own
                                              USA
Responding  to


Radiation  Emergencies

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.
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.
 United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (6608J)  |   EPA 402-F-06-018
April 2006
                                                                 www.epa.gov/radtown/emergencies.html

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 RadTown  USA
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)
The 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 can you 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

You can explore this radiation source further through the resources at the following URL:
http://www.epa.gov/radtown/emergencies.htmltfresources

We provide these resources on-line rather than here so we can keep the links up-to-date.
 United States Environmental Protection Agency     Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (6608J)   |  EPA 402-F-06-018     April 2006
                                                                    www.epa.gov/radtown/emergencies.html

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