The Associated Press has obtained a 2001 document describing TEPCO’s safety procedures for tsunami emergencies at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Their disaster plan: “nothing’s probably going to happen, but if it does we’ll figure things out afterwards” (I’m paraphrasing).
The document (never updated since 2001) is only one page long and says the nuclear reactors are safe from any waves an earthquake could ever muster.
“TEPCO’s memo was titled “The Assessment of Effects Related to the Japan Society of Civil Engineers’ ‘Guidelines on Tsunami Assessment for Nuclear Power Plants’ — Fukushima Dai-ichi and Daini Nuclear Power Plants.”
The company said it used measures for expected earthquakes and other “parameters” to calculate that water would not surpass 5.7 meters (18.7 feet) at Fukushima Dai-ichi.
The waters set off by the March tsunami reached 14 meters (46 feet) above sea level, according to TEPCO.”
Oops, their numbers were a bit off and they had all their eggs in the basket labeled “these numbers are 100% accurate.” You could say their disaster plan *puts sunglasses on* was a disaster.
