Recovery, Resilience and Reality: Going Beyond NCRP Report No. 175, Progress and Possibilities

Published in December 2014, National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) Report No. 175, Decision Making for Late-Phase Recovery from Major Nuclear or Radiological Incidents emphasizes the importance of local, state, and national plans addressing late-phase issues and decision-making processes concurrently with emergency response requirements. The Report includes eight recommendations ranging from a broad call for a national strategy promoting community resilience as a preferred approach for preparing to recover from nuclear or radiological incidents to more specific calls for research and strategies for cleanup and waste management. This paper will discuss progress of several key recommendations since publication of NCRP Report No. 175 as well as highlight how ongoing all hazards resilience building initiatives across the country may benefit preparedness for nuclear and radiological incidents.