--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Each year, at the typical nuclear reactor…" description: "\"Each year, at the typical nuclear reactor in the U.S., there's a 1 in 74,176 chance of an earthquake strong enough to cause damage to the reactor's cor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9b/bill-dedman-3519_cause_each-year-at-the-typical-nuclear-reactor_358451.jpg" --- # Each year, at the typical nuclear reactor in the U.S… ![“Each year, at the typical nuclear reactor in the U.S., there's a 1 in 74,176 chance of an earthquake strong enough to cause damage to the reactor's core, which could expose the public to radiation. No tsunami required.” quote by Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9b/bill-dedman-3519_cause_each-year-at-the-typical-nuclear-reactor_358451.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9b/bill-dedman-3519_cause_each-year-at-the-typical-nuclear-reactor_358451.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9b/bill-dedman-3519_cause_each-year-at-the-typical-nuclear-reactor_358451.jpg) > “Each year, at the typical nuclear reactor in the U.S., there's a 1 in 74,176 chance of an earthquake strong enough to cause damage to the reactor's core, which could expose the public to radiation. No tsunami required.” [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. U.S. nuclear reactors have a very low but real chance of earthquake damage that could release radiation, even without a tsunami. **In simple terms:** Rare earthquakes could damage reactors and cause radiation leaks. Key Takeaway Prioritize robust seismic safety measures for reactors. Themes nuclear safety natural hazards risk assessment Mood analytical cautious Type technical informative When to use this quote - plant design reviews - emergency preparedness - policy regulation - public education Key Concepts seismic engineering radiation protection probability analysis Questions to Reflect On - Are current safety standards sufficient? - How should risk communication be handled? A Different Perspective The probability is extremely low, so cost‑benefit analysis is essential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Damage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damage/) [Earthquake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earthquake/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Strong enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-enough/) [Tsunami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tsunami/) ## Related quotes > [Nuclear power plants built in the areas usually thought of as earthquake zones, such as the California coastline, have a surprisingly low risk of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/nuclear-power-plants-built-in-the-areas-usually-thought-of-as/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [In the Navy, I slept mere feet from a nuclear reactor, so I have no knee-jerk opposition to traditional reactors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/in-the-navy-i-slept-mere-feet-from-a-nuclear-reactor-so-i-have-no/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [“So a nuclear reactor is based on a nuclear chain reaction in much the same way as we have seen a nuclear bomb is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-thomas/so-a-nuclear-reactor-is-based-on-a-nuclear-chain-reaction-in-much-the/) [Andrew Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-thomas/) > [The sun is the only safe nuclear reactor, situated as it is some ninety-three million miles away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-mills/the-sun-is-the-only-safe-nuclear-reactor-situated-as-it-is-some/) [Stephanie Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-mills/) > [Penn State in 1955 became the first university to be issued a federal license to operate a nuclear reactor, which it continues to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-sherwood/penn-state-in-1955-became-the-first-university-to-be-issued-a-federal/) [Don Sherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-sherwood/) > [Buying the right computer and getting it to work properly is no more complicated than building a nuclear reactor from wristwatch parts in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/buying-the-right-computer-and-getting-it-to-work-properly-is-no-more/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [“A nuclear reactor is a proposed "solution" to "the energy problem." But like all big-technological "solutions," this one "solves" a single problem by causing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/a-nuclear-reactor-is-a-proposed-solution-to-the-energy-problem-but/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“Give me faith in dust and i'll make a nuclear reactor that illuminates the world with it's energy!'' #be\_inspired”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-el-amin-oggadi/give-me-faith-in-dust-and-i-ll-make-a-nuclear-reactor-that/) Mohammed El Amin OGGADI > [“The first thing you see, covering yards and yards of one wall, is an object that looks like a nickel-plated nuclear reactor, but is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/the-first-thing-you-see-covering-yards-and-yards-of-one-wall-is-an/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [You know, boys, a nuclear reactor is a lot like a woman. You just have to read the manual and press the right buttons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-simpson/you-know-boys-a-nuclear-reactor-is-a-lot-like-a-woman-you-just-have/) [Homer Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-simpson/) > [Well you know boys, a nuclear reactor is a lot like women. You just have to read the manual and press the right button.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/well-you-know-boys-a-nuclear-reactor-is-a-lot-like-women-you-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I made a nuclear reactor when I was 14](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-wilson/i-made-a-nuclear-reactor-when-i-was-14/) [Taylor Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-wilson/) > [“… about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God…. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/about-midnight-as-paul-and-silas-were-praying-and-singing-hymns-of/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Every morning when I pick up the newspaper and read about an earthquake in Japan or problems in European financial institutions, the first question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schapiro/every-morning-when-i-pick-up-the-newspaper-and-read-about-an/) [Mary Schapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schapiro/) > [“Do you see those dull stars?" She outlined the formation with her finger. "A pentagram," whispered Scott. "Yes, but not just any pentagram. Take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mattie/do-you-see-those-dull-stars-she-outlined-the-formation-with-her/) [Katie Mattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mattie/) ## More by Bill Dedman > [NBC News found that FEMA has redrawn maps even for properties that have repeatedly filed claims for flood losses from previous storms. At least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/nbc-news-found-that-fema-has-redrawn-maps-even-for-properties-that/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [Huguette Clark has had her own tax liens - four times, the IRS has filed to collect taxes from her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/huguette-clark-has-had-her-own-tax-liens-four-times-the-irs-has-filed/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [At one point, Sarah Palin sent her husband instructions to stock up on 'fresh fruit and veggies' for the kids, and 'as little processed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/at-one-point-sarah-palin-sent-her-husband-instructions-to-stock-up-on/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [In New York, FEMA granted the Mamaroneck Beach & Yacht Club's request to be remapped from the high-risk flood zone in August 2012 -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/in-new-york-fema-granted-the-mamaroneck-beach-yacht-club-s-request-to/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [Wal-Mart has always paid low wages, or, as Sam Walton put it, 'as little as we could get by with at the time.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/wal-mart-has-always-paid-low-wages-or-as-sam-walton-put-it-as-little/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [Less than a year after the Sept. 11 attacks, al-Qaida attacks were continuing: the firebombing of a synagogue in Tunisia in April, a bomb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/less-than-a-year-after-the-sept-11-attacks-al-qaida-attacks-were/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [The Manhattan district attorney has closed the well-publicized investigation of the handling of the $300 million fortune of reclusive heiress Huguette Clark - without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/the-manhattan-district-attorney-has-closed-the-well-publicized/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [Mohammed al-Qahtani was not alleged to be a leader of the Sept. 11 plot. He was not trained as a pilot. If he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/mohammed-al-qahtani-was-not-alleged-to-be-a-leader-of-the-sept-11/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [If he is convicted, Dr. Kevorkian says he will die a martyr's death by going on a hunger strike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/if-he-is-convicted-dr-kevorkian-says-he-will-die-a-martyr-s-death-by/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [In votes cast, Latinos have increased to five million in the 1996 Presidential election, up from two million in the 1976 election. 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For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/must-whales-and-dolphins-be-subjected-to-deafening-noise-that-will/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [Nothing can be produced without a cause, and the effect is but the cause reproduced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/nothing-can-be-produced-without-a-cause-and-the-effect-is-but-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Knowing the cause of something is not going to help you to be free of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/knowing-the-cause-of-something-is-not-going-to-help-you-to-be-free-of/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [You miss me and tease me 'cause in the end you're gonna please me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-isaacs/you-miss-me-and-tease-me-cause-in-the-end-you-re-gonna-please-me/) [Gregory Isaacs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-isaacs/) > [If I lose the ball I cause the team a problem. I am here to provide solutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-busquets/if-i-lose-the-ball-i-cause-the-team-a-problem-i-am-here-to-provide/) [Sergio Busquets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-busquets/) > [We are too much accustomed to attribute to a single cause that which is the product of several, and the majority of our controversies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-are-too-much-accustomed-to-attribute-to-a-single-cause-that-which/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“Until you find a cause you can die for, you are not worthy to live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/until-you-find-a-cause-you-can-die-for-you-are-not-worthy-to-live/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) > [Pacifism as a mass movement aims to avoid suffering; pacifists often say that no cause is worth suffering or dying for. 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So much effect from one simple cause.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-allen/there-are-so-many-paths-you-can-follow-so-much-effect-from-one-simple/) Lee Allen > [War can be prevented only by broad-minded statesmanship - a statesmanship that understands how to enlist people's interests in a leading cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-key/war-can-be-prevented-only-by-broad-minded-statesmanship-a/) [Ellen Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-key/) > [I think the other misconceptions when the film came out, he was very upset that it was so widely released and so widely seen.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-zwigoff/i-think-the-other-misconceptions-when-the-film-came-out-he-was-very/) [Terry Zwigoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-zwigoff/) Browse all 1,323 Cause quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Each year, at the typical nuclear reactor in the U.S., there's a 1 in 74,176 chance of an earthquake strong enough to cause damage to the reactor's core, which could expose the public to radiation. 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