I’ll just put it out there – I’m a huge fan of nuclear power, and Dominion (our local power company) runs two reactor sites in our region, which generate 30% of their power output. This announcement came through a VA Dept of Emergency Management press release, and I thought it was a great example of public/private partnership in a readiness exercise:
Surry Radiological Emergency Preparedness Exercise Set for Aug. 4
RICHMOND, VA – Response personnel from state and local government and Dominion will demonstrate their ability to protect the public’s health and safety in a full-scale exercise Aug. 4 for the utility’s Surry Power Station. The exercise will involve localities within 10 miles of the power station.
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management will lead the Virginia Operations Plan Exercise, or VOPEX, a simulated radiological emergency, to help state and local governments test their response procedures in the unlikely event of a radiological emergency. These annual exercises rotate between the Surry and North Anna nuclear power stations.
Response agencies and local government representatives will role-play their emergency operations functions from the state and local government emergency operations centers. Participating localities include the counties of Charles City, Isle of Wight, James City, New Kent, Surry and York and the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson and Williamsburg.
Law enforcement personnel will practice traffic control measures in the field. Local and state radiological monitoring teams will take simulated field readings and communicate via radio.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will monitor the progress of the drill and conduct an in-depth analysis of the results, detailing areas needing improvement. FEMA will review the success of the exercise at a public meeting on Aug. 7 at 11 a.m. at the Omni Hotel in Newport News.
In addition, information about emergency plans at Surry and North Anna are available online. (You can also take a cute little animated tour here - anything to get the word out!)