Chapter 15Nuclear and radiological emergency
Chapter 15 · Situations and settings · 20 min read

Nuclear and radiological emergency

A nuclear or radiological emergency is unlikely, but it is the kind of disaster where what you do in the first 15 minutes matters more than anything else. The good news: the measure that saves the most lives is simple, free, and within your reach. Getting into a building, staying inside, and waiting for instructions drastically reduces your radiation dose. This chapter explains why it works, how to do it right, and how to adapt it to your house or apartment.

The essentials · if you only have a minute
  • Get Inside. Stay Inside. Stay Tuned. This is the official instruction from FEMA and the CDC.
  • If you see an intense flash: do not look at it, drop to the ground face down behind something solid, and wait for the blast wave to pass. It can take several seconds or more than a minute to arrive.
  • After the blast wave you have 10 minutes or more before the radioactive fallout arrives. Use them to get into the best building you can reach in minutes.
  • Go to the basement or the center of the building, away from exterior walls and the roof. Brick or concrete and several floors is best; any building is better than being outside or in a car.
  • Stay inside at least 24 hours, unless there is immediate danger (fire, collapse, gas leak) or authorities say otherwise.
  • When you get inside, remove your outer layer of clothing (it eliminates up to 90% of the radioactive material), put it in a sealed bag, and wash with soap and water. No conditioner.
  • Radiation from fallout drops very quickly: about 90% in 7 hours and 99% in 2 days. Every hour you wait under cover counts.

In this chapter

15.1Three different emergencies2 min read15.2What happens in a nuclear detonation3 min read15.3The core message: Get Inside. Stay Inside. Stay Tuned.1 min read15.4If you see the flash2 min read15.5How long to stay: the 7-10 rule1 min read15.6Protection factor: which building protects you and where2 min read15.8Special situations3 min read15.9Potassium iodide (KI)1 min read15.10Radiation sickness: general symptoms1 min read15.11Common myths1 min read15.12Advance preparation2 min read0/2515.12Action sheet: nuclear emergency2 min read0/14
Chapter sources (1)
  1. 1.Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation, 3rd Edition (2022) — FEMA — https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/ documents/fema_nuc-detonation-planning-guide.pdf 2.Nuclear Explosion (P-2149) — FEMA — https://www.ready.gov/nuclear-explosion 3.Radiation Emergencies — Ready.gov — https://www.ready.gov/radiation 4.What to Do: Get Inside / Stay Inside — CDC — https://www.cdc.gov/radiation-emergencies/response/get-inside.html ; https://www.cdc.gov/ radiation-emergencies/response/stay-inside.html 5.How to Self-Decontaminate after a Radiation Emergency; Decontamination for Yourself and Others — CDC — https://www.cdc.gov/ radiation-emergencies/prevention/self-decontaminate.html ; https://www.cdc.gov/radiation-emergencies/infographic/decontamination.html 6.Preparing for a Radiation Emergency / Prepárese para emergencias por radiación — CDC — https://www.cdc.gov/radiation-emergencies/ safety/index.html ; https://www.cdc.gov/radiation-emergencies/es/features/para-todos.html 7.Acute Radiation Syndrome — CDC — https://www.cdc.gov/radiation-emergencies/signs-symptoms/acute-radiation-syndrome.html 8.Potassium Iodide (KI) — CDC — https://www.cdc.gov/radiation-emergencies/treatment/potassium-iodide.html 9.Frequently Asked Questions on Potassium Iodide (KI) — FDA — https://www.fda.gov/drugs/bioterrorism-and-drug-preparedness/ frequently-asked-questions-potassium-iodide-ki 10.Radiation Emergency Medical Management (REMM) — HHS/ASPR — https://remm.hhs.gov 11.Backgrounder on Dirty Bombs — U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission — https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/fs- dirty-bombs.html 12.Emergency Planning Zones — U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission — https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/emerg-preparedness/about-emerg- preparedness/planning-zones.html 13.Comanche Peak, Unit 2 — U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission — https://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/reactors/cp2.html 14.South Texas Project Electric Generating Station — Texas DSHS, Radiation Control — https://www.dshs.texas.gov/texas-radiation-control/ emergency-preparedness-radiation-control-program/south-texas-project-electric 15.Key Response Planning Factors for the Aftermath of Nuclear Terrorism (LLNL-TR-410067) — Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory — https://narac.llnl.gov/sites/narac/files/2024-02/LLNL-TR-410067.pdf 16.Radiation Rules for Emergency Responders (regla 7/10) — Health Physics Society, Homeland Security Committee — http://hps.org/hsc/ 17.The Effects of Nuclear Weapons, 3rd ed. (1977) — S. Glasstone y P. Dolan, U.S. Department of Defense/Department of Energy 18.Military Installations — City of San Antonio, Military & Veteran Affairs — https://www.sa.gov/Directory/Departments/MVAD/Military- Installations 19.Emergency Alerts (AlertSA, AHAS) — City of San Antonio — https://www.sa.gov/Government/Emergency-Crisis-Response/Alerts 20.NOAA Weather Radio Station Listing — National Weather Service — https://www.weather.gov/nwr/