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26 Nuclear Power Plants In Hurricane Sandy's Path

pigrabbitbear writes "Hurricane Sandy is about to ruin a bunch of people's Mondays. In New York City alone, the storm has already shut down public transportation, forced tens of thousands to relocate to higher ground and compelled even more office jockeys to work from home. (Okay, that last part might not be so bad, especially for the folks that don't actually have to work at all.) But if it knocks out power to any of the 26 nuclear power plants that lie directly in its path, the frankenstorm of the century will ruin Tuesday, too. Heck, a nuclear meltdown would be a much bigger problem."

10 of 392 comments (clear)

  1. I hope it gives me super powers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I could call myself The Hurricane!

    1. Re:I hope it gives me super powers by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 5, Funny

      Sorry, "Storm" already owns the IP for that. See if your superpowers can protect you from a billion dollar IP lawsuit!

      Hmmm . . . maybe comics need an IP Lawsuit Super Villain . . . ?

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  2. My god, this has never happened! by greg_barton · · Score: 5, Insightful

    These plants have NEVER been hit by a storm before! Whatever will we do??

  3. Re:Took you long enough, Slashdot by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Funny

    While people are dealing with the *real* effects of the storm right now, these people want to talk about nuclear meltdowns?

    Do you mean real effects like damaged windmills and solar panels ripped off roofs?

    On the other hand, the extra rainfall should be good for hydroelectric.

  4. Re:It's not fair by ClippyHater · · Score: 5, Funny

    You all got a river to catch fire, I think you're ahead.

  5. Storm of the century?? by Billly+Gates · · Score: 5, Informative

    It is a cat 1 storm. Yawn.

  6. Heck, a Godzilla attack would be a bigger problem. by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 5, Funny

    >> Heck, a nuclear meltdown would be a much bigger problem.

    Heck, a Godzilla attack would be a much bigger problem.

  7. Re:Took you long enough, Slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I live 12 miles, doesn't bother me one bit, nor did it when I lived 5 miles, nor worked 1 mile. Heck, in my 20's I used to water ski just offshore from the plant. Hmmm, maybe that's why my hair got curly? chuckle

    BTW, NONE of the evacuation plans take into account there being a bad storm while attempting an evacuation from a nuke plant...they just don't consider it likely.

    And, btw, the original call for an evacuation plan was for 50 miles...I was at that meeting, but we all agreed that it would be impossible to evacuate 50 miles, as it includes all of NYC. Then we cut it down to 25 miles, and it still included too much of NYC to be doable. Finally, we went down to 10 miles, which everyone felt was more realistic to evacuate. But the 10 mile evacuation zone isn't based on science, it's based on what is doable in the NY area. 10 miles wasn't enough at Fukishima.

  8. Re:Give me a break by captaindomon · · Score: 5, Informative

    You should probably do some research on Fukushima. The control rods did drop when the earthquake hit, as part of the emergency shutdown, the chain reaction did stop as designed, and there was enough residual heat from fission by-products that the entire fuel assembly melted anyway.

    --
    Just because I can hook a shark from a boat, I do no offer to wrestle it in the water.
  9. Re:Took you long enough, Slashdot by fm6 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Oh please. I've read both stories, and neither of them is the least bit sensationalistic. They present issues and facts, and neither of them is clearly anti-nuke. But of course anybody who suggests that there are safety issues with nuclear power must be "scaremongering".

    What's weird to me is that people get all religious about nuclear power. At best, fission plants will never provide more than a fraction of the power we need. You may think that the benefit-versus-risk equation argues that we shoud build them (not that I agree) but is that really sufficient reason to treat nuclear power like the Second Coming?