Fukushima in America?

We have seen in the last 12 months about the natural disasters in Australia and New Zealand and the recent tsunami that hit Japan. It is sad to see how people are caught by surprise and are not able to address the situation appropriately because of their unpreparedness. Americans became so worried about the radiation exposure reaching the U.S. that potassium iodide became a scarcity. Residents that live within a 50 mile radius to a nuclear power plant are at a significantly higher risk to radiation exposure than others. Listed below is a good guide of largely populated areas that may be in danger.

Significant Risk Areas to Radiation Exposure From Nuclear Plants

Northeastern: Boston, Rochester, New York City, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania State University (Main Campus), Philadelphia, Camden, Atlantic City. Wilmington, DC, Baltimore, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach.

Southern: Fort Worth, Baton Rouge, Southern Tennessee River area in Alabama, Raleigh, Charlotte, Spartanburg, Augusta, Alabama / Georgia / Florida metropolitan border, and Miami.

Midwestern: Omaha, Green Bay, Cedar Rapids, Jefferson City, Rock River area in Illinois, Chicago, Detroit, Toledo, and Cleveland.

Western: San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Phoenix

And something else to consider is trapped areas. For example, if Diablo Canyon and San Onofre were to go off in a small time difference, people living in the Los Angeles metropolitan area would be greatly affected because the area lies in the middle of the two plants. Keep in mind about other areas that may be victims to this situation.

Some questions that we should ask ourselves is:

What would I do in such a situation?

What is my level of preparedness now?

What actions am I taking to prepare for these unfortunate events?

Please note that no one is invincible from unforeseen disasters. However, preparedness can dramatically increase your chances of survival. Do you want to risk being one of the fatalities that were caught unprepared?

Stay Tuned for Part 2 ...... ( U.S. Nuclear Plants at risk and "Where the hell should I go then?" )