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Nuclear / radiological event

Go in, stay in, tune in — shelter first; take iodine only if authorities tell you to.

General risk

A nuclear or radiological emergency can mean a release of radioactive material from a plant, transport accident, or weapon. You cannot see or smell radiation. For the public, the protective actions are simple and the same almost everywhere in Europe: go indoors, stay indoors, close windows and ventilation, and follow official instructions on radio, TV and warning apps. Iodine tablets protect the thyroid from radioactive iodine only — and only when taken at the right time. Wrong self-medication can harm you. Keep tablets if your country pre-distributes them near nuclear sites, but swallow them only when authorities say so. In any life-threatening situation, call 112.

When it is happening

Only if this scenario is imminent or already underway — not everyday preparation. For prep ahead of time, see How to prepare and the checklist below.

If authorities warn of a radiological release

  1. 1Go indoors immediately — solid buildings shield better than cars or tents.
  2. 2Close all windows, doors and external vents; switch off air conditioning and mechanical ventilation that draws outside air.
  3. 3Stay in an inner room if possible, away from outer walls and the roof.
  4. 4Turn on radio, TV or your official warning app and listen for instructions.
  5. 5Do not leave to collect children from school unless authorities say so — schools shelter too.
  6. 6Call 112 only if someone is injured or in immediate danger; keep lines free for emergencies.

If you were outside during a release

  1. 1Remove outer clothing carefully before or just after entering; bag it and keep it away from others.
  2. 2Shower with lukewarm water and mild soap; do not scrub hard or use conditioner on hair (it can bind particles).
  3. 3Blow your nose, rinse eyes and mouth with clean water if available.
  4. 4Change into clean clothes stored indoors.
  5. 5Seek medical advice as authorities instruct — do not rush to hospitals unless you are injured.

About iodine tablets

  1. 1Take potassium iodide (iodine tablets) ONLY when public authorities tell you the dose and timing.
  2. 2Do not take them "just in case", as a daily supplement, or for non-radioactive hazards.
  3. 3They protect only the thyroid against radioactive iodine — not against other radiation or fallout particles.
  4. 4Follow age and pregnancy guidance on the package insert and official instructions.

Important safety warnings

  • Never take iodine tablets on your own initiative — wrong timing or dose can be harmful, especially for some thyroid conditions.
  • Do not go outside to "see what is happening" or to film; re-entering later is harder once contaminated.
  • Do not evacuate unless authorities order it — traffic and open air can increase exposure.
  • Pets: bring them indoors; wipe paws and fur carefully if they were outside.

How to prepare

Know the alerts and your building

  1. 1Install your country's official warning app (e.g. NINA in Germany) and enable cell-broadcast / EU-Alert.
  2. 2Know how to close windows and shut off ventilation and air conditioning quickly.
  3. 3Identify an inner room for sheltering and keep a battery radio, torch and water there.
  4. 4If you live near a nuclear plant, learn your national nuclear-emergency plan and any pre-distributed iodine scheme.

Household kit for sheltering

  1. 1Drinking water, shelf-stable food and any regular medicines for at least 72 hours indoors.
  2. 2Battery or hand-crank radio, torch, spare batteries, power bank.
  3. 3Duct tape and plastic sheeting only if official guidance for your area recommends sealing gaps.
  4. 4Copies of documents and a written list of medications and contacts.

Good to know

  • 112 is free across the EU, works with no credit and on any available network — in some countries also without a SIM, but do not rely on that.
  • Building materials and distance from outer walls reduce external radiation; time indoors matters.
  • EU countries coordinate nuclear emergencies through national regulators and the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
  • After a release, food and water advice from authorities overrides normal shopping — follow boil-water or food bans exactly.

Preparedness checklist

The concrete steps for this scenario. Add them to a plan to track your progress.

Actions

  • Install official warning app + EU-AlertEssential

    A radiological go-indoors order can arrive by phone alert, so check now that cell broadcast is enabled: on iOS at the bottom of Settings > Notifications, on Android under Safety & emergency. Add a national warning app as a second channel — in Germany NINA or KATWARN — and never rely on one channel alone.

  • Choose an inner shelter roomEssential

    Pick it in advance and show every household member: an interior room, cellar or spot in the middle of the building, with as many walls and floors as possible between you and outside — each layer of building mass cuts external radiation. Avoid rooms with large windows; masonry shields better than lightweight walls.

  • Agree how family stays in touch during shelter-in-place

    A release can catch household members at work or school, and the rule is to shelter where you are — not to drive home through the plume. Agree in advance that everyone stays put, texts instead of calling to spare congested networks, and checks in with one out-of-area contact; keep those numbers on paper too.

Supplies

  • 72 h water and food for indoor shelteringEssential

    Count on about 2 litres of water per person per day — 6 litres each for the EU's 72-hour baseline — plus no-cook food like canned goods, crispbread and UHT milk, and a manual can opener. Sealed bottled water is safest, as tap water may be restricted after a release; official German guidance suggests ideally ten days.

  • Battery / hand-crank radioEssential

    While you shelter indoors, the all-clear and any iodine instructions come over broadcast radio even if mobile networks are congested or down. Choose a set with a dual FM and DAB+ tuner, battery-powered with a crank or solar backup if possible, and keep spare batteries outside the device so leaking cells cannot ruin it.

Know & check

  • Know how to shut windows and ventilationEssential

    Sheltering only works while outside air stays outside, because radioactive particles ride in on the air your ventilation draws in. Locate the switches for mechanical ventilation and air conditioning now, and note which windows, trickle vents and extractor hoods need closing — under stress there is no time to search.

  • Know local iodine rules — take only if orderedEssential

    High-dose potassium iodide tablets protect only the thyroid, and only if timed right — swallow them only when authorities order it. Learn your country's system: Germany hands out tablets free in an emergency; Belgium pre-distributes via pharmacies, France near plants. Over about 45, taking them is advised against.

  • Document copies and med list ready

    Should evacuation be ordered after the sheltering phase, you will leave fast — so keep copies of IDs, insurance policies and key certificates in one grab-ready folder, with a written list of everyone's medicines and doses. Store duplicates outside the home and as encrypted digital copies on a USB stick or in the cloud.

Which plan?

Add this scenario to an existing plan — or create a new one.

    Official sources

    Content last reviewed: July 24, 2026