[reb (OP)]

I live 50 mi. south of Montrose, NY where the Indian Point nuclear plant resides.  I would like to know what form of protective clothing would be needed in the event of a meltdown similar to what Japan is experiencing.  Thank you.

[Geezer]

We had a long and heated debate on this subject quite recently, but I don't seem to be able to find the thread.

Can someone post a link to the thread?

[RD]

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=38011.0

[Madidus_Scientia]

There are a million things to be worried about before you worry about that.

[Bored chemist]

I live 50 mi. south of Montrose, NY where the Indian Point nuclear plant resides.  I would like to know what form of protective clothing would be needed in the event of a meltdown similar to what Japan is experiencing.  Thank you.

It depends.
If it's raining, I'd get an umbrella or maybe a raincoat as protection from the rain.
On the other hand I might choose a sun hat in sunny weather. A nice warm coat might be a good idea in winter.
There's no real point worrying about the nuclear plant, the weather is much more important. If you want to live longer then (at least for most people) getting a better diet and more exercise ill make more difference than any protective clothing ever could.

From 50 miles away there's not much of a risk. If things get bad enough that there is a significant risk then leaving the area is a better bet than trying to get protective clothing to work.

[reb (OP)]

Thank you all for your responses.  I will pursue the link for the information I requested. 

I can appreciate that perhaps it isn't a real issue to protect oneself with clothing. I will think about a plan for an escape route.

^^^...the weather is much more important...

^^^...getting a better diet and more exercise

These are definitely ideas to think more about. 

[syhprum]

Why do atoms frighten people so much ? the Fukushima tsunami killed 15000 people but people worry more about a small amount of radioactive waste leaking into the vast ocean.
Even when nuclear bombs were used to kill people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki they were not as effective as the incendiary bombs used on Tokio

[wolfekeeper]

To be fair, the Fukushima meltdown cost about as much money as the whole tsunami, so you can see why people could be upset.

[alancalverd]

The initial cost of containment wasn't significant compared with the cost of clearing up the general tsunami damage. The current estimate for dismantling the reactors, however, looks like about 30 years' work and may well cost as much as rebuilding  200,000 homes, reclaiming farmlands, and business losses.

[Zer0]

The following links might be of help for future readers:

https://www.remm.nlm.gov/radiation_ppe.htm

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-to-worry-about-after-fukushima-nuclear-disaster/

http://www.safesecurevital.com/

✌

[petelamana]

As far as protective clothing? 

Wear whatever would be comfortable as you escape the area as quickly as possible.