Regarding nuclear accidents, what does the term "evacuation" refer to?

The term "evacuation" in the context of nuclear accidents specifically refers to the immediate removal of people from a radiation hot zone. This is a critical action taken to protect individuals from exposure to harmful levels of radiation during a nuclear incident.

Evacuation is implemented when a situation poses a significant risk to health and safety; by relocating people away from the source of radiation, authorities aim to minimize exposure and safeguard public health. This process is often part of an emergency response plan and can involve moving residents away from affected areas to designated safer locations.

Actions such as alerting the public to stay indoors or establishing a safe zone for living are typically related to sheltering procedures but do not constitute evacuation, as they do not involve physically relocating individuals away from the danger zone. The controlled release of radioactive materials, while a separate protocol that might be part of an emergency response, does not align with the definition of evacuation either.