[sefarkas]

worst case

and why not try to get at least one of the other plants online to provide power to the others

Worst case: core is fused and will be difficult to remove from the reactor. Unit 1 was scheduled for permanent shutdown this month, March 2011. The decommissioning will be much more expensive than they planned.

It is simpler to reconnect the plant site to the off-site power source. Off-site power is inherently reliable because there are multiple generators that feed it. Running one plant to provide AC for the other is possible, but more trouble than re-connecting to the grid. The pictures of the environs leads to people using the word "destroyed" which is unlikely in the context of the grid-equipment. Cables need to be reattached. Breakers need to be reset. Transformers need to be energized. It is a bit more complicated than putting a neighboorhood back on-line after a storm. Note that TEPCO reported off-site power being restored to the site.

[Errant]

Worst case: core is fused and will be difficult to remove from the reactor.

So you don't see a possibility of a molten core melting through the containment vessel?

Makes sense on using offsite power as you say, if available, instead of trying to get one of the other units online.

[djf]

Sounds like they will have alot of work to do for all those fake stewardess robots they keep coming up with!