Working & Living next to nuclear power plants

The tragedy of the earthquake & tsunami in Japan is devastating. Our prayers are with the people now and into the months and years ahead. Adding to this situation are the problems with the nuclear power plant - not so much damage by the quake but the tsunami - with explosions and possible loss of containment (1st, secondary, et al). The health and environmental concerns are considerable and I empathize with the tens of thousands being evacuated to a "safer distance.".
While governments tout and support the future of nuclear energy there still exist significant issues.
If like me you work next to & live by a CANDU or perhaps a BWR or ABWR, full containment is theoretical but not always realistic. A vast array of factors can reduce the probability of containment in the event of an accident. For example, the quality of the cement housings, if found to be substandard in initial construction and/or refurbishing, can lead to cracks with potential exposure risks (reactor, turbine and vacuum buildings). Problems with fuel rods, steel tensile strength/, piping systems, shutoff valve systems, metal fatigue, computer problems, human error are all significant variables. When a number of these are added together safety diminishes considerably. The lack of reprocessing and breeder reactors coupled with waste storage and 10,000 year 1/2 life of spent fuel are additional environmental/health concerns.
Economically speaking cost overruns (almost always occur) with construction/refurbishing, decommissioning costs, etc., are substantial. In addition, nuclear power is tied into the central grid system which exhibits a host of inefficiencies as compared to a non-centralized system - which can be accessed through alternative energy sources for instance.
While giving off low carbon emissions, nuclear continues to be fraught with health and environmental quandaries.
This just scratches the surface of the inherent predicament of current and future nuclear power generation (even with SFR's and the like). Say what you will, I don't have to go to the local pharmacy to pick up iodine pills (as I do now with the CANDU) in order to protect against a future solar or wind "power plant accident" or have to display pamphlets on "what to do in case of a nuclear emergency" as I do now at church.