responsibility finder
Schleswig-Holstein

Despite the high safety standards for nuclear power plants in Germany, the state and operators have taken precautions to protect the population. These measures are based on the fact that an accident involving the release of radioactive substances can never be ruled out with one hundred percent certainty.

Due to the federal structure of the Federal Republic of Germany, authorities and organizations at various levels cooperate in the event of an emergency to ensure the protection of the population - together with the operators - in the event of an emergency in Germany.

The disaster control measures are short-term emergency measures such as

• the request to stay indoors to protect against radioactive radiation,
• the distribution and intake of iodine tablets to reduce radiation exposure to the thyroid gland,
• evacuation according to prepared plans as a precautionary measure and to protect the population if radiation exposure is predicted for the place of residence.
• Emergency stations as an offer to the population to have possible contamination identified and decontamination measures carried out.
• Warning the public not to consume freshly harvested food and fresh milk.

The basic measures for radiation protection precautions are longer-term measures such as

• Control of trade in food and animal feed,
• Recommendations concerning individual behavior (e.g. asking people to close windows and doors, avoid spending time outdoors, cover sandpits, etc.),
• Measures in the agricultural sector (e.g. bringing animals into the barn, early harvesting, washing fruit and vegetables, etc.),
• Large-scale decontamination measures or
• Longer-term resettlement.

The federal states are responsible for the area of disaster control with the corresponding disaster control measures and the federal government is primarily responsible for radiation protection precautions and the associated measures.