38 state health departments participated in the survey, including 26 of the 31 states that have nuclear power plants. States with nuclear power plants were asked to consider their responses independent of plant-specific plans and resources.
The study found several gaps in states' radiation emergency preparedness. For one, the survey reports that 73% of states "reported having minimal (53%) or no (21%) plans to conduct population-based exposure monitoring." Meanwhile, only 13% of states surveyed reported having "any written or detailed operations plan for radiologic analyses of biological or clinical samples." And 42% of states reported little or no planning to test first responders for radiation contamination.
Some information about Louisiana's radiological emergency response can be found via the state HSEP website although it looks like a generic description of what "Federal, State, and local officials" are expected to do.
Federal, State and local officials work together to develop site-specific emergency response plans for nuclear power plant accidents. These plans are tested through exercises that include protective actions for schools and nursing homes.
The plans also delineate evacuation routes, reception centers for those seeking radiological monitoring and location of congregate care centers for temporary lodging.
If the Department of Health and Hospitals has a radioactivity response plan, it doesn't publish it anywhere I could find it during the 30 minutes I spent interruptedly searching... although I did manage to find this pamphlet on "The Darker Side of Tanning" which kinda sorta has to do with radiation poisoning. Of course, the fact that I didn't find it online doesn't mean Louisiana isn't one of the 13% of survey respondents who actually have such a plan. So there's at least some degree of comfort we can take given our proximity to the potential hazard.
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