How do you put a whole country on stand-by?

[YetAnotherBloodyCheek]

Why does the finale of "Dark Star" cross my mind ... ?

@Liam: Yeah! Maybe listening to Tom Schilling's "Major Tom" would be appropriate as well.

[LiamKerrington]

Hi there,

I know, it is only wikipedia ... ANd who really know how reliable or independent the authors of such articles really are ... But nevertheless: there is an article about safety-measures for a nuclear power plant:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_safety_systems

Enjoy reading. It is quite a long article about it ...

All the best!
Liam

[YetAnotherBloodyCheek]

Yes, it's a good article. But the measures only reduce the risk.

Here's another article from Wikipedia which might unease you:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Ono...rating_Station

[7oddisdead]

so correct me if im wrong here, but the thing that went down with the plant in japan could happen pretty much anytime...basically the water in the reactors boiled off and they had to do major damage control to keep it from becoming waaaaaaaay worse than it was.

now that was something as simple as routine maintence...so say we just walk away from every place on the east coast...theres literally nothing to stop something like that from going the way japan could have...i say everyplace from me eastward is now glowing green(in the w/a-verse)

[7oddisdead]

@yarri: A nuclear plant is one the most sophisticated machines every created by humanity. However, one of the challenges is the fact that in order to operate it, you will have to deal with nondeterministic radioactive decay processes over a long period of time. In the nature of subatomic things, a lot can go wrong. And let's face it, you can not predict what is next on Mr atomic nucleus' mind. The only option you have is to reduce risks by applying an awful lot of fault tolerant protection devices, sensors on so. Nevertheless, this only reduces just the probabilities of failure you are already aware of. If something unexpected happens, well, you should better cross your fingers for the people in charge. Otherwise, the following event might be compared to the partial meltdown in Three Mile Island, Chernobyl or Fukushima later on.

To sum it up, you can not put a nuclear plan in a "gray" state, at least not with zero preparation time.

actually...this completely hits the nail on the head...even if you just shut a plant down...im doubtful in an apocalypse scenario there will be enough generator power(or people power to ensure it happens...boom) we are the screwed