Best practices and lessons learned in preparing and implementing an - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik

Best practices and lessons learned in preparing and implementing an effective public communication strategy during a nuclear emergency

• Dr. Gerhard Wotawa, M.A. (Intern. Rel.)

ZAMG/Division Data, Methods and Modelling Emergency Manager of ZAMG for Fukushima Crisis Gerhard.Wotawa@zamg.ac.at

Presented at: IAEA International Experts’ Meeting , Vienna, 19 June 2012

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Topics

• Basic principles of dealing with an accident of emergency
• Lessons learned from the Fukushima crisis
• Ways forward

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Basic Principles

In the world of the 21st Century, anything serious happening in any part of the world does matter for all other countries, and for the whole international community

• This is certainly true for all events having potential health

impact

• The radius of impact does not matter. A transboundary nature of

the event is not required

• Effective communication at regional, national and international

level indispensable part of response

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What was done in Austria?

• Transport of Radioactivity over Japan calculated and published
• Daily meteorological assessments for crisis region published
• Radionuclide Data from CTBTO used for situation assessment and

useful data published

• Source term estimate performed and published
• At request of WMO, provided on-site support for IAEA at IEC
• As part of WMO, took part in the international coordination process

after accident

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Transport of radionuclides

• Transport towards Tokyo area

(March 14/15) predicted

• Arrival of plume at U.S. West

Coast (17/18 March) predicted

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Source estimate

• As first institution, ZAMG published a source estimate of

radionuclides released in Fukushima (22 March 2012)

• The source estimate was based on a few CTBTO measurements, but

accurate within a factor of 5

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Lessons learned

• ZAMG results were widely accessed (large download volume from

Japan and USA)

• Publication did not cause adverse effects, but rather helped filling

information gaps

• Significance of CTBT was demonstrated
• New form of cooperation between international organizations

established

• Importance of internal information provision and exchange

demonstrated (e.g., regarding travel advisories)

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Consequences of missing information

• Rumors develop, particularly through social networks
• Mistrust and exaggerated fear
• Non-governmental actors fill information gaps

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Ways forward

• Rapid assessment of nature and severity of the accident
• Access to detailed information for non-accident states
• Emergency procedures should include communication with other

governments and international organizations

• Include public information and communication in the emergency

planning phase

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Ways forward (2)

• Fast and open access to all relevant information for NGOs and the

general (global) public

• Globally harmonized radionuclide measurements and emergency

database

• Strengthen role of the IAEA during crisis situation