Fukushima Nuclear Plant Disaster

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Nuclear disasters set precedence for one of the most difficult disasters people may deal with. The duration of these disasters have lasting effects for generations and present an astronomical cost to man and the environment. Significant damage will persist from the nuclear disaster which occurred at the Nuclear Power Plant Fukushima Daiichi. With the nuclear revolution only in its infancy, our ability to cope with these incidents is limited to our experiences of the Three Mile Island reactor meltdown and the events in Chernobyl Ukraine. With so few instances of major nuclear disasters taking place, the Fukushima disaster presents many significant and exceptional challenges for Japan and the rest of the world. Several aspects unique to, but not limited to nuclear disasters are damage assessment, debris removal and media interaction with authorities throughout the emergency management process. On 11 March 2011 the Tohuku earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck the coast of Japan causing one of the most expensive disasters in human history. The earthquake is often referred to as the “Great East Japan Earthquake,” which measured 9.0-magnitude (Zhang 1). The tsunami, created by the earthquake sent powerful waves into the land mass of Japan, devastating many coastal areas. Recognized as one of the most powerful earthquakes to have been recorded in modern times, The Tohoku earthquake and related effects resulted in an estimated $235 billion in damages (Zhang 1). Located along the North-East coast of Japan, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, managed by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), was one of the most distinct pieces of infrastructure damaged in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami. Initially after detection of the e... ... middle of paper ... ...2014. . Starr, Steven. "About." Costs and Consequences of the Fukushima Daiichi Disaster. Physicians for Social Responsibility, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. . Stewart, Ethan . "The Fukushima Fallout." Santa Barbara Independent . Santa Barbara Independent , 27 Mar. 2014. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. . Weeks, Jennifer. "Nuclear Experts Assess How Well Media Covered Fukushima | SEJ." Nuclear Experts Assess How Well Media Covered Fukushima | SEJ. Society of Environmental Journalists , 15 July 2011. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. .

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