Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Melt Down

Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Meltdown
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Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Meltdown
Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster of 2011 was caused by a major earthquake. The earthquake triggered a tsunami which interfered with the power supply and the cooling systems thus causing the nuclear accident (World Nuclear Organization, 2018). This unanticipated catastrophe required the involvement of major and minor stakeholders to mitigate, manage and to reduce the effects of the radiation. The stakeholders in this disaster management included: The government of Japan, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), The Rescuers and emergency response teams; The Fukushima fifty, Japanese military, firefighters, The nuclear power plant (NPP) employees, media, local citizens and citizens of Japan. The Fukushima nuclear power plant meltdown was thus caused by a breakdown in risk and crisis communication among the stakeholders.
The disaster highlighted the importance of effective communication amongst the stakeholders. The government of Japan was tasked with the communication and dissemination of information to the other stakeholders and the general public as well as coordinating them. Facilitating the evacuation and recovery process and quelling the widespread anxieties of the public, a task which was not adequately achieved. TEPCO the electricity company tasked with the provision of backup power, provision and handling of all the power transmissions necessary for the evacuation and disaster control processes.

NISA was tasked with providing and ensuring strict implementation of nuclear disaster response procedures and safety measures (Srinivasan, 2013) NPP helped in shutting down other reactors and mitigating extensive effects of the nuclear radiations caused by the destruction of other nuclear plants.
The rescuers were tasked and expected to act with utmost selflessness to help those affected by the accident. The military assisted in the rescue, facilitation of the transfers of the survivors to hospitals, offering emergency medical services and evacuation of bodies as well as offering services that required their set of skills. The Fukushima Fifty, a group of volunteers offered selfless support to the casualties and the other stakeholders. The disaster caused massive deaths and panic among the locals (Nomura et al., 2013). This traumatic event required calmness and thus they were expected to cooperate and help in the rescue processes like identifying missing persons. The citizen of Japan offered social support to the affected through financial contributions and volunteering resources.
With the extensive effects of the disaster, a seamless interaction, communication and cooperation was expected amongst the above stakeholders (NDJ, 2018). Rapid evacuation helped mitigate and reduce the effects of the radioactive materials triggered by the tsunami. However, more effects would have been prevented had the stakeholders adopted a joint mechanism of communication. This synergy would have been highly effective in response, evacuation and rehabilitation processes. This was however not achieved as the disaster recovery was characterized by an enormous breakdown in communication and information delivery.
References
World Nuclear Association. (2018). Fukushima Accident. World-nuclear.org. Retrieved 3 August 2018, from http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/fukushima-accident.aspxNomura, S., Gilmour, S., Tsubokura, M., Yoneoka, D., Sugimoto, A., Oikawa, T.,& Shibuya, K. (2013). Mortality risk amongst nursing home residents evacuated after the Fukushima nuclear accident: a retrospective cohort study. PloS one, 8(3), e60192.
Srinivasan, T. N., & Rethinaraj, T. G. (2013). Fukushima and thereafter: Reassessment of risks of nuclear power. Energy Policy, 52, 726-736.
The National Diet of Japan (NDJ). (2018): The Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission. Nirs.org. Retrieved 3 August 2018, from https://www.nirs.org/wp-content/uploads/fukushima/naiic_report.pdf