Japan Meltdown: Could It Happen Here?

The aging fleet of US nuclear power reactors have some technological similarities to the reactors failing in Japan. Could similar loss-of-cooling events happen at some US reactors — whether caused by earthquake, tsunami, terrorist attack, electrical outage, flooding, equipment failure, or some other problem?

MAJOR STORIES:

"San Onofre Nuclear Plant Can Withstand Up To 7.0 Quake, Is Protected by a 25-Foot Tsunami Wall, Edison Says" (Los Angeles Times)

"San Onofre Nuclear Plant Can Only Withstand a 7-Point Quake" (LA Observed)

San Onofre Nuclear Plant Reassures Worried SoCal Residents (KTLA-5)

Diablo Canyon: "California's Fukushima in Waiting?" (Rolling Stone)

"CA Came Close to Nuclear Disaster" (KTXL Sacramento)

"Could Japan-Style Nuclear Crisis Happen In California?" (San Jose Mercury News)

"Can U.S. Nuclear Plants Handle a Major Natural Disaster?" (Salon)

"Nuclear Power And Earthquake Zones Overlap in the U.S." (Mother Nature Network)

"Scientists Say Japan Quake Shows US Nuclear Risk" (Reuters)

"U.S. Nuclear Safety in Focus After Japan Quake" (CBS News)

"U.S. Nuclear Agency Chief Leaves Reporters With More Questions Than Answers" (CBS News)

"Japan Crisis Should Not Deter Iowa Nuclear Plants: Official" (Reuters)