Nuclear Emergency Preparedness and Response

Abstract

Abstract Nuclear power plants are designed to operate safely for decades. Contingency plans have been developed to manage the energy, heat, and radiation unique to nuclear emergencies. As world threats emerge and evolve, these plans must also be robust, resilient, and agile enough to protect the public and the environment. Effective nuclear emergency preparedness requires the deliberate integration of security considerations and radiological protection into contingency response plans and security protocols. This document first provides an overview of emergency preparedness. It then explores how world trends have increasingly shifted focus to security, particularly on hostile-based events. The next part systematically examines the inter-relation of security and radiological emergency preparedness (REP) considerations in developing sound plans and protocols. The discussion concludes with examples of best practices and the future trajectory of nuclear emergency preparedness.