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eleven commercial nuclear power reactors used to generate electricity are currently operating at six sites in Illinois; no other state has as many nuclear reactors. In addition, there are two major nuclear research facilities in Illinois operated by the US Department of Energy (Argonne National Laboratory and FermiLab), uranium processing facilities at Metropolis and in nearby Paducah, Kentucky, several manufacturers of radiopharmaceuticals and other radioactive materials, thousands of radiation-producing machines used in medicine and industry, and a network of major arterial highways and rail lines over which radioactive material shipments move on a regular basis. Protecting the health and safety of Illinois citizens and the environment from the potentially harmful effects of ionizing radiation is a key function of IEMA’s technical staff. That role is fulfilled through programs that monitor nuclear facilities around the clock, ensure the proper operation of radiation-producing equipment and the use of radioactive materials, and measure radioactivity in the environment to ensure no threats to public health exist.

A radiation threat or "Dirty Bomb" is the use of common explosives to spread radioactive materials. It is not a nuclear blast. The force of the explosion and radioactive contamination will be more localized. In order to limit the amount of radiation you are exposed to, think about shielding, distance and time.