Geiger counters commonplace in Japan's new normal

>>> turning now to japan, there was some good news for a change today. workers at that crippled nuclear power plant have managed to stop tons of highly radioactive water from seeping into the ocean, but now the workers have had any number of other problems on their hands, not the least of which preventing another hydrogen explosion. nbc's lee cowan remains in tokyo for us tonight and has our report.

>> reporter: any euphoria over stopping the flood of radioactive water that had been gushing into the ocean was pretty short lived. workers now have a more pressing problem, preventing another explosion at the still steaming plant. engineers began injecting nitrogen into the containment building around reactor one. the nitrogen could prevent explosive hydrogen from building. youp the culprit that caused the blasts that ripped through the plant almost four weeks ago. today pregnant women and young children were urged to leave this village even though it's outside the government evacuation zone after radiation levels there spiked. school children are now routinely screened for exposure. geiger counters almost as common as lunch boxes now. it was an odd backdrop for the first day of the new school year. and anxious parents who had been holding their children close had to let go. there was plenty of pageantry to help dilute the news. but it was still tough. having been evacuated from near the plant she's one of six refugees who is now a new student, too. "she was crying when she first came," her mother said. but at least there's six of them. so that's the only hope. it's all very orderly and pretty remarkable given how many schools along the coast were destroyed. in the tokyo area alone, they've seen an influx of more than 2500 students who now have to find a new home. "i will miss my friends" she says. but we will see each other again, i hope. but as long as the situation remains unresolved, going home may be a long way off. lee cowan, nbc news,