#16,874
First the press release from NYCEM, after which I'll return with more.It's message - to Get Inside, Stay Inside, and Stay Tuned - is pretty basic, and would also apply equally to other - non-nuclear - events (conventional explosions, chemical leaks, biological hazards, etc.).
NEW YORK CITY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT INTRODUCES NUCLEAR PREPAREDNESS PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (PSA)
July 11, 2022 — New York City Emergency Management Department today launched a new public service announcement (PSA) that focuses on nuclear preparedness. While the likelihood of a nuclear weapon incident occurring in/near New York City is very low, it is important New Yorkers know the steps to stay safe. The new PSA encourages New Yorkers to take key, simple steps in the event of such an incident.
"New York City Emergency Management has a multitude of free resources for New Yorkers to prepare for emergencies, including no-notice events," said New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. "As the threat landscape continues to evolve, it is important that New Yorkers know we are preparing for any imminent threats and are providing them with the resources they need to stay safe and informed."
The PSA outlines three key steps New Yorkers should take:
NYC Emergency Management works with several local, state, and federal agencies to organize emergency response. In partnership with NYPD, FDNY, NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, MTA, and FEMA, the agency hosts the PlanNowNYC website, which focuses on preparing for terrorist attacks and other no-notice events, including nuclear events, as well as the steps to take if such an event occurs.
- Get inside.
- Stay inside.
- Stay tuned.
The City also uses several forms of media to alert the public in an emergency, including Notify NYC, the City of New York's free, official emergency communications program. New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up for these free emergency alerts in their preferred language and format by visiting the website at NYC.gov/notifynyc or by calling 311.
-30-For many Americans, the notion that we might have to deal with a radiological emergency on our own soil is unthinkable. But such a crisis doesn't have to come from a nuclear attack. History has shown that nuclear power plant accidents - like 3 Mile Island, Chernobyl, or Fukushima - while rare, can be disastrous.
Still, I'm seeing a lot of criticism accusing NYC of `fear mongering'. As a child of the 1950s - I've got to say - this PSA is pretty tepid stuff.
For those of us who grew up during the cold war, discussions of what to do during and after a nuclear detonation are very familiar, and was even considered a suitable topic of conversation for grade school aged kids.
Every child was taught how to `duck and cover’ by Bert the Turtle in civil defense cartoons, everyone saw or heard the weekly CONELRAD testing on the radio and TV.
"This was a test. Had this been a real emergency, you'd have been instructed to turn to your local CONELRAD broadcaster for more information. This was only a test"
While I'm not advocating a return to those stark, fearful days, we still live in a dangerous world, and ignoring that basic fact could cost lives in a major emergency.
A little over 4 years ago (January, 2018) the CDC attempted to schedule a Grand Rounds Public Health Response to a Nuclear Detonation, which was met with an immediate, and visceral response from both the press and social media pundits.
A few days later the CDC announced that the webinar would be `rescheduled', and the topic has not been revisited.
The CDC does maintain some information on radiological emergencies on their PHE.GOV website, which we reviewed in 2018 (see #NatlPrep: Radiological Emergencies). As you'll see, a (limited or full scale) nuclear attack isn't the only possible radiological emergency.
Types of Radiation Emergencies
Radiation emergencies may be intentional (e.g., caused by terrorists) or unintentional. Below are some examples of different types of radiation emergencies. Click on the icons to find out what to do if a radiation emergency happens in your area.Nuclear Emergencies
- A nuclear emergency involves the explosion of a nuclear weapon or improvised nuclear device (IND).
- The explosion produces an intense pulse of heat, light, air pressure, and radiation.
- Nuclear explosions produce fallout (radioactive materials that can be carried long distances by the wind).
Dirty Bomb or Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD)Radiological Exposure Device (RED)
- A dirty bomb (also known as a radiological dispersal device) is a mix of explosives such as dynamite, with radioactive powder or pellets.
- A dirty bomb cannot create an atomic blast.
- When the explosives are set off, the blast carries radioactive material into the surrounding area.
Nuclear Power Plant Accident
- A radiological exposure device (also called a hidden sealed source) is made of or contains radioactive material.
- REDs are hidden from sight to expose people to radiation without their knowledge.
Transportation Accidents
- An accident at a nuclear power plant could release radiation over an area.
- Nuclear power plants have many safety and security procedures in place and are closely monitored by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Occupational Accidents
- It is very unlikely that a transportation accident involving radiation would result in any radiation-related injuries or illnesses.
- Shipments involving significant amounts of radioactive material are required to have documentation, labels, and placards identifying their cargo as radioactive.
- Radiation sources are found in a wide range of settings such as health care facilities, research institutions, and manufacturing operations.
- Accidents can occur if the radiation source is used improperly, or if safety controls fail.
Instead I concentrate on lesser, more common, and infinitely more survivable scenarios. For me, that includes hurricanes, prolonged power outages, and temporary disruptions of essential services (power, water, internet, etc.).
In other parts of the country, earthquakes, blizzards, wildfires, and floods may be more likely disasters. Regardless of the threat, the basics of preparedness are pretty much the same.
If a disaster struck your region today, and the power went out, stores closed their doors, and water stopped flowing from your kitchen tap for the next 7 to 14 days . . . you are going to wish you already had:
- A battery operated NWS Emergency Radio to find out what was going on, and to get vital instructions from emergency officials
- A decent first-aid kit, so that you can treat injuries
- Enough non-perishable food and water on hand to feed and hydrate your family (including pets) for the duration
- A way to provide light when the grid is down.
- A way to cook safely without electricity
- A way to purify or filter water
- A way to handle basic sanitation and waste disposal.
- A way to stay cool (fans) or warm when the power is out.
- A small supply of cash to use in case credit/debit machines are not working
- An emergency plan, including meeting places, emergency out-of-state contact numbers, a disaster buddy, and in case you must evacuate, a bug-out bag
- Spare supply of essential prescription medicines that you or your family may need
- A way to entertain yourself, or your kids, during a prolonged blackout
