PREPARED BY: Environmental Health
DATE: 2025-05-15
SUBJECT: Nuclear Preparedness - KI Pill Distribution Update
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE
Windsor and Essex County (WEC) is located within the primary and secondary zones (16km and 80km respectively) of two nuclear installations in Michigan and Ohio – the Enrico Fermi 2 and the Davis-Besse. Although both installations are not located within Canadian borders, the impact they have on our region is the same in the event a nuclear emergency occurs.
The WECHU began distributing KI pills in 2018 and these pills had an expiration date of March 2025. The WECHU re-launched the KI Pill Distribution initiative in July 2024 in partnership with local municipalities, with an initial focus on residents living in the primary zone with an expansion into the secondary zone. This initiative continues in 2025 to ensure residents especially those living in the primary zone are prepared for a nuclear emergency and have access to KI pills.
DISCUSSION
In 2024, approximately 3,500 KI pills were provided to residents in the primary and secondary zone through in-person pick up and mail out events. Despite efforts to encourage primary zone residents to get KI pills, uptake remained low (20%) at the end of 2024.
In 2025, to increase uptake of KI pills by residents living within the primary zone, a joint door-to-door initiative was undertaken with the Town of Amherstburg Fire Department on March 22, 2025, that resulted in an additional 89 households receiving KI pills. As of April 25, 66% of primary zone residents have received KI pills. The Town of Amherstburg organized a KI pill distribution event on Boblo Island during the Emergency Preparedness week on May 4 to distribute KI pills to residents who have not yet picked up KI pills for their households. This initiative will likely contribute to further uptake of KI pills by residents living within the primary zone. In addition, seven local schools across three school boards, and four high-risk congregate living facilities (located within the primary zone) have received their supply of KI pills.
In addition to targeted dissemination within the primary zone, a total of six in-person KI pill pick-up sessions were organized in Windsor and Amherstburg in addition to pick-up locations available within the WECHU offices, which resulted in 3,640 KI pill distributed to residents. The WECHU has also collaborated with the Town of Kingsville for an in-person pick-up event held on April 24, 2025 that resulted in approximately 416 KI pills being distributed to the residents.
Approximately 3800 KI pills are awaiting shipment and will be mailed to residents when weather conditions are favourable. The WECHU aims to continue KI pills distribution throughout the summer through messaging, mail outs, and by collaborating with municipal partners to ensure all WEC residents including high-risk individuals and priority populations are prepared for the unlikely event of a nuclear emergency.
As another important component of emergency preparedness, the WECHU participated in the Cobalt Magnet 2025 (CM25) Emergency Preparedness Exercise held March 17-21, 2025. This exercise allowed community partners to test the cross-border implications of a major nuclear emergency as well as to apply international agreements between Canada/US and Ontario/Michigan. This collaborative exercise allowed the WECHU and other participating agencies to effectively contribute to discussions and decision-making and provided valuable insights into operations while reinforcing understanding of procedures in a real emergency. Following media coverage of the exercise, it was noted that there was a significant uptake of KI pills in our region likely due to increased awareness of nuclear emergency preparation activities.