5.1 Protective action response strategy

During the response to a nuclear emergency, the PEOC shall implement a protective action response strategy to protect the public and responding emergency workers from the effects of a radioactive emission. Protective actions include:

  1. precautionary measures
  2. exposure control protective measures
  3. ingestion control protective measures
  4. additional measures to protect the public

5.2 Precautionary measures

The PEOC Commander shall direct as appropriate, any or all of the following precautionary measures in the Detailed Planning Zone (or part thereof) and adjacent areas (e.g., CPZ).  Consideration shall also be given to the most suitable timing for the measures (in the case of a delayed emission it may be appropriate to delay the application of some of them) and issue the necessary bulletin(s) and directions for their implementation. These measures are:

  1. closing of beaches, recreation areas, etc.
  2. closing of workplaces and schools
  3. suspension of admissions of non-critical patients in hospitals
  4. entry control (see Section 6.6)
  5. clearing the milk storage of dairy farms
  6. banning consumption of any item of food or water that may have been exposed outdoors
  7. banning consumption and export of locally produced milk, meat, produce, milk-and meat-producing animals
  8. removing milk- and meat-producing animals from outside pasture and exposed water sources

5.3 Exposure control protective measures

5.3.1 Evacuation

  1. Evacuation time estimates (see Section 2.6.3) should be used to inform decision-making regarding the implementation of evacuation strategies.
  2. All available routes will be utilized to evacuate the public. 
  3. Shadow evacuations may occur spontaneously in areas contiguous to the Detailed Planning Zone and subsequently contribute to the Detailed Planning Zone evacuation time.
  4. Contamination
    1. In the event of a delayed emission, evacuees are not expected to be contaminated nor require monitoring and decontamination.
    2. In the event of an ongoing or imminent emission, evacuees exposed to the radioactive emission can be expected to have varying levels of contamination.
    3. Contamination, where found, would be in the form of loose particulate on people, their belongings and vehicles.
    4. Internal contamination may be present in individuals exposed to a radioactive emission.
    5. Given the population density, self-decontamination may be the primary means of decontamination, if required.
    6. Monitoring and decontamination facilities are required for those evacuees who are not able to self-decontaminate as well as for those who desire assurance monitoring.
  5. Transportation
    1. During a nuclear emergency, traffic density and volume on major arterial roads and highways are significantly increased and therefore, travel times in all directions are significantly longer than normal.
    2. Integrated and multi-model transportation management is required to ensure that evacuations can proceed as smoothly as possible.
  6. Family reunification prior to evacuation
    1. Families will want to reunite and evacuate together, as far as practical.
    2. The feasibility of family reunification depends on the time of day at the onset of the emergency and on the urgency for evacuations to proceed (i.e., timing of the emission).
    3. Factors affecting family reunification include workplace location, school children, residents of hospitals, long-term care homes or other institutions, etc.
  7. Mass care
    1. The majority of evacuees will make their own arrangements for care and lodging.  Mass care arrangements are required for those evacuees without such resources.
    2. Evacuees requiring public or privately provided accommodation, may need assurances that these accommodations are not contaminated.
  8. Protection and care of animals
    1. Pursuant to Section 7.0.2. (4), of the EMCPA, Municipal emergency response plans should make provisions for the protection and care of all animals, including those left behind during an evacuation. 
    2. Designated Municipalities should request assistance as necessary from the following to develop plans for the protection and care of animals:
      • Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) (whose mandate is to protect all animals in Ontario)
      • OMAFRA (provincial lead on farm animal disease (OIC 1157/2009))
      • the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) for issues pertaining to wildlife
    3. The PEOC should provide assistance to the stakeholders above as required for the protection and care of animals.
  9. Directing evacuations
    1. Evacuations should be directed by response sector or planning zone ring of sectors and include information detailing the boundaries of the evacuation area by readily identifiable roads or landmarks.
    2. Evacuees who may have been exposed to an emission shall be directed either to proceed to a Monitoring and Decontamination Unit (MDU) or to self-decontaminate upon reaching their destination.  Information on locations for monitoring shall be provided at the time of the emergency.
    3. Evacuees who are not at risk of being contaminated shall be instructed to leave the Detailed Planning Zone and not be directed to an MDU or to self-decontaminate.
    4. Evacuees shall be permitted to evacuate the affected area in the direction and to the destination of their choosing, subject to restrictions (due to weather, traffic conditions etc.) announced by the PEOC Commander through the emergency bulletins.
    5. The responsibility for the expeditious movement of evacuees via the provincial transportation network is identified in the Unified Transportation Management Plan.
    6. The Unified Transportation Coordination Centre shall monitor the provincial transportation network utilized by evacuees and inform the PEOC Commander of any issues impacting the evacuation.
  10. Evacuation arrangements
    1. The Municipality of Kincardine's emergency plan shall include arrangements for mass evacuation transportation and medical transfers.
    2. The evacuation of the affected public should be facilitated by the planning and preparedness undertaken in advance, including:
      • transportation management (e.g., Ministry of Transportation)
      • reception and evacuation centres (e.g., Designated Municipalities)
      • long-term housing (e.g., multi-ministry and multi-jurisdictional planning group)
      • health issues (led by the Local Public Health Units and Medical Officers of Health in conjunction with the MOHLTC, Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) and Paramedic Services)
    3. Medical assistance required during an evacuation is the responsibility of the emergency medical services and hospitals under municipal arrangements and should be detailed in the municipal plans.
    4. Designated Municipalities and Host Municipalities shall include provisions for the reception and care of evacuees in their emergency plans.
    5. The BNGS operator shall include provisions for the monitoring and decontamination of evacuees in its emergency plan and associated procedures (see Section 6.9).
    6. Emergency plans of the schools in the Detailed Planning Zone should provide for the movement of staff and students to pre-arranged host schools and, if necessary, to Monitoring and Decontamination Units for prior monitoring and decontamination. Evacuated students are the responsibility of their school staff until collected from the host school by their guardians, or parents.
    7. Emergency plans of hospitals, long-term care homes, and other institutions in the Detailed Planning Zone should include provisions for the transfer of staff/residents/patients to an appropriate facility outside the Detailed Planning Zone, with which prior arrangements have been made. Provisions should also be made to take staff/residents/patients to Monitoring and Decontamination Units, if necessary.
    8. As it may not be possible or desirable to evacuate some of these persons, special arrangements shall be made for the care of staff/residents/patients remaining behind, as identified in the municipal plans.
  11. Bruce Nuclear Generating Station (BNGS) - Evacuation

    BNGS prepares its own evacuation plans for non-essential on-site personnel. During an emergency, the actual evacuation of on-site personnel should be carried out in consultation with the PEOC Commander. Where time permits without compromising the safety of station staff (i.e., delayed or imminent emission), the timing and sequence of on-site evacuations should be agreed to in advance with the PEOC Commander.

5.3.2 Temporary relocation

  1. Temporary relocation:
    1. Is the displacement of people from their homes for a period beyond one week and up to one year to avoid chronic exposure to radiation, usually from ground contamination. Beyond one-year, the PEOC should consider permanent resettlement. 
    2. Can be directed post-release, during the intermediate response phase, based on actual measured contamination levels.
    3. Can be directed as a subsequent measure to evacuation, or sheltering-in-place, or as a separate measure.
    4. Is determined following analysis of environmental radiation monitoring results and assessment against Operational Intervention Levels (OILs; PNERP Master Plan Annex E, Appendix 2).
  2. The evacuation arrangements described in Section 5.3.1 j) above shall be considered and applied as appropriate for the implementation of temporary relocation.
  3. The PEOC should consider socioeconomic factors before recommending temporary relocation as the potential impacts of this action may not be justified in areas where the OIL for relocation is minimally exceeded.

5.3.3 Iodine Thyroid Blocking

  1. It is the responsibility of the BNGS operator to procure adequate quantities of KI pills for the Detailed Planning Zone population (PNERP Master Plan, Section 6.5.2).
  2. Designated Municipalities shall detail in their plans the means by which they facilitate:
    1. Availability of KI pills for Detailed Planning Zone institutions and for emergency centres (Emergency worker, Reception and Evacuation Centres and MDUs).
    2. Availability of KI pills for any members of the Detailed Planning Zone population who may wish to possess a supply.
  3. Other operational responsibilities regarding iodine thyroid blocking (stocking, distribution and administration) are described in the Radiation Health Response Plan, as prepared by MOHLTC.
  4. The Chief Medical Officer of Health shall decide when to administer KI in consultation with the PEOC Commander.

5.3.4 Sheltering-in-place

The need for future sheltering-in-place as a protective measure should be broadcast through the emergency bulletin as soon as that need is identified.  The timing to actually issue an operational directive for sheltering-in-place (or, in the event of a declared emergency, advise that emergency orders have been made) shall be ultimately made by the PEOC Commander (as a general guidance, however, the emergency bulletin to direct this protective measure should be issued at least 4 hours prior to the expected emission time) following escalation to a full activation response.

5.4 Ingestion control measures

5.4.1 Before an emission commences, appropriate ingestion control measures should be directed as a precaution within and, if necessary, areas adjacent to the Detailed Planning Zone (e.g., the CPZ).

5.4.2 After an emission commences, precautionary ingestion control measures should be reviewed by the PEOC Scientific Section and adjusted as necessary once environmental monitoring results become available.

5.4.3 If environmental monitoring indicates the need, appropriate ingestion control measures should be considered in areas known or suspected to be contaminated.

5.4.4 Based on the data produced by ground monitoring, additional ingestion control measures should be considered, where necessary, while the original precautionary measures may be lifted where appropriate.

5.5 Additional measures to protect the public

5.5.1 The PEOC Commander may recommend other, practical dose reduction measures to the public. Such measures may be implemented in combination with the measures described above or, may simply be recommended to provide an additional level of protection against possible radionuclides present in the air or on the ground but which do not meet the generic criteria or OILs. Such measures include:

  1. Respiratory protection, such as covering of the nose and mouth with available material that can filter particulates when present in the air.
  2. Self-decontamination, including removing and bagging contaminated clothing, showering, and decontaminating surfaces of critical areas and objects.
  3. Staying indoors to the extent that it is practical, e.g., only conducting outdoor tasks when necessary (e.g., seeking medical attention, buying foodstuff and necessities).

5.5.2 Detailed advice regarding these measures shall be provided for in public awareness and education materials as well as in emergency bulletins.