Worst-case scenario: what happens to Tokyo and surrounding areas?

[Hugabear]

Assuming a worst-case scenario (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obK4zISRgyo) - multiple reactor meltdowns, spent fuel pond explosion - and much of central Japan is engulfed in deadly radiation, it's entirely feasible that we could see something that makes New Orleans after Katrina look mild. It could get to the point where that entire region simply becomes uninhabitable. At that point, where do the people living there go? Has there been any serious discussion on this?

[WheelWalker]

1. Imagination fails.

[BrookBrew]

5. Why imagine when reality has covered this already..

this is far worse than any scenario (other than the US dropping a nuclear bomb on their plants) and the medical impact was written up 35 years ago in NEJM.

BTW did anyone hear there were now over 10,000 real dead people from the tsunami. Not imaginary shit.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. One word: Diaspora.

[PoliticAverse]

3. Chernobyl

Chernobyl Exclusion Zone: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl_Nuclear_Power_Plant_Exclusion_Zone

Map: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Chernobyl_radiation_map_1996.svg?map

[BrookBrew]

4. A fraction of the outcome of this.. Nevada 1950's Fear is funny, up to a point..

400 miles from the now dead city of LA..

[thelordofhell]

6. Downwinders

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downwinders#Health_Effects_of_Nuclear_Testing

[Selatius]

7. Tokyo would end up looking like New Orleans post-Katrina, except for the rest of your life.

The only difference is radiation instead of water rendering the city uninhabitable, but radiation can't simply be drained away.