Consider FEMA and Romney in light of Fukushima and Pilgrim Nuclear Generating Plant on Cape Cod.
Romney SHOULD know how FEMA is set up from his time as Massachusetts Governor and dealing with major flooding in that state. He also should know of the emergency response plans in place for Massachusetts' Pilgrim nuclear power plant. FEMA has over 50 federal-state partnerships in place with every US state and possession (like Guam, Puerto Rico), along with a federal/industry partnership program.
One particularly important such federal/industry partnership is with the nuclear industry. Romney must know about this, given the presence of Pilgrim Nuclear Generating Station, located right on Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts. It is powered by a GE Mark I reactor of the same type and design as the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. It keeps all its spent power rods in an on-site storage pool, waiting for federal direction on the correct disposal process. The plant was built in 1972 and its operating license would have expired in 2012, but in May of 2012, the NRC approved a 20-year extension.
There are nuclear power plants in nearly every state. Should the integrity of any plant be breached whether by accident or sabotage, federal law requires each plant to have both an onsite and offsite emergency response plan as a condition of obtaining and maintaining a license to operate that plant. Onsite plans are approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Offsite plans (closely coordinated with onsite plans) are evaluated by FEMA, & provided to the NRC, which must consider the FEMA findings re issuing or maintaining a license.
The purpose is to adequately protect public health and safety via reasonable measures to be taken offsite in the event of radiation release. Federal, state and local officials work together to develop site-specific emergency response plans. These plans are tested through exercises that include a prompt alert and notification system to inform the public of any potential threat from natural or man-made events; protective actions for schools and nursing homes; delineation of evacuation routes; reception centers for those seeking radiological monitoring; and location of congregate care centers for temporary lodging.
Still with me? Radiation clouds/plumes/leaks do not respect state boundaries and can be spread quite far in either air or water. As in Fukushima, and because most nuclear plants are placed near bodies of water for cooling purposes, radiation can escape into water. Also as in Fukushima, nuclear disasters can be triggered by extreme weather events, which may well leave local and state governments unable to respond. Clearly, and unless one is quite brain-dead, a federal govt. response to nuclear disasters is absolutely necessary!