn about KIO3, Potassium Iodate and Thyroid Blockers, click here for more info.