Emergency Public Information

Keeping the Public Informed in a Radiological Emergency

For authorities responsible for emergency public information in case of nuclear or radiation emergency.

Table of contents

INTRODUCTION

PART I. RISK OF RADIATION ACCIDENTS IN BRIEF

Range of Radiation-Related ThreatsInternational Nuclear Event ScalePotential Danger of Nuclear FacilitiesControl of Radiation EnvironmentEmergency InterventionCountermeasures after Major Radiation Accidents

The 1957 Accident, South UralThe Chernobyl Accident, 1986

Strategic Planning after Radioactive Contamination

(to be continued)

Table of contents

(continued)

PART II. EMERGENCY PUBLIC INFORMATION

Why to keep the public informed?Who is responsible?Points of DifficultyWarning and EPI

PART III. EPI ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTION

Public RelationsPublic Information ProvisionResponse to public concerns

Media Relations Single source of official informationEPI planning Developing an EPI Annex

The Manual is intended for educating the public in radiation protection and appropriate actions in case of accidents or incidents accompanied by radioactive contamination.

Training of the Personnel of Information Services of Nuclear

Industrial Facilities

The topics of personnel training in how to communicate to the public in case of a radiation accident or informational crisis:

• Principles of communication in crisis situations;• Practical knowledge of telephone communications in conflict situations; • Basic knowledge for assessing radiation hazard for population in case of a radiation accident; • Answers to frequently asked questions on level of danger and population protection in radiation emergency conditions;• Terminology and interpretation of technical information;• Obligations and responsibilities for the public information.

Tutorial on emergency information

The objective of the present work is to develop and test a Tutorial on emergency information, which is based on international experience and Russian federal system of emergency prevention and response.

The Tutorial is to include the following elements:

• Lecture course on emergency information;

• Practical exercises book on emergency information, which shall include examples and tasks for homework;

• Computer simulator "hot telephone line"

• Methodical guidance to the computer simulator.