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Responding to Radiation Emergencies
RadTown USA Topics
This page provides an overiview of radiological emergency response.
On this page:
Overview
We use radioactive materials for medical diagnoses and treatments, defense activities, electric power generation, and industrial processes. There are some risks, however, when using radioactive materials for these activities .Careful planning and design help minimize these risks, but even the best preparation is not enough to prevent accidents completely. In addition to preparing for accidents, we must also be prepared to respond to an act of terrorism involving radioactive material.
When an emergency happens, such as the 1979 accident at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania, qualified individuals need to respond quickly to minimize the consequences of the incident. In these situations, the public should listen to the emergency responders to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure. Their primary concern is the health and safety of the public.
Remember
Listen to the advice of local officials and emergency responders. Their primary concern is your health and safety.From the location to the type of radiation, every emergency response is going to be different. Apart from individuals in the immediate vicinity of the emergency, the most significant concern will be inhalation of radioactive material carried by winds. Emergency response teams use their expertise and state-of-the-art technology to assess each situation accurately and act quickly to limit potential hazards.
Who is protecting you
A large number of organizations could be involved in responding to a nuclear or radiological emergency. On the Federal level, the role of each of the agencies and organizations is defined in the National Response Plan’s Nuclear/Radiological Incident Annex. Some of the more prominent agencies with responsibilities under the Nuc/Rad Annex are:
U.S. Department of Homeland Security(DHS)
In the event of a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other large-scale emergency, the Department of Homeland Security has primary responsibility for ensuring that emergency response professionals are prepared. DHS coordinates the comprehensive federal response to any large-scale crisis and mounts a swift recovery effort. Additionally, DHS educates citizens to prepare themselves, their families and their homes for major emergencies.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)
In coordination with DHS, EPA plans for and responds to radiological emergencies. EPA works with other federal agencies and state responders to contain, monitor, and control radiological conditions. As part of this effort, EPA developed Protective Action Guides (PAGs) to help state and local authorities make the best radiation protection decisions during emergencies.
U.S. Department of Energy(DOE)
The Office of Emergency Operations administers the DOE and the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) response to emergencies at DOE and NNSA facilities and field sites. DOE also provides technical experts who help evaluate the threat posed by a nuclear or radiological emergency within the United States and abroad.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission(NRC)
NRC is responsible for ensuring that each nuclear power plant in the United States has a plan for responding to emergencies at the plant.
State and Local Responders
The PAGs developed by EPA place the primary responsibility for initial emergency protective actions upon the state and local governments. When an emergency occurs, first responders use these PAGs to choose a response action (e.g., evacuating a town that may be affected by the radiation).
What you can do to protect yourself
Be Informed
Inform yourself of protective actions before a radiation emergency ever occurs. If an incident occurs, listen to the advice of your local government officials and emergency responders. Then take the recommended actions. Their primary concern is for your health and safety.
Three basic ways to protect yourself against unnecessary exposure are:
- Time: Limit the time you spend around the radiation source, your exposure — and the chance of damage to your body — will be much lower.
- Distance: Increase your distance from the source, your exposure — and the chance of damage to your body — will be much lower.
- Shielding: Increasing the shielding between yourself and a radiation source (with protective barriers such as walls and buildings) will decrease your exposure. Depending on the type of radioactivity (alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays), effective shielding could be as thin as a piece of paper (for alpha radiation) or as thick as a lead-lined wall (for gamma radiation).
Resources
| Protective Action Guides October 2009. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Radiation Protection This page provides information on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Protective Action Guides (PAGs), which help state and local authorities make radiation protection decisions during emergencies. |
| Emergency Preparedness and Response March 2009. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Radiation Protection This site provides links to the Environmental Protection Agency’s radiological emergency response information. |
| Setting Radiation Protection Standards March 2009. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Radiation Protection This page describes the process the Environmental Protection Agency uses to set radiation standards. |
| Radiation Threat March 2009. Federal Emergency Management Agency, ReadyAmerica This page provides information on radiation threats such as radiological dispersal devices (or “dirty bombs”). |
| Directory of Agreement State and Non-Agreement State Directors and State Liaison Officers October 2009. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission This site provides a list of Nuclear Regulatory Commission Agreement and Non-Agreement State contacts. |
| Links for Citizens U.S. Department of Homeland Security This page provides links to various federal emergency response sites, including sites devoted to safety and security, preparedness, travelers, and international visitors and immigrants. |
| Emergency Preparedness and Response: Radiation Emergencies U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention This site provides links to information about the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s role in radiological emergency response. |
| Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Dirty Bombs March 2005. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention This site answers some of the public’s frequently asked questions about dirty bombs. |
| Backgrounder on the Three Mile Island Accident August 2009. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission This page provides information about the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant incident in 1979 in Middletown, Pennsylvania. |