An expert task force recently said that upgrades need to be made to many nuclear power plants in the United States to prepare them for catastrophic events.
The potential dangers of breaches in nuclear power plant safety were recently highlighted by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, which caused extensive damage to the Fukushima Dai-ichi.
The Japan Task Force — which was formed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission — said that while such an event was unlikely to occur in America, extra steps should be put in place to protect the country from natural disasters.
The recommendations made by the panel include re-evaluations of earthquake and flood risks and the implementation of equipment to make sure electrical power is not lost during disasters.
Citizens should also be prepared in case of a nuclear emergency. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, almost 3 million people live within 10 miles of nuclear power plants in the U.S. Within this distance, people can be harmed by direct radiation exposure.
During a disaster people should be sure to get as far away from the plant as fast as they can in order to protect themselves, according to FEMA.
