Industrial · Low likelihood
Nuclear site accident
A radiation release from Heysham, Sellafield or another nuclear site.
Stay
What makes this different
Heysham (near Morecambe) and Sellafield (west Cumbria) have detailed off-site emergency plans. People in the zone around each site get information and, if needed, pre-distributed iodine tablets. A serious release is very unlikely.
First 10 minutes
- Go in, stay in, tune in. Get into the most solid building you can.
- Close windows and doors; turn off ventilation.
- Listen to BBC Radio Lancashire or BBC Radio Cumbria for instructions.
- Only take iodine tablets if told to.
- Do not collect children from school; they will be sheltered there.
Stay or go?
Stay in until you are told to evacuate. Leaving during a release can expose you more than sheltering.
Wind direction matters
The prevailing wind in the North West is from the south-west, so a release would usually drift north-east, inland. Official instructions will be based on the actual wind on the day.
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