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The First Item To Stock What would you do in the event of a nearby nuclear-reactor accident such as Chernobyl? The 1979 US Three-Mile Island accident, had it not been contained, would have generated a similar effect. We currently have 107 nuclear power plants in the US. What if you were downwind of a nuclear terrorist attack? One hundred Russian nuclear suitcase bombs are missing and may be in the hands of terrorists. The fallout would drift, eastward and spread north and south on the air currents. What about the fallout from a single nuclear strike attempting to knock out our missile silos in northwestern Montana? The general area of deadly fallout would take in a huge section of southern Canada, almost all of Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota and a lot of Colorado, Nebraska and Minnesota. Most of the eastern part of the country would also receive a good dose of radiation. Missile sites, military and command bases can be found all over the country, with major targets also in the Dakotas, the three corners area where Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska meet, Kansas, Missouri, Arizona, and Arkansas. Everywhere east, north and south would be contaminated by nuclear fallout. If a nuclear war were to ignite in the Middle East, the immediate fallout danger to the US would be minimal. But some radiation would rain down out of the atmosphere. Cows would eat contaminated grass, resulting in radioactive iodine in milk and dairy products, which would be especially dangerous for children. Potassium Iodide One of the first concerns during the Three-Mile Island crisis, was how could the government obtain a million doses of potassium iodide -- a compound to prevent thyroid cancer in people exposed to radiation. No one could immediately locate a source of supply. Today, 20 years later, the danger of nuclear problems looms even larger, but there are no major stocks of potassium iodide. The product is inexpensive, easy to store and very effective. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will purchase large quantities of the compound for any state that agrees to store it. They can provide enough for the whole country for only $150,000. So far, only three states have accepted the offer Maine, Tennessee and Alabama). Many states have rejected the offer. I consider California to be one of the most progressive states in the country, but the California Office of Emergency Services turned down the NRC's offer. Why? I'd guess they fear stockpiling would fuel fears of a nuclear reactor accident, but they don't admit to that. Instead, they claim that it would be logistically difficult to distribute the life-saving compound in the event it was needed. They're also concerned with liability, because potassium iodide can cause reactions from a skin rash to a severe breathing problems in people who are allergic to iodine. And even though the US government would buy it, California would be responsible for storing and distribution. Children Are At Greatest Risk After the Chernobyl meltdown, radiation spread over much of Eastern Europe. Only Poland immediately distributed potassium iodide to its entire population (97-percent of the children). In the aftermath, there were major increases in childhood thyroid cancer in the Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. But not in Poland. The World Health Organization has urged the stockpiling of potassium iodide in any community near nuclear reactors. To me, an even bigger concern is terrorism. A nuclear bomb set off at street level in San Diego would spread heavy fallout over most of Arizona and much of upper Mexico. A detonation in Little Rock, would spread heavy fallout over much of Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee. You get the idea. A 130 mg. tablet of potassium iodide will flood the thyroid, blocking the absorption of radioactive iodine into the thyroid of both children and adults. Using this agent will prevent 99-percent of the thyroid damage caused by exposure. Without the compound, you are at high risk of losing your thyroid, which is absolutely necessary for hormonal balance in the human body. Potassium iodide, however, cannot lessen the other effects of radiation, which would vary depending upon the amount of exposure. As with preparedness in general, if you're concerned, you'd better act on your own. Check the "Preparedness Suppliers" at this site. I've purchased potassium iodide by mail from both Major Surplus & Survival in Gardena, CA and Nitro-Pak in Heber, UT. It can also be purchased by prescription from many pharmacies. Civil Defense experts recommend a 100-day supply for each person in your family. At retail, that works out to be about $19 to $24 per person, depending upon the quantity. But buy it NOW. All US supplies vanished after the Chernobyl meltdown. For several months, the compound couldn't be purchased at any price.
Sources: Nuclear War Survival Skills The Sense of Survival USA Today national newspaper
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