Emails telling people to run away anyway Nuclear power plant and informal information network in the immediate aftermath of the accident Period immediately after the accident

Emails telling people to run away anyway Nuclear power plant and informal information network in the immediate aftermath of the accident Period immediately after the accident

The short e-mail exchanged immediately after the accident at the nuclear power plant, telling people to just run away and not to come back for a while, is a condensed version of the atmosphere at the scene of the accident. The text that simply ordered people to flee, without reason or explanation, indicated that the situation had already exceeded normal judgment and procedures. There was no time to wait for an official announcement or press conference, and no time to confirm an accurate dose assessment.

In the immediate aftermath of the accident, information was mixed around the plant, and announcements by the government and power companies were fragmented and the extent of the danger vague. On the other hand, among the workers and subcontractors who had come and gone from the site, there was widespread information about abnormalities in dosimeters, physical discomfort, and sudden interruptions in work, all of which were shared quickly through an informal information network. These were quickly shared through informal information networks.

What is symbolic about these e-mails is that they functioned on a different basis than the official channels. If they sensed danger, they would dispense with logic and keep people at a distance. It may seem crude, but in a situation where the only two choices were to flee or remain, immediate decision was the most rational.

Day laborers and informal workers have been marginalized from official safety briefings and compensation schemes. Therefore, in a crisis situation, they could rely not on the company or the government, but on their close relationships and informal networks. While official announcements continue to say that there will be no immediate impact, this short statement confronts us with the exact opposite reality. In one sentence, "Just run away," are condensed judgments, fears, and realities on the ground that are not told officially.