Articles · Public Health
Everything about Nuclear Emergency
7 articles across NWS
Radiological emergencies from nuclear power plant incidents, transportation accidents, or other sources. Emergency planning zones extend 10 miles around each operating reactor.
Disaster History
Case studies and disaster history
Castle Bravo (1954): The Test That Taught the World What Nuclear Fallout Is
On March 1, 1954, the United States detonated a hydrogen bomb at Bikini Atoll that was 2.5 times larger than expected. Wind shifted. Radioactive ash fell on 236 Marshall Islanders and the crew of a Ja
Chernobyl (1986): The Cover-Up That Cost 36 Hours and a Generation
On April 26, 1986, Reactor 4 at Chernobyl exploded. For 36 hours, 50,000 residents of Pripyat went to work, played outside, and sent their children to school while radioactive fallout contaminated the
Goiânia 1987: The Glowing Blue Powder That Killed Four and Contaminated a City
In September 1987, two men broke into an abandoned hospital in Goiânia, Brazil, and found a cesium-137 radiation therapy device. They sold it to a junkyard. The owner cracked it open and found glowing
Nuclear & Radiological Emergencies: What to Do and When
From Three Mile Island to Chernobyl, nuclear emergencies follow predictable patterns. Learn what actually happens, who is at risk, and the specific steps that protect your household.
Three Mile Island (1979): The Partial Meltdown That Rebuilt Nuclear Safety
On March 28, 1979, Three Mile Island's Unit 2 reactor partially melted down. No one died. A hydrogen bubble threatened to rupture containment. 140,000 people evacuated voluntarily. The worst nuclear a
Preparedness
Preparedness and self-reliance
Shelter-in-Place
When and how to shelter in place. Safe room selection, sealing techniques, hazard-specific protocols, and the supplies that make sheltering sustainable for hours or days.
Nuclear & Radiological Incident Preparedness: Shelter, Evacuation & What to Expect
Nuclear and radiological incidents are rare but require specific household responses. Learn the shelter-in-place protocol, what emergency alerts mean, and where to find official guidance.