US nuclear regulators will reconsider how to tell people to evacuate during an emergency

US nuclear regulators will review their rules for public protective actions during a nuclear emergency. This means they will consider whether current evacuation plans do more harm than good.

For decades, the rules for telling people to evacuate during a nuclear emergency have focused on getting people away from the plant. This review could shift the focus to a more nuanced approach, considering the actual risks of evacuation itself. It might mean fewer mandatory evacuations in favor of other protective actions, like sheltering in place.