NUCLEAR / RADIOLOGICAL INCIDENT CHECKLIST

Emergency Management / Incident Commander
 
Planning:
 
Ensure plans, procedures and policies are developed and in place and that response personnel are trained.

Ensure the public living in the area is kept well informed regarding potential hazards associated with a nuclear facility or nuclear materials.
Coordinate with the nuclear facility owner or the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as appropriate for timely information affecting local jurisdictions.
Coordinate with schools, daycare centers, hospitals, etc. in proper precautions and emergency actions prior to a potential nuclear accident if it is likely to affect such a facility.
Ensure evacuation routes are clearly established and well marked.
Coordinate with local broadcast media to ensure timely and accurate Emergency Alert System activation.
Ensure that warning systems in place at the facility are appropriate, meet regulations, and are coordinated with all jurisdictions.
Conduct hazard analysis of vital facilities and the impact of a nuclear accident or containment failure on one or more of those facilities.
Procure or produce information pamphlets for distribution to the public if appropriate.
Coordinate and plan at least one exercise (table top or practical) every two years.

Ensure exercises are conducted in accordance with FEMA and NRC requirements.
Ensure all facilities that hold nuclear materials, including medical facilities are known and properly placarded.
Pre-determine locations for reception, congregate care and decontamination areas for the public or evacuation population.
Coordinate with Red Cross, public agencies and/or the Salvation Army for shelter operations.
As much as possible, pre-determine traffic control and security road block locations and requirements for each affected area.
Conduct training in radiological monitoring for responding personnel.
Conduct training in emergency worker decontamination.
Conduct annual back-up alert training.
Conduct annual school training.
Ensure appropriate equipment such as dosimetry, radiation detection instruments, etc. are procured, checked, tested and kept calibrated.
Ensure that facility and county plans are updated and in accordance with the State Plan.
Ensure that surrounding counties are coordinated in mutual aid responses.
Carry out other planning actions necessary under NUREG, FEMA or State guidance.
   
Response:
 
Upon notification of an event, activate the EOC as appropriate.
Follow EOC Operational procedure or guideline.
Fixed facility - Establish communications with the nuclear facility owner / operator.
Transportation - Establish communications with the material owner.
Establish communications with the State and request immediate assistance if the circumstances warrant it.
Establish Incident Command.
Ensure appropriate radiation procedure or guidelines are followed.

Ensure that appropriate established procedure or guidelines are followed as appropriate to the condition.
Establish command posts, traffic control points and security road blocks where planned.
Establish communications with EAS stations following the Alert and Warning procedure or guideline.
Establish communications with responding agencies.
Evaluate overall county effect and calculate plume pathway if applicable.
Assist the Radiological Officer to assess initial potential for radiation exposure to the general population in the immediate or affected area.
Ensure EALs (Emergency Action Levels) are current (Nuclear power stations).
Coordinate the opening of appropriate number of shelters and decontamination stations in the appropriate areas in anticipation of evacuation.
If schools are in session, discuss evacuation procedure or guidelines and prepare to evacuate such schools if recommended to do so.

Establish communications with area schools, and/or businesses that might be affected.
Ensure that all actions are coordinated with facility or the transporter, state and federal agencies and surrounding counties.
Evaluate overall county situation.
Request a technical liaison from the facility or DOE /NRC report to the EOC (or command post).
Establish ongoing reporting from the response forces, private agencies and utilities.
Establish Incident Command.
Establish command post(s) as needed.
Coordinate with Red Cross (or designated lead agency) the opening of appropriate number of shelters in the appropriate areas, based on shelter procedure or guideline.
Conduct first staff briefing as soon as practical after EOC activation.
Activate or establish rumor control through the public information officer (PIO).
Establish a schedule for briefings.
Brief city/county/agency/utility executives.
Provide PIO with updated information.
Establish, as appropriate, a Joint Information Center (JIC) with the facility.
Provide response forces with updated information, as appropriate.
Cause public information to be released, via the public information officer (PIO) as soon as practical.
Issue action and radiation protection guidance as appropriate.
Establish 24/7 duty roster for the EOC and/or command post.
Develop and post any required maps or diagrams.
Activate an events log.
Ensure all appropriate forms (ICS) are being used to track personnel and resources.
Review and follow resource procurement procedure or guideline.
Inventory additional resources that may be used or called upon for use.
Activate formal resource request procedure or guideline and resource tracking.
Coordinate all resource requests being forwarded to the State.
Activate financial tracking system coordinated by the Finance Officer.
Activate damage assessment and follow damage assessment procedure or guideline.
Develop a 12 hour incident action plan outlining actions that must be accomplished in the next 12 hours.
Conduct a "second shift" or relieving shift briefing, if you are being relieved.
Discuss with and present to your relief, the incident action plan for the next 12 hours.
   
Recovery:
 
Coordinate emergency worker decon and ensure all returning equipment is properly decontaminated.
Obtain information from the facility owner regarding length of repair, safety, etc.
Gather damage assessment information (public, housing, business) from damage assessment teams.
Obtain information from technical sources regarding health effects duration.
Obtain information from Red Cross (or designated lead agency) regarding number of shelterees and support necessary for continued operation.
Obtain from Red Cross (or designated lead agency) an estimated duration period for continued shelter operations, if any.
Obtain information from utilities regarding outages, length of repair, safety, etc.
Assess citizen / community needs for individual assistance and/or public assistance.
Activate local unmet needs committee if appropriate.
Gather financial information from the Finance Officer.
As appropriate gather additional information to include:
 
Personnel that responded and the time involved in the response.
Time sheets or time logs.
Supplies used.
Contracts issued.
Purchase orders issued.
Any other expenditures, including medical monitoring.
Damages to public buildings, equipment, utilities, etc.
Loss of life or injury of any responder.
Documents regarding economic impact.
Notation: It most cases the facility responsible for a radiological event and radiation incidents are responsible for all costs associated with response. Volunteer resources may not be reimbursable unless under contract. Documentation is essential.
Develop or generate reports for the following, as appropriate:
 
FEMA
State
Local elected officials
County/City /Town Managers
Others requiring or requesting reports
Coordinate recovery organizations including federal and state agencies and private or volunteer relief organizations.
Establish donated goods management based on policy and procedure or guideline.
If a Presidential declaration of disaster is made; file "Request for Public Assistance" to apply for assistance as soon as possible with the proper state or federal agency.
Ensure public officials are made aware of the assistance application process, if applicable.
Ensure the general public is made aware, through the public information officer, of the assistance application process, if applicable.
Perform an incident critique as soon as possible with all possible response organizations.
Review agency and self performance.
Review the weaknesses of the plan.
Correct weaknesses.
Implement hazard mitigation or modify hazard mitigation plan accordingly.
Brief elected officials with updated information and disaster recovery progress.