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going to make. “When we run low on supplies we can scavenge from on shore. Also most of these rigs are built to take hurricane winds and waves, and we aren’t that far from the end of the season.”
    “I’m not worried about hurricanes or supplies. I’m worried about radiation.”
    Radiation isn’t something Keith or most other people around the world gave much thought to. Nothing could be done about a dropping bomb and the fears of that diminished significantly since the end of the Cold War. Dirty bombs were a concern, but there wouldn’t be a point for a terrorist to set off a dirty bomb now when there isn’t a population to terrorize. Nuclear power plants are the only source radiation that anyone has to concern themselves over. It is the cleaner energy that actually worked for the masses unlike wind or solar. With a radiation leak being so dangerous, multiple layers of protection were put in place at power plants to ensure accidents couldn’t occur.
    “You are too paranoid about things, George. You’re starting to sound like my son.”
    “That’s who I got the idea from and being too paranoid is exactly what I thought when he said it. Unfortunately, your son was right,” George says dejectedly while moving to sit at a table. “He moved to Oregon because they only have one nuclear power plant in the Northwestern U.S. We have one just outside of New Orleans, and if goes into meltdown and breaches containment, the normal wind patterns will take the fallout right across the city and out into the ocean. Directly at us!”
    “They have safety measures to keep that from happening.”
    “Yes, yes they do. And each one of those measures requires a team of plant workers to keep those safety checks in place.”
    Keith looks at him skeptically, not wanting to believe their situation could get any worse.
    “Trust me, Keith. I’ve checked into it. My family does have a stake in the energy sector, after all. I mean, we did . I bought a property in Mexico three years ago after your son mentioned why he wouldn’t move to Louisiana. He said the entire eastern U.S. would be a dead zone of radiation if only a few of the power plants melted down. It took over four years for the Japanese to get control over the Fukushima nuclear plant after the tsunami knocked out the diesel generators. Four years with every resource being thrown at containing the problem and no diseased maniacs trying to attack the workers at the same time.
    “How many workers do you think stayed on the job at Waterford Steam when New Orleans was collapsing? And how long can the ones that stayed survive against the numbers of infected leaving the city? The Waterford Station is literally a ticking time bomb, and to make matters worse, you have to multiply that effect by every nuclear power plant east of the Mississippi. We have two plants just in our state alone. It is just a matter of time before we have to leave, and I want to include you and Maggie in on our plans.”
    “I keep telling you Maggie won’t survive another move, and I won’t go anywhere without her. For all we know the plant could have melted down already and we are soaking in fallout right now.”
    “Ten years ago, yes , but not today,” George replies. “You can thank the Department of Homeland Security for this save. With all of the terror attacks and the collapse of Middle Eastern countries, DHS put radiation monitors on most of the rigs out here. That way no one could sail a dirty bomb or worse up to one of our cities and set it off. We will know if radiation is detected, the sensors are wired into the alarms.”
    “I still can’t move Maggie. She won’t survive the trip.”
    “She won’t let you stay when I tell her what we have to look forward to, Keith, and trust me, I will let her know. You know I care about her and how much you two love each other, but she is already dying. She has come to terms with her situation. You’re the only one that doesn’t seem to accept that