Protection and public information in the event of a nuclear crisis

This issue gives a thorough description of the various operations which would be carried out in the event of an accident occurring in a nuclear power plant. These include, of course, protection of the population (alarm, emergency actions, sheltering) provided for in the emergency plans. They also include early information of the public, which is to closely associated, from the very beginning, to its own protection. Dealing with a nuclear crisis in France is based upon both protection and information. This issue first deals with acceptance of the risk by the public, then the role of the local and national actors, and finally the methods for evaluating the accident, so as to determine the appropriate measures to be taken. In addition to this crisis organisation in France, the corresponding organisation in Germany and Belgium is described. (authors)