Nuclear Disasters

The following are things you can do to protect yourself, your family, and your property from the effects of a nuclear power plant emergency:

• Build an Emergency Supply Kit with the addition of plastic sheeting, duct tape, and scissors.
• Make a Family Emergency Plan
• Obtain public emergency information materials from the power company that operates your local nuclear power plant or your local emergency services office. If you live within 10 miles of the power plant, you should receive the materials yearly from the power company or your state or local government.
• Sign up for emergency updates from Brunswick County Emergency Services to receive timely and specific information for your area.

If an accident at a nuclear power plant were to release radiation in your area, local authorities would activate warning sirens or another approved alert method. They also would instruct you through the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on local television and radio stations on how to protect yourself.

• Follow the EAS instructions carefully.
• Minimize your exposure by increasing the distance between you and the source of the radiation. This could be evacuation or remaining indoors to minimize exposure.
• If you are told to evacuate, keep car windows and vents closed; use re-circulating air.
• If you are advised to remain indoors, turn off the air conditioner, ventilation fans, furnace, and other air intakes.
• Shield yourself by placing heavy, dense material between you and the radiation source. Go to a basement or other underground area, if possible.
• Stay out of the incident zone. Most radiation loses its strength fairly quickly.

The following are guidelines for the period following a nuclear power plant emergency:

• Stay tuned to local radio or television stations for the latest emergency information.
• Public shelters are locally managed and operated in response to events. If you have been told to evacuate or you feel it is unsafe to remain in your home, go to a designated public shelter. To find the nearest open shelter in your area, text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA), example: shelter 12345.
• Act quickly if you have come into contact with or have been exposed to hazardous radiation.
• Follow decontamination instructions from local authorities.
• Change your clothes and shoes; put exposed clothing in a plastic bag; seal it and place it out of the way.
• Seek medical treatment for unusual symptoms, such as nausea, as soon as possible.
• Help a neighbor who may require special assistance - infants, elderly people, and people with access and functional needs may require additional assistance.
• Return home only when authorities say it is safe.
• Keep food in covered containers or in the refrigerator.

There are four classifications used to describe nuclear emergencies:

• Unusual Event: This is the least serious of the four classifications. It means there is a minor operational or security problem at the plant. There is no impact on the public: No public action is needed.
• Alert: This is the second classification in increasing significance and involves an operational/security event that may affect plant safety. There is no impact on the public. Emergency officials would prepare emergency centers for use if needed.
• Site Area Emergency: This is the third in increasing significance and involves a major operational/security event that could affect plant safety. Sirens may sound to alert the public to listen to local radio/television stations for information. Radioactivity levels outside of the plant should not exceed federal guidelines.
• General Emergency: This is the most serious of the four classifications and involves a serious operational event. Sirens may sound and state and local authorities would take action to protect the public. Local radio/television stations would give information and instructions. People in affected areas would be advised to stay indoors or evacuate.

View nuclear disaster emergency contacts.

If you are told to evacuate, it's a good idea to bring the following items to the reception center/shelter:

• Two changes of clothing
• Two blankets or a sleeping bag for each person
• Important personal papers
• Toiletries such as soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.
• Personal medications and prescriptions
• Special baby formulas and/or food, and diapers
• Battery-operated radio, flashlight, and batteries
• If you're going to a reception center/shelter for housing or other assistance, if possible bring some form of identification that shows your address.

Overview

Emergency plans are designed to protect you in the unlikely event of a nuclear station emergency. State and local governments have guidelines about when people should be protected from radiation. These guidelines call for protective actions at levels far below those that can make you sick. If radiation levels at or above those guidelines are expected, state and local officials will provide guidance to protect the public.

If there is an emergency at the nuclear station, state and county officials will provide information to the public via radio and television. You might be told to go inside and stay inside, shelter in place, evacuate, and/or take potassium iodide (KI). Shelter in place, evacuating, and taking potassium iodide are ways to reduce exposure to radiation. Sometimes staying indoors is safer than evacuating. Emergency officials will know which is better. Follow their instructions.

Go Inside / Stay Inside

• Go inside a building (home/office/etc.).
• Stay indoors until officials tell you it is safe to leave.

Shelter in Place

• Go inside a building and stay there until you are told it is safe to leave.
• Close all windows and doors. Turn off fans, air conditioners, heat pumps, and forced air heat, which bring in outside air.
• Go to the basement, if possible. If you don't have a basement, go to a downstairs room in the center of the house. It should be a room without windows or outside doors.
• Listen to local radio stations for instructions from emergency management officials.
• Commercial supplies of water, milk, and food will be checked for radiation, if necessary. Government officials will tell you if these are safe.

Evacuate to a Reception Center / Shelter

• Do not try to take all your belongings with you. You could be away from home for a few hours or a few days.
• Turn off appliances and faucets. Lock all windows and doors.
• Service animals (dogs trained to benefit those with disabilities) are welcome and will be accommodated at reception centers.
• Get into your vehicle and close all windows and vents. Drive to your reception center and register. You can stay at the reception center or, after you register, you may stay with friends or relatives outside the protective action zone(s).
• It is important to go to the reception center because:
  • If any radioactive material was found on you, it would be removed by changing clothes and washing. This process is called decontamination and is important to reduce radiation dose to yourself and others.
  • Local emergency management officials would need to know who has evacuated. They would also need to know where you are, so you could be contacted

Sign up for the Special Needs Registry.

Residents are strongly encouraged to sign up for the Brunswick County Special Needs Registry if they have additional needs in functional areas. These functional needs may include but are not limited to maintaining independence, communication, transportation, supervision, and medical care. Residents in the Access and Functional Needs (AFN) Registry will be contacted by our staff when an emergency event is anticipated or has occurred.

You should sign up for the Special Needs Registry if you or someone in your home:

• Is deaf or hard of hearing and uses TDD equipment or requires assistance with daily activities.
• Is confined to bed and requires a caretaker for assistance.
• Requires a ventilator (breathing machine).
• Is visually impaired and cannot drive a car.
• Has cognitive issues such as loss of memory, speech, judgment, reasoning, or emotional control.
• Needs a ride and is unable to find one.
• Experiences other problems that would require additional assistance during an evacuation.

If you have neighbors with access/functional needs, please reach out and help them as needed. Officials will care for individuals in nursing homes, rest homes, or hospitals and take those needing medical care to hospitals and special-care facilities outside the 10-mile EPZ.

The best way to protect pets from exposure to radiation is to bring them inside as soon as possible. If evacuating, take your pets and pet care items with you. Check with your county emergency management office to determine what measures may or may not be available at your assigned reception center/evacuation shelter. Service animals (those trained to benefit people with disabilities) are welcome and will be accommodated at all evacuation shelters. Do not give pets potassium iodide unless prescribed by a veterinarian, since KI may be toxic/poisonous to animals. For questions about animal health, always consult your veterinarian.

More information can be found at the following websites:

• North Carolina Division of Emergency Management

A keystone of any plant's preplanned protective action strategy involves two emergency planning zones (EPZs) around the plant.

Plume Exposure Pathway EPZ

The first EPZ is a plume exposure pathway extending about 10 miles in radius around the reactor site. Protective action plans within this area are designed to avoid or reduce doses from potential exposures such as inhaling radioactive particles. These actions include sheltering, evacuation, and the use of potassium iodide (KI) pills where appropriate.

Counties in the Brunswick Nuclear Plant 10-mile EPZ (plume exposure pathway zone) include:

• Brunswick County
• New Hanover County

Ingestion Exposure Pathway EPZ

The second EPZ is an ingestion exposure pathway extending about 50 miles in radius around the reactor site. Protective action plans for this area are designed to avoid or reduce doses from eating or drinking radioactive materials. These actions include a ban on contaminated food and water.

Counties in the Brunswick Nuclear Plant 50-mile IPZ (ingestion exposure pathway zone) include:

• Bladen County
• Columbus County
• Pender County
• Onslow County
• Sampson County
• Horry County, SC