Analysis of issues and lessons learned from emergency evacuations in three major nuclear accidents
10.13491/j.issn.1004-714X.2024.06.011
- VernacularTitle:三大核事故应急撤离的问题与经验教训分析
- Author:
Penglei HU
1
;
Huifang CHEN
1
;
Long YUAN
1
;
Ximing FU
1
;
Cuiping LEI
1
Author Information
1. Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, China CDC, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100088 China.
- Publication Type:OriginalArticles
- Keywords:
Nuclear accidents;
Public protection action;
Emergency evacuation
- From:
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health
2024;33(6):681-685
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
After the Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima nuclear accidents, numerous issues were exposed during the emergency evacuation process, such as insufficiently detailed emergency plans, lack of specific evacuation route schemes, inadequate preparation of emergency protective materials, and delays in emergency response decision-making. Additionally, these accidents revealed serious issues with the emergency evacuation of vulnerable populations. In particular, during the Fukushima nuclear accident, the lack of resource support led to deteriorating health and fatalities among hospital patients and elderly residents in nursing homes near the nuclear power plant during emergency evacuation. To learn from the experiences and lessons of public protection actions in emergency evacuations during major nuclear accidents, the government should enhance the guidance of nuclear emergency evacuation plans, increase the quality of emergency training and exercises, and improve their specificity and continuity, as well as establish an efficient nuclear emergency rescue response and decision-making mechanism. For vulnerable populations in nuclear emergency evacuations, the government should consider updating the nuclear emergency plans and disaster preparedness material reserves of medical facilities (such as designated treatment hospitals) and elderly facilities (such as nursing homes) within the emergency protection action areas of nuclear power plants in a timely manner. This will ensure that these institutions have the capacity to provide initial evacuation and necessary support for vulnerable populations in disaster situations.
