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Curious about whether potassium iodide would be of much use for "conventional" radiation threats: "Potassium Iodide is a salt which when taken in the proper amounts, can block the uptake of radioactive iodine. It is frequently marketed in tablets, under the name of “Iosat”. Administering Iosat can be very beneficial because the thyroid can be quite vulnerable to radioactive iodine in a radiologic emergency, and because this strategy can benefit us in the prevention of later thyroid cancer. It is important to realize that even when properly used and taken as directed by public health officials, that the only organ protected by this practice is the thyroid, therefore evacuation from a contaminated area is always best. Since radioactive iodine has a half life of eight days, rational evacuation of a week or two may be all that is necessary. (Supposing that in this particular emergency, only radioactive iodine is released.) Following a radiologic emergency, a combination of administering potassium iodide tablets to human beings in the target area, coupled with evacuation, even for a week or two, is usually the best course."

Understand - the ONLY thing Iodine supplements can protect against is I-114, Iodine 114, a product of SOME nuclear fission events.

So sort of pretend that radiation is light. Iodine supplements protect you against blue radioactive light, but not green or red or yellow or purple.

But as it turns out, if you get poisoned by the blue light, it’s lights out! (It’s very deadly compared to other types)

I had to explain to my hypocondriact sister-in-law how iodine works.
The Thyroid picks up iodine in your system. I radioactive iodine is present the thyroid will also pick it up.
By taking the suplement, you saturate your thyroid so it cannot pick up the radioactive iodine.

Thirty eight years ago I was diagnosed with an overactive thyroid. I chose the radioactive iodine treatment rather than the surgery, so my thyroid is dead and I take Synthroid and Levithroid suplements.

For several years after the treatment, my thyroid would register on a geiger counter, but it does not do it any more.