What about evacuation plans?

March 13, 2014

Nuclear accident evacuation plans unfinished

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140313_35.html 

An NHK survey shows one-third of local governments near nuclear power plants have yet to complete evacuation plans in the event of an accident.

NHK asked 100 local governments located within a 30-kilometer radius of 10 idling power plants. Plant operators are asking for government safety screening as the first step toward restarting them.

61 percent said they have worked out plans for evacuation but 35 percent said they are not yet complete.
Some said they are struggling to secure evacuation sites.

Others said they are still negotiating plans with neighboring governments to evacuate across prefectural borders.

Asked whether hospitals and social welfare facilities in their areas already have evacuation plans in place, only 7 percent said yes, and 44 percent said no.

NHK also asked if the governments will approve the restarting of local nuclear power plants when the central government confirms their safety. 32 percent said yes; 45 percent said they do not know.

Mar. 13, 2014 - Updated 09:38 UTC