What should you do during a nuclear emergency?

During a nuclear emergency, the actual incident determines the required measures. Do not use an old distance table or a product list as personal emergency instructions. In the Netherlands, official alerts, regional broadcasters and emergency services provide the guidance to follow.

Go indoors and follow updates

Dutch government guidance advises going or staying indoors and closing windows, doors and ventilation openings after a nuclear incident. Listen to regional broadcasts for current instructions. Follow an evacuation instruction if it applies to your area. Read the Dutch government's guidance (Dutch).

Iodine tablets are not general radiation protection

They protect the thyroid against taking up radioactive iodine. They do not protect against every radioactive substance or radiation in general. Take them only when authorities advise this for your situation; timing is part of that advice. Read what iodine tablets protect against and when to take them (Dutch).

Follow local instructions for food and water

Authorities may impose food or drinking-water restrictions. A household filter, boiling method or purification tablet does not demonstrate that radioactively contaminated water is safe. Keeping reliable packaged drinking water means you do not immediately need to find an unknown source.

What can you arrange beforehand?

• Know the regional station and test your radio.
• Discuss how to contact household members without a working phone.
• Keep essential contact information and personal supplies accessible.
• Learn how your home's ventilation controls work.

A maintained emergency supply helps with different kinds of disruption. See the home-preparedness guide, emergency radios and packaged drinking water. No shop product guarantees protection during a nuclear emergency.

This article explains preparation in the Netherlands. Elsewhere, follow the responsible authorities at your actual location.