Poll: Few Confident U.S. Ready In Case Of Nuclear Emergency

Poll: Few Confident U.S. Ready In Case Of Nuclear Emergency: WASHINGTON - Most Americans doubt that the U.S. government is prepared to respond to a nuclear emergency, such as Japan, according to a new survey of Associated Press-GfK. But it also shows few Americans believe in such an emergency.

However, the disaster has turned most Americans against new nuclear power plants. The survey found that 60 percent of Americans oppose building nuclear power plants. E 'was 48 percent opposed it on the AP-Stanford University poll in November 2009.

Associated Press-GfK poll is concerned, Japan is still struggling for the nuclear energy crisis caused by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant has been leaked radiation into the environment and spill radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean. Japanese strong aftershock shook, and a tsunami warning system on Thursday, but officials reported no immediate signs of new problems.

The study concludes that about one quarter of respondents were very confident that the U.S. government is prepared to handle a nuclear emergency, while nearly three quarters had little or no shelter.

But many people in such an emergency will happen in this country.

About three in 10 think such an emergency situation is extremely or very likely, compared with seven in 10 who think that only little or not at all likely. Among those who think that the disaster is very likely, almost eight out of ten do not trust the government would be ready.

They also do not believe that it is not too likely or not likely to happen, almost two-thirds still lacked the confidence to be ready.

Nancy Hall of Long Beach, California, said the Japanese crisis has not soured on nuclear energy.

'Well, even if the disaster in Japan, I think that nuclear power is still a lot of advantages to fossil fuels, "he said and stressed that nuclear energy, unlike oil, does not funnel money" in the Middle East dictators " and not as polluting coal-burning power plants.

"You must keep in mind that the issuer of gas and coal steadily, day after day, and we do not even think about it," she said.

Hall, 36, a linguistics professor, lives in a four-hour drive of two nuclear plants, but said he is not worried so much.

"I hope the Government is carefully considering how to protect them," said "But honestly, nuclear energy is not at the top of my list of concerns." A more immediate concern:. The office building is not anti-seismic.

The survey shows that nearly a quarter of Americans live within 50 miles of a nuclear reactor. Those who reported living within 50 miles of a nuclear plant are not significantly more or less inclined to trust the government's ability to manage a nuclear disaster.

Those who live near nuclear power plants were less likely to strongly oppose the construction of nuclear power plants than those living farther. In total, four out of 10 who live more than 50 miles from a plant is strongly opposed to new construction, compared to three in 10 who say they live within 50 miles of a plant.

U.S. government regulators to consider the safety of the nation's 104 nuclear reactors in Japan, in the wake of the crisis. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said it would review the plant's ability to protect themselves against natural disasters and terrorist attacks, the perfect answer to deal with power outages and accidents of spent fuel, among other things.

NRC says U.S. nuclear power plants continue to operate safely.

Kelli Hughes is still at Brookhaven, New York, concerns about nuclear energy, which is the toxic threat. Hughes, 33, owns an online business and live on less than 80 km from nuclear power plants in New York and Connecticut. He said he strongly opposed the construction or expansion of nuclear power plants.

"We need to think what will the environment when we're done with it," he said, referring to nuclear waste. "Look what is happening now in Japan," he added. Radioactive waste 'escape and is toxic. "

Once the land is contaminated by nuclear waste, "can not use," said Hughes, "Kill all -. Earth, air, water around."

Damian Padua Chicopee, Massachusetts, said he is skeptical that renewable energy sources like solar and wind energy can produce the country's electricity needs. Padua, 32, a printer, said the U.S. government and citizens tend to be overcome in the case of a nuclear disaster.

But after the initial shock, said he was confident the authorities and the public rally.

"I think we have the resources needed to enable everyone," he said. "I think we can do better than it really is in Japan."