Familiarize yourself with these terms that will help you identify an emergency in a nuclear power plant:
Notification of an unusual event – A small problem has happened in the plant. Radiation leaks are not expected. No action is required from you.
Alert – A minor problem has happened and small amounts of radiation may escape within the plant. This will not affect you and you are not required to do anything.
Emergency in the plant area – are sirens may go off. Listen to local radio or television stations to get safety information.
General emergency – radiation may escape outside of the plant and emanate from the plant. The sirens will go off. Tune into to local radio or television stations to listen to reports. Prepare to follow instructions immediately.
Before an Emergency in a Nuclear Power Plant
Get public material emergency information from the power company that operates their nuclear power plant or your local emergency service office. If you live within 10 kilometers of the nuclear plant, you must receive materials annually from the power plant, your state or local government.
Minimize radiation exposure
Distance – The more distance between and the radiation source, the better. This could mean evacuation or remaining indoors to minimize the exposure.
Armor – The heavier and more dense the material between the radiation source and you, the better.
Time – Most radioactivities will lose its strength very quickly.
During an Emergency in a Nuclear Power Plant
The following are instructions of what you should do in case of an emergency in a nuclear power plant: Keep a battery radio with you at all times and listen to the radio for specific instructions. Close and lock the doors and windows.
If ordered to evacuate:
Keep the car windows and vents closed, use re-circulated air.
If advised to stay indoors:
Turn off the air conditioning, fans, ovens and other air intake.
If possible, retreat to a basement or other underground space.
Do not use the phone unless absolutely necessary.
If you suspect that you have been exposed to nuclear radiation:
Change clothes and shoes
Place the exposed clothes in a plastic bag.
Seal the bag and place it outside.
Take a shower.
Keep the food in covered containers or in the refrigerator. Food that was previously uncovered, should be washed before placing them in containers.
