DejaVU wrote:
so, Gunner and his survivalist buddies have a point after all!

but I still fail to understand why the nuclear plants shut themselves
down? anyone care to explain?

Easy.

Remove the load and you have no need for the power they could
generate. It is also part of their safty system.

All nuclear plants have a secondary source of power and also have
emergency generation capabilities. Never a concern about
radioactive releases. Just a safty shutdown lake a steam plant
would do.

Howard
20 years of Navy nuclear experience