6. Emergency Preparedness Organization and Principles for Protection of the Public 6.1 In the Visaginas Region The Visaginas population including the plant personnel is evacuated by the decision of the Government in Protection of the resident population in the town of accor-dance with the plan of the Department of Civil Visaginas is effected by Visaginas authorities based on Defence. corresponding emergency plan. This plan is developed by the regional Civil Defence Headquarters and is 6.2 In Lithuania coordinated with the plan developed by the National Department of Civil Defence. There is local off-site In case of emergency residences of Lithuania will be emergency center with adequate communication protected in accordance with the "Plan for protection of capabilities in Visaginas. In case of accident notification the Lithuanian Republic population in case of accident of the residents of Visaginas is under remote control at the Ignalina NPP" [16]. This plan was developed by through cable communication lines between Ignalina the National Department of Civil Defence based on NPP and Visaginas. Notification system of the residents Lithuanian legislation and other regulations. Every year of Visaginas includes: this plan is repeatedly approved by Governmental authorities. This plan obliges ministries, governmental • one-way loudspeaking communications network services and authorities, town and municipal authorities including 91 street loudspeakers installed all over to take specific actions in case of accident. The plan the town and hooked up to the town radio center; provides means of protecting the population and cattle, • automatic emergency warning sirens installed in the their scope, terms, assignment of responsibilities and town; implementation procedure. The plan is needed for organization and coordination of actions taken over by • conference call cabinet whereas home telephones of town and municipal authorities, ministries, the plant administration and top officials of town governmental authorities and services for taking safety organizations are hooked; measures with regard to population and cattle, for • wire transmitting network consisting of town radio arrangement of immediate response actions after the center and broadcasting receivers installed in accident. The immediate actions of civil defence in case apartments and organizations. of an accident include: • organization of warning and communication; There is no shelter in Visaginas. The emergency plan • provide for various actions to protect members of the management; • public if required by conditions following a nuclear radiation protection; • accident. Actions could be taken in the affected areas evacuation; • are: medical aid; • protection of cattle and plants; • Sheltering: People would be advised to stay indoors • fire protection; and close doors and windows. • keeping the public order; • • logistics; Consuming stable iodine tablets: In release • contained radioactive iodine, tablets containing ordi- civil security forces. nary potassium iodine would be given to people in the affected area. This would reduce the amount of 6.2.1 Legal Basis and Responsibilities inhaled iodine absorbed into the thyroid gland and of Different Institutions thus reduce the risk of developing thyroid cancer. The plan of protection of population is based on the • Evacuation: People would be advised to evacuate to Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, district's temporarily areas close to the accident site, which management law of the Republic of Lithuania, are out of the path of radioactivity being blown by municipal government law of the Republic of Lithuania, the wind. environment protection law of the Republic of Lithuania • Control of food and water supplies: Experts from and temporary regulation of Civil Defence. According appropriate government departments would act to to the Governmental Decree assigned the Department of ensure that consumers are protected from Civil Defence to operate as the main regulatory body in consumption of food which is known or believed to the area of civil security and determined it aims and be contaminated. Restriction on the consumption of functions. According to other Governmental Decree in local products (or water) might be introduced if case of the emergency situation in Lithuania residents necessary. should be informed via Lithuanian radio and TV. To 42 organize preventive activities for such situation, more • interact with town and municipal boards, emergency operative accumulation of equipment, vehicles, material situations commissions, by transmitting signals and resources and forces of Emergency Situation information to management junctions and residents. Commission were set by Lithuanian Government. The said Decree defines tasks, rights and arrangement of One of the main authorities in protecting of the activities of this Commission. To assure operation of population in case of an accident is the Ministry of civil security system under emergency conditions Health. This ministry shall: National reserves of civil protection assets has been formed. Separate Governmental Decree construe the • accumulate and keep in its custody medical procedure of the civil security training in the country, protection means; they determine involvement of air forces in liquidation • render first professional and specialized medical aid of accident consequences and emergency situations, set for suffered people; out the list of national importance and risk. • organize medical aid and radiometric control for people in case of evacuation; The roles and obligations of different institutions in case • organize preventive activities of stable iodine of an accident at the Ignalina NPP are determined by preparations; numerous legislative deeds. One of the main institutions • carry out medical supervision and laboratories is the Lithuanian Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate, control; VATESI which in n case of an accident shall: • organize and carry out hygienic control of food and • accumulate information on the situation in the drinkable water; Ignalina NPP; • control volume and efficiency of hygienic • make analysis and prospect situation on the plant antiepidemiological assets; site, evaluate possible release of radioactive • organize and carry out surveys and monitoring of substances to the environment; radioactive contamination and evaluation of • inform the Prime Minister, the Department of Civil ionizing radiation sources and possible influence of Defence, Ministries of Health and Environmental radio-active substances for human health. Protection, Nuclear and Radiation Safety Advisory Committee, other Governmental structures about The Ministry of International Affairs shall ensure conditions at the plant and radioactive release; protection of 30 km zone, organize provisional control • inform and advise the Emergency Situation points in intermediate evacuation points, ensure public Commission; order in the places of concentration of people in case of • provide information to the public on the emergency evacuation and in sites of temporary accommodation, situation occurred, run of liquidation activities; ensure protection of national and private property and • inform the International Atomic Energy Agency public order in the settlements after the end of (IAEA) and neighboring countries as required by evacuation, carry out of evacuated people and provide Convention and bilateral agreements. information to the Address Informational Service. The Department of Fire Protection shall carry out Notification of management junctions and population in radiological, chemical, engineering and other special due time and maintenance of stable connection in inspection besides fire extinguishing activities. Basic organizing and carrying out of immediate actions are support in the surveys of radiological level shall be very important in the accident. This has to be assured by given to the regional divisions of the Department. the Ministry of Communication. This ministry and its enterprises shall: The Ministry of National Defence and Lithuanian Army should assist civil defence forces in making radiological • ensure the activities of notification junctions and inspection from the air, sanitary decontamination of communications systems, immediate transmission of people in intermediate points within framework of special-purpose telegrams "Lavina" to the addresses; protection measures of contaminated zone according to • provide interurban conversations according to resolution of Governmental Emergency Situation password out of turn; Commission. • organize supplemental direct telephone, telegraph and radio communications at the request of 6.2.2 Criteria for Radiation Protection of management bodies and installs additionally in their Inhabitants working places terminals, arrangement of sound- broadcasting equipment for premises and territory, As described in subsection 5.1 the radioactive accidents appoint specialists for maintenance of emergency at the Ignalina NPP are divided into three types: local, warning and communications equipment; area and general accidents. In case radioactivity release • organize centralized usage of official communica- to the atmosphere, there is possible the following: tions for the needs of emergency commissions; 43 • external exposure from passing radioactive cloud; ground and buildings, and formed radioactive trial. • internal exposure inhaling radioactive aerosols; Radioactive substances are getting to the body by • contact exposure in case of