Imagine, if you will, living somewhat close to a nuclear reactor—not right next door, but close enough—and then imagine that an accident at that reactor causes a large release of radioactive isotopes into the atmosphere. Certainly scary, but maybe less scary because you know your government has computer models that show where the nuclear fallout will blow and fall, and they explain that the amounts that will blow and fall on you are negligible.

Sure, you might think twice about that reassurance, but it is not like they are saying everything is OK. The government, after all, did evacuate some people based on their fallout models. . . so they are on top of it.

The roadmap for controlling and cleaning up the accident at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station is evidently out.

The good news is that over the last two weeks or so at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear plant, there have been no further spectacular explosions, no new massive breaches of containment or as far as we know, massive releases of radiation, though there continue to be dangerous levels inside the reactors, in water and in surrounding areas.

The bad news is the Japanese authorities have been unable to make substantial progress against the massive quantities of contaminated water still leaking from the various units.

Today’s news from Fukushima: TEPCO and the government have produced a roadmap for the next 6-9 months, ending with all reactors in cold shutdown and all spent fuel pools under full control. Phase 1 (three months) consists of achieving a “steady reduction” of radiation. In Phase 2 (three-six months), the plan calls for first getting radiation releases under control and then substantially curbed. At the end of Phase 2, there is a decision point for the government. At that point (between November and January) evacuation orders will be reviewed. Evacuees will either be allowed to return to their homes to live or not.

Concerns on Friday focused on (1) the continuing spread of radiation in Fukushima and surrounding prefectures, with local citizens anxious to evacuate areas beyond the mandated 20 kilometer radius and (2) the inability of the government either to gain control of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi reactors or to explain the exact source and nature of the continuing radiation leaks.

It’s Monday morning in the US; it’s Monday evening in Japan.

Quick Summary: Over the weekend, hopes of getting the reactors and spent fuel storage pools cooled rose significantly at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Station, although on Monday, new black smoke was observed rising from Unit 3 forcing another evacuation there. They’re not sure whether there was another explosion (none was heard) or about the source/cause of the smoke.

Desperate efforts continue to contain the damage at at least six nuclear reactor units at Fukushima Stations I (Daiichi) and II (Daini), following the explosion early this a.m. (US Eastern) at Daiichi Unit 1.

There are confusing/conflicting reports of a “meltdown,” at Unit 1. CNN reported a Japanese nuclear official seeming to confirm that a “meltdown” was probably underway, but there has been no other official confirmation.

In a time of accident like we are seeing at the Daiichi Nuclear Power Stations facts are a very good thing. So let me provide you with some facts, then we can talk about what is known at this point about the accident there.

Overnight there was an explosion at one unit of one of the two Fukushima nuclear stations that have been slowly failing since the earthquake and tsunami. Earlier reports had said that in one unit, the still hot fuel rods had been exposed by falling cooling water while problems continued at Unit 2 and three other units at a nuclear station about 15 km away. There have also been reports of releases of cesium with seriously high radioactivity being reported in the vicinity.

After a devastating 8.9 earthquake, damage to the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant led to some sort of explosion.